Some of the av-material and links overlap with POLS 208 Democracy, so check that blog out as well. http://briansroper.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/pols-208-democracy-videos-and-links-2017.html
The lecture schedule is outlined below.
Introduction
1. What is Marxism? Is
Marxism Still Relevant? Why Classical and Contemporary Marxism?
Section 1: Laying the Foundations: Karl Marx and Frederick
Engels
2. Karl Marx: Brief Biographical Sketch and ‘Marx in Soho’
3. Karl Marx: Intellectual Significance, Biography and Historical
Context
4. Marx’s General Theory of History: Dialectical and Historical Materialism
5. Marx’s Critique of Capitalism: Analysing Capitalist
Exploitation
6. Marx’s Critique of Capitalism: Analysing Capitalist Economic
Crisis
7. Marx’s Critique of Capitalism: What is Alienation? What’s Wrong
with Liberal Democracy?
8. Frederick
Engels’ Contribution to Establishing Marxism: Biography, Early Development of
Historical Materialism and Marxian Socialism, Dialectics, and Critical Analysis
of Women’s Oppression.
Section 2: Classical Marxism: Overview, Context and Key
Figures
9. German Social Democracy, Classical Marxism and Vladimir Lenin’s
Theory of Revolution
10. Marxist Conceptions of Socialist Organisation from Marx to Lenin
and Beyond
11. Rosa Luxemburg: Reform or Revolution?
12. Rosa Luxemburg: The Mass Strike and Luxemburg’s Critique of the
Bolsheviks
13. Leon Trotsky: The Fight Against Stalinism
14. Antonio Gramsci: Hegemony and Contradictory Consciousness
15. Georg Lukacs: History and Class Consciousness
----------------Mid-Semester
Break----------------
16. The Classical Marxist Vision of Socialism: Revolution, Socialism
and Participatory Democracy
Section 3: Contemporary Marxism
17. Marxist Economics: The Global Financial Crisis and its Aftermath
(1)
18. Marxist Economics: The Global Financial Crisis and its Aftermath
(2)
19. Marxist Educational Sociology: Neoliberalism’s War on Higher
Education
20. Marxist International Relations: Imperialism and the Causes of War
21. Applying Marxism in Practice: Trotskyism and The International
Socialist Tradition
22. Marxist Ecology: Analysing the Causes of Resource Depletion,
Habitat Destruction, and Global Warming
23. Socialist and Marxist Feminism: Capitalism, Gender Inequality,
Intersectionality and Women’s Liberation
24. Digital Disconnect: The History and Political Economy of the
Internet
25. The
Ideological Bias of the Corporate Media: Manufacturing Consent?
Conclusion:
Results and Prospects
26. The
Democratic Socialist Alternative to 21st Century Capitalism.
Videos and Links
Introductions to Marx and Marxism
"One
of the world’s most respected public thinkers visits the RSA to explore
the hidden workings of capital. David Harvey, Distinguished Professor
of Anthropology at the City University of New York Graduate School,
unravels the paradoxes at the heart of capitalism and offers a manifesto
for a new way forward.
Is it possible to create a fair, rational, and sustainable society
within the confines of the capitalist system, and, if so - how?
David Harvey unravels the paradoxes at the heart of capitalism – its
drive, for example, to accrue capital beyond the means of investing it;
its imperative to use labour-saving technologies that leave consumers
without adequate means of consumption; and its habit of exploiting
nature to achieve its ends.
Can capitalism survive its contradictions?"
Internet Sources: Key Marxist Websites and Links
The best way to check out the contemporary analysis and politics of the
Marxist tradition is to search the websites of some of the more significant
anti-Stalinist Marxist organisations. These sites have lots of articles
providing useful discussions of a wide range of issues.
Socialist Alternative: https://redflag.org.au/ and http://marxistleftreview.org/
SA is the socialist organisation in Australia. It is based in the International
Socialist tradition but has no formal links to the organisation that founded
this tradition- the British Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP). As well as coverage
of international issues such as Brexit, the US presidential election, the
refuge crisis, and global warming, it also provides socialist analysis of
political developments in Australia, such as the the racist politics of Pauline
Hanson, the anti-worker policies of the Turnbull Liberal Government, Australia’s
racist immigration and refugee policies, and so forth.
International Socialist Organization (US): https://socialistworker.org/ and
http://isreview.org/
The ISO is one of the largest socialist
organisations in the United States. Like SA, it is based in the International
Socialist tradition but has no formal links to the SWP. As well as coverage of
international issues such as Brexit, Syria, the recent British and French
elections, and so forth, Socialist Worker
(US), provides in depth socialist analysis of a wide range of political
developments in the US such as the Trump presidency, the women’s marches, Me
Too Movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, the struggle for immigrant
rights, reproductive rights, anti-LGBT violence, and so forth.
We Are Many:
http://wearemany.org/
This site is sponsored by the Center for Economic Research and Social
Change, which also hosts Haymarket Books and the International Socialist
Review. “We are simply trying to offer a small sampling of the
best radical audio and video sources we know of. We know that the internet
provides vast opportunities to share information and ideas, but we do not
believe that this can replace the real actions of real people. We encourage our
visitors, friends, fellow-travellers, and comrades to take inspiration from the
people included here into their own struggles for justice.”
Solidarity: Against the Current: https://www.solidarity-us.org/atc
Solidarity is the next largest Trotskyist organisation in the U.S. Its
main publication – Against the Current
carries lots of useful articles on a broad range of topics.
Democratic Socialists of America: https://www.dsausa.org/
The DSA produces what has become an important Marxist journal: Jacobin. Available at: https://jacobinmag.com/
The ‘About
the DSA’ section of the website states: ‘The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist
organization in the United States. DSA's members are building progressive
movements for social change while establishing an openly democratic socialist
presence in American communities and politics. At the root of our socialism
is a profound commitment to democracy, as means and end. As we are unlikely
to see an immediate end to capitalism tomorrow, DSA fights for reforms today
that will weaken the power of corporations and increase the power of working
people. For example, we support reforms that: decrease the influence of money
in politics; empower ordinary people in workplaces and the economy; restructure
gender and cultural relationships to be more equitable.
We are activists
committed to democracy as not simply one of our political values but our means
of restructuring society. Our vision is of a society in which people have a
real voice in the choices and relationships that affect the entirety of our
lives. We call this vision democratic socialism — a vision of a more
free, democratic and humane society. In this web site you can find out
about DSA, its politics, structure and program
International Socialist Organization (NZ): https://iso.org.nz/
Established at the University of Otago in 1993, the ISO now has branches
in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin. Although still very small, it is not as
small as the other socialist groups in Aotearoa. Recent articles on its website
have focused on: the TPPA, Gramsci, Brexit, the struggle for a Living Wage,
disability rights, workers’ struggles, ANZAC Day, Maori struggles, and the 2018
election, and the Ardern Labour-led Government.
Inequality: A New Zealand Conversation: http://www.inequality.org.nz/understand/
This site contains useful and interesting articles on inequality in New
Zealand.
Counter-futures: Left Thought and
Practice in Aotearoa: https://counterfutures.nz/
Currently New Zealand’s most important left-wing academic journal.
RS21: Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century: https://rs21.org.uk/
About: “Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st
Century (rs21) is a news, comment, analysis and campaigning website run by a
group of revolutionary socialists in Britain.”
Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP): https://www.swp.org.uk/. Publishes Socialist Worker (UK) https://socialistworker.co.uk/
(weekly socialist newspaper), Socialist
Review http://socialistreview.org.uk/
(monthly magazine) and International
Socialism http://isj.org.uk/
(quarterly journal of socialist theory and analysis).
Still the largest socialist group in Britain, the SWP emerged from the
most serious crisis in its history in 2013 less than half the size that it was
prior to the crisis. Nonetheless, its main publications do contain some useful
socialist analysis of developments and issues taking place internationally and/or
in the UK.
The Fourth International: http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/
This is the main English language publication of the Fourth
International that was established by Trotsky in 1938. The FI is the other
major Trotskyist current with affiliated organisations in many countries. One
of the major issues that divides the ‘orthodox Trotskyists’ of the Fourth
International from the ‘neo-Trotskyists’ in the IS tradition concerns their
different analyses of the rise and international spread of Stalinism. But on
many, if not most, issues there is broad agreement between the member
organisations of the two largest anti-Stalinist socialist currents. Quite apart
from this, International Viewpoint
carries very good socialist analysis of international political developments
and issues.
The Alternative Press Centre: http://www.altpress.org/mod/apc_directory/index.php
As a very large online directory of radical (anarchist, feminist,
environmentalist, and socialist) periodicals, with links.
Aotearoa Independent Media
Centre - http://www.indymedia.org.nz/
Independent Media - http://www.indymedia.org/
“Indymedia is medium for positive
radical change. It is a totally independent media platform that allows users
(like you!) to create stories, events, photo essays, and share information with
others. Indymedia is run by a collective of individuals who volunteer their
time for the project; there is zero corporate involvement and no advertising
whatsoever.
The purpose of Indymedia is to
create a space for the exchange of ideas and information about what is really
going on in the world. It is about exposing the truth of global corporate greed
and capitalist exploitation. It is about laying bare the reality of the world
we live in. It is about creating an alternative to the spoon-fed mass media
infotainment that passes for news.”
Key Sources of Official Reports and Statistical Data:
New Zealand Sources
However, with respect to New
Zealand relevant and useful data can be found in the following reports:
• Ministry of Social
Development: Household Incomes in New
Zealand: Trends in Indicators of Inequality and Hardship, 1982 to 2016,
Wellington, 2017. Download from: http://www.msd.govt.nz
• Statistics NZ: Incomes, 1999; Household Savings Survey 2002; Wealth
Disparities in New Zealand 2007; Family
Net Worth in New Zealand, 2008.
• Statistics NZ: Social Indicators – Income Inequality.
At: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-social-indicators/Home/Standard%20of%20living/income-inequality.aspx
• Statistics NZ: Women, 1998; Focusing on Women in 2005; Around
the Clock 2001; Maori, 1998; Pacific Profiles 2006; Statistics NZ, Time Use Survey 2009/10, Wellington,
2011.
• Ministry For Women, Indicators for Change 2009: Tracking the
Progress of New Zealand Women, 2010.
• Ministry For Women, Gender Pay Gap: http://women.govt.nz/work-skills/income/gender-pay-gap
• Ministry For Women, United Nations Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Eighth Periodic Report by the
Government of New Zealand, March 2012 –March 2016. Published Wellington,
June 2016 At: http://women.govt.nz/sites/public_files/New%20Zealand%27s%20Eighth%20Periodic%20CEDAW%20Report%20June%202016.pdf
• TPK Te Puni Kōkiri, Implications
of the Recession for Maori, 2009. Download
from: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/the-implications-of-a-recession-for-the-maori-economy/
Interestingly, very little by way of new
research focused on socio-economic inequality between Maori and Pakeha has been
published by TPK this decade, see: https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/a-matou-mohiotanga/employment-and-income
International Sources
• International
Labour Organization (ILO):
http://www.ilo.org/global/statistics-and-databases/lang--en/index.htm
• International
Monetary Fund (IMF): World Economic
Outlook 2016: Too Slow For Too Long
At: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/pdf/text.pdf
At: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/pdf/text.pdf
• World
Economic Outlook 2018: Cyclical Upswing, Structural Change. At:
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2018/03/20/world-economic-outlook-april-2018
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2018/03/20/world-economic-outlook-april-2018
“The World
Economic Outlook (WEO) is a survey by the IMF staff published twice a year,
in the spring and fall.”
• Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): http://www.oecd.org/social/inequality.htm
Interesting report by the OECD on rising
inequality.
• United
Nations (UN Women): The World’s Women
2015: Trends and Statistics.
At:
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/worldswomen.html
Comprehensive overview of gender
inequality on a global scale.
• The
World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/
Classical Marxist Writings Available Online
Marxists Internet Archive
“The Marxists Internet Archive (MIA,
http://www.marxists.org/) is an all-volunteer, non-profit public library,
started more than 20 years ago in 1990.” This is where you will be able to
access most of the key writings of the classical Marxists.
Marxism Page
A very
useful website that has been constructed with quality rather than quantity in
mind.
Marx and Engels’ Writings
Another
online source where you can access Marx and Engels writings.
The Parliamentary Service has produced a research paper (released December 2017) entitled 'FINAL RESULTS FOR THE 2017 NEW ZEALAND GENERAL ELECTION' that contains very useful data pertaining to representation in New Zealand parliaments from 1996 to 2017. A PDF can downloaded from: https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/00PLLawRP17041/4107f6fef63135f9e2e297af9318a7edf69cd3c3
Rosa Luxemburg - Then and Now
An excellent slideshow with Alistair Hulett singing the Internationale in the background.
Lenin - What is Soviet Power?
Five minute speech by Lenin with English subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l53FPENoAU
Another interesting short speech by Lenin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_EcpFLmUaU
The climate crisis of the 21st century has been caused largely by just 90 companies, which between them produced nearly two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions generated since the dawning of the industrial age, new research suggests."
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/20/90-companies-man-made-global-warming-emissions-climate-change
• Climate Central - a US based research foundation - has an interactive 'Surging Seas' map that allows you to see the degree of encroachment on land of sea level rises.
http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/
• A Twenty Year Programme of Neoliberal Fiscal Austerity?
British Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, said in 2013 that the cuts pushed through by the Coalition did not go nearly far enough. He said that there was a “very long way to go” and added: “This is not a two-year project or a five-year project. This is a 10-year project, a 20-year generational battle to beef up the economy in ways that we have not seen for many, many decades.”
The Neoliberal Critique of Marxism
•
Chicago and monetarist economist, Milton Friedman, providing a neoliberal justification of the unequal distribution of wealth in advanced capitalist societies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJwUaVDIPXg
•
Manufacturing Consent 9 Minute Summary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTBWfkE7BXU
Amy Goodman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5scBuP2EK-I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5yCL2U6Fzo
• This is a lecture on capitalism and the internet by Robert McChesney.
https://vimeo.com/144932323
He gives another lecture on the same topic at;
https://archive.org/details/Digital_Disconnect_-_How_Capitalism_is_Turning_the_Internet_Against_Democracy
The Political Economy of the Media
Lecture 24
• Sharon Van Etten - Give Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcZSlhtG0mY
• Valerie June - Shakedown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cShj4BimPXc&list=RDcShj4BimPXc&start_radio=1
Manufacturing Consent 9 Minute Summary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTBWfkE7BXU
Amy Goodman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5scBuP2EK-I
Digital Disconnect: Robert McChesney on How Capitalism is Turning the Internet Against Democracy
• Short 17 minute segment on the capitalist political of the internet with Aaron Swartz and Robert McChesney (from Democracy Now!).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5yCL2U6Fzo
• This is a lecture on capitalism and the internet by Robert McChesney.
https://vimeo.com/144932323
He gives another lecture on the same topic at;
https://archive.org/details/Digital_Disconnect_-_How_Capitalism_is_Turning_the_Internet_Against_Democracy
The Political Economy of the Media
Reading
Starting Point:
• A.
Richardson, A. Murchison and C. Rudd, ‘Media and Elections’ in NZGP(6th
edn), ch.5.4.
• Rudd, C. (2013) ‘The Political Economy of
the Media.’ In B. Bahador and others (eds), Politics and the Media, Pearson, Auckland, pp.33-47.
Further
Reading (in order of importance):
• McChesney, R. and Nichols, J. (eds) (2011) The
Death and Life of American Journalism, The New Press, London and New York, ch. 1 and pp. 75-99.
• Cocker, A. (2006) ‘Media Ownership and Control.’ In R. Miller, (ed) New Zealand Government and Politics,
fourth edition, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, ch.6.2, pp.452-463.
• Bahador,
B. (2013) ‘The State and Propaganda.’ In B. Bahador
and others (eds), Politics and the Media,
Pearson, Auckland, pp.48-62.
• Kemp,
G. (2013) ‘Media, Politics and Democracy.’ In
B.
Bahador and others (eds), Politics and
the Media, Pearson, Auckland, pp.2-17.
• Herman,
E. and Chomsky, N. (2002), The Political
Economy of the Mass Media, Pantheon Books, New York, ch.1 ‘A Propaganda
Model’.
• N.
Hager, Dirty Politics, ‘Preface’ and
‘Afterword’.
• Murchison, A. (2013) ‘Online Media in New
Zealand’ in Babak
Bahador et al (eds), Politics and the
Media, Pearson, Auckland, pp.226-241.
• Roper,
B. (2013) The History of Democracy,
Pluto Press, London, pp.204-206, 236-240.
• Hirst,
M. and S. Phelan, Scooped: The Politics
and Power of Journalism in Aotearoa/New Zealand, AUT Media, Auckland, 2012.
• Kemp, G. (2006) ‘Democracy, the Public and
the Media.’ In R. Miller, (ed) New
Zealand Government and Politics, fourth edition, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne, ch.6.1, pp.436-451.
Chris Rudd has recommended the following readings for those of you who
are keen and really want to go into it in depth:
• Donohue, P. and others (1995) ‘A Guard Dog
Perspective on the Role of the Media Journal of Communication 45:2,
115-132.
• McChesney, R. & Pickard, V. (eds)
(2007) Will the Last Reporter Please Turn Out the Lights ch. 7
• Street, J. (2001) Mass Media, Politics
and Democracy (2nd ed) ch. 5, 11-12
• Zaller, J. (2003) ‘A New Standard of News
Quality: Burglar Alarms for the Monitorial Citizen’ Political Communication
20:2, 109-130
POLS 323 Music Videos
Lecture 24
• Sharon Van Etten - Give Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcZSlhtG0mY
• Valerie June - Shakedown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cShj4BimPXc&list=RDcShj4BimPXc&start_radio=1
Lecture 23
•Marlon Williams - No Body Gets What They Want Anymore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsJIDptF-2c
Lecture 22
• Angel Olssen - Windows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CQSOoFlaxI
• Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxE-zppu30
Lecture 23
Lecture 22
• Angel Olssen - Windows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CQSOoFlaxI
• Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxE-zppu30
•Marlon Williams - No Body Gets What They Want Anymore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsJIDptF-2c
Lecture 22
• Angel Olssen - Windows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CQSOoFlaxI
• Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxE-zppu30
Lecture 23
Lecture 22
• Angel Olssen - Windows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CQSOoFlaxI
• Wolf Alice - Don't Delete the Kisses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxE-zppu30
Lecture 21
• Die Die Die - Sideways Here We Come
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV9f4w9SXEc
• The Shifting Sands - All the Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cD1XAiFYw0
• Straighjacket Fits - She Speeds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTtOXIhrow
Lecture 20
• Death and the Maiden - Ooooh Baby in the Chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWSce3a1r18
• Confidence Man - Out the Window
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQGwjhDANVA
Lecture 17
• Jamie XX - Loud Places
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc
• Look Blue Go Purple - Cactus Cat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmlfuEukMs
• PJ Harvey - The Wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ReW0jJkag8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6k0vEBdlG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkM3M3zGcGE
• Belle and Sebastian - Party Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vS1Hf3CVGs
• Courtney Barnett and Billy Bragg cover Velvet Underground's 'Sunday Morning'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yg6xDAekPI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgv6dKV03dA
Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, the - Television, The Drug Of The Nation
Junkie XL Feat. Peter Tosh - Dont Wake Up Policeman (Sander Kleinenbergs Cold Turkey Remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASdWzoQGEcg
• Princess Chelsea - Too Many People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj2Xq5W7ywc
• Parquet Courts - Berlin Got Blurry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0bBjMc6FY
• Aracade Fire - The Suburbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIkPLM13so
• Die Die Die - Sideways Here We Come
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV9f4w9SXEc
• The Shifting Sands - All the Stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cD1XAiFYw0
• Straighjacket Fits - She Speeds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTtOXIhrow
Lecture 20
• Death and the Maiden - Ooooh Baby in the Chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWSce3a1r18
• Confidence Man - Out the Window
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQGwjhDANVA
Lecture 17
• Jamie XX - Loud Places
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc
• Look Blue Go Purple - Cactus Cat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtmlfuEukMs
• PJ Harvey - The Wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ReW0jJkag8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6k0vEBdlG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkM3M3zGcGE
• Belle and Sebastian - Party Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vS1Hf3CVGs
• Courtney Barnett and Billy Bragg cover Velvet Underground's 'Sunday Morning'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yg6xDAekPI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgv6dKV03dA
Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, the - Television, The Drug Of The Nation
Junkie XL Feat. Peter Tosh - Dont Wake Up Policeman (Sander Kleinenbergs Cold Turkey Remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASdWzoQGEcg
• Princess Chelsea - Too Many People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj2Xq5W7ywc
• Parquet Courts - Berlin Got Blurry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0bBjMc6FY
• Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Full Band Version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGaoXAwl9kw • Aracade Fire - The Suburbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIkPLM13so
