The Platypus Review

[ Die deutschsprachige Platypus Review ]

Latest Issue: 189

The crisis of the Islamic Revolution: 1979–2009–2026

Chris Cutrone, Grayson Walker, Mateo Farzaneh, Tirdad Kiamanesh

On April 9, 2026, the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel at Northwestern University on the Islamic Revolution in Iran as a satellite plenary to its 18th annual International Convention. The speakers were Chris Cutrone (founding member of the Platypus Affiliated Society), Mateo Farzaneh (professor of History at Northeastern Illinois University and author of The Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Clerical Leadership of Khurasani), Tirdad Kiamanesh (co-founder of Chicago4Iran, lecturer at Northwestern University), and Grayson Walker (American Communist Party).

[. . .]

Beyond conspiracy? The “artificial” communist party and Cold War historiography: A review of Walter Kendall’s The Revolutionary Movement in Britain

David Burke

In The Revolutionary Movement in Britain, Walter Kendall sets out to prove an a priori assumption that the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was an artificial creation that wrenched the whole course of the movement’s Left wing out of one direction and set it off on another.

[. . .]

Gaza and Left compulsiveness / obsessiveness

George Fish

Prior to October 7, 2023, Gaza wasn’t seriously on the Western Left’s radar at all. It was a non-topic for discussion, as Gaza was quiescent. Hamas, which governed Gaza by force and threat of terror against its civilian population, seethed with anger against Israel, and desired Israel’s elimination and replacement by an Islamic caliphate; but not so much, generally, the Gazan civilian population, which was resigned to the uneasy status quo that kept everything as it was.

[. . .]

Imperialism and the Popular Front

Bob Mandel

But why has the proletariat never come directly to power? There is no simple answer, but a key is in the strategy of the Popular Front pursued by communist, socialist, and social-democratic parties all over the world, particularly since 1935–36.

[. . .]

Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Louis Sterrett

COPY EDITORS

Mike Bartlett
Charles Crum
Rory Hannigan
Octavio Hernandez
Thom Hutchinson
Liam Kenny
Michael McClelland
Divya Menon
Olivia Mistretta
Matthew Ramirez
Evan Rodgers
Patrick Unwin
Allen You

DESIGNERS

Mike Atkinson
Chris Mansour

WEB EDITOR

Nick Cochran

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Gabe Gottfried

DISTRIBUTION

Erica Gamble
Diaz Mathis
Allen You

CHAPTER COORDINATOR

Ceci Chang

Editorial Statement

Taking stock of the universe of positions and goals that constitutes leftist politics today, we are left with the disquieting suspicion that a deep commonality underlies the apparent variety: What exists today is built upon the desiccated remains of what was once possible.
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Submission Guidelines

Articles will typically range in length from 750–4,500 words, but longer pieces will be considered. Please send article submissions and inquiries about this project to editor.platypusreview@gmail.com. All submissions should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.

The Platypus Review is funded by:

Phedias Christodoulides
Dalhousie Student Union
Loyola University of Chicago
The New School
New York University
Northwestern University
The Platypus Affiliated Society
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Student Government
The University of Chicago Student Government
The University of Illinois at Chicago