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Introduction to Revolutionary Marxism (Chicago 2017)

From the Second International to the Frankfurt School

Loyola University
Tuesdays, 7-9:30 PM
6738 N Sheridan Ave
at Starbucks

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Tuesdays, 6-9 PM
112 S Michigan Ave
MacLean Center, Room TBA

University of Chicago
Tuesdays, 6:30-9 PM
1116 E 59th St
Harper Memorial Library, Room 102

University of Illinois at Chicago
Tuesdays, 6-9 PM
701 S Morgan St
Stevenson Hall, Room 101

 

  • required reading / + recommended reading

 

Recommended winter break preliminary readings:

+ Leszek Kolakowski, “The concept of the Left” (1968)
+ Richard Appignanesi and Oscar Zarate / A&Z, Introducing Lenin and the Russian Revolution / Lenin for Beginners (1977)
+ Sebastian Haffner, Failure of a Revolution: Germany 1918–19 (1968)
+ Tariq Ali and Phil Evans, Introducing Trotsky and Marxism / Trotsky for Beginners (1980)
+ James Joll, The Second International 1889–1914 (1966)
+ Edmund Wilson, To the Finland Station: A Study in the Writing and Acting of History (1940), Part II. Ch. (1–4,) 5–10, 12–16; Part III. Ch. 1–6

 

Film screenings: January 2017

  • 37 Days(2014) [Episode 1] [Episode 2] [Episode 3]
    ‱ Fall of Eagles (1974) episodes: "Absolute Beginners," "The Secret War," and "End Game"
    ‱ Rosa Luxemburg (1986)
    ‱ Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States (2012) Episodes A (1900-20) and B (1920-40)
    ‱ Reds (1981)

 

Winter–Spring 2017

 

  1. Introduction to revolutionary Marxism

Week 13. Revolutionary leadership | Jan 31, 2017


Week 14. Reform or revolution? | Feb 7, 2017


Week 15. Lenin and the vanguard party | Feb 14, 2017


Week 16. What is to be done? | Feb 21, 2017


Week 17. Mass strike and social democracy | Feb 28, 2017


Week 18. Permanent revolution | Mar 7, 2017

  • Leon Trotsky, Results and Prospects(1906)
    + Tariq Ali and Phil Evans, Introducing Trotsky and Marxism /Trotsky for Beginners (1980)

Week 19. State and revolution | Mar 14, 2017


Week 20. Imperialism | Mar 21, 2017


Week 21. Mar 28, 2017 (spring break)


Week 22. Failure of the revolution | Apr 4, 2017


Week 23. March 31-April 2, 2017 [Platypus International Convention]


Week 24. Retreat after revolution | Apr 18, 2017


Week 25. Dialectic of reification | Apr 25, 2017


Week 26. Lessons of October | May 2, 2017


Week 27. Trotskyism | May 9, 2017


Week 28. The authoritarian state | May 16, 2017


Week 29. On the concept of history | May 23, 2017


Week 30. Reflections on Marxism | May 30, 2017


Week 31. Theory and practice | Jun 7, 2017