Politics

[close] Council communism, also known as councilism, emerged as a communist movement in the early 20th century, particularly in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. Rejecting the party dictatorship and tactics of the old labor movement of Leninism, council communists advocated for the direct management of society by workers' councils. In this group, we invite members to engage in thoughtful discussions, share relevant articles, books, and resources, and exchange ideas about the theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of council communism. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or a curious newcomer, all are welcome to participate in our exploration of this rich and dynamic tradition of revolutionary thought. Topics for discussion may include: - The historical development of council communism and its key figures, such as Anton Pannekoek, Herman Gorter, Otto Rühle and Jan Appel. - Comparative analyses of council communism with other marxist tendencies, such as Leninism, Trotskyism and Open Marxism. - Case studies of historical and contemporary movements and experiments inspired by council communist ideas. - Critiques and debates surrounding council communism, both from within the communist tradition and from outside perspectives. Join us as we delve into the theory and practice of council communism, seeking to deepen our understanding of its relevance to contemporary struggles for social and economic justice.

[close] Study and discussion of the important questions of ethical and political philosophy from Confucius and Socrates to the present. Rules (see also the Rules and Housekeeping topic): Subject to copyright law and these rules, posters may cite, link, or quote any publication, including their own. Posts linking to outside sources must contain a brief explanation of the nature of the linked material and, unless obvious, how it is relevant to the topic being discussed. All posts and linked material must be in English. Posts and any linked material should be polite and not degenerate into ad hominem attacks. The purpose here is to seek light, not heat—rational discourse, not shouting matches. Leave your cable news persona at home and put on your philosopher's mantle when entering this group. Rational argumentation and Socratic questioning are welcome. Hectoring, intimidation, insult, and presumptuous condescension toward other group members are cause for immediate removal from the group. Internet "trolls," advocates of violence, and posters failing to comply with these rules will be removed from membership, as will posters who persist in raising issues that are outside the scope of the subject matter of this group. New members may introduce themselves in the New Member Introductions topic. See posts 4-5 here regarding the creation of new topics. Photo credit: Socrates sculpture at Louvre (CherryX per Wikimedia Commons [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

[close] This is a new book club for anyone interested in politics, who enjoys reading political non-fiction. We will discuss some of the biggest political books, mainly focusing on new books but with the occasional classic. The initial shelf may have a predominant focus on US and UK books but we are very open to expanding the focus - please share your suggestions. All views on the books welcome, whatever your political leaning. There is a linked political fiction book club you may also be interested in. Image: Jennifer Boyer

[close] Hosted by the YDSA at BSU, a book club where we read theory and essays and discuss weekly!