Ben Robinson from Socialist Books discusses the latest publication of this Frederick Engels’ classic and why it’s so relevant today. 

Useful further reading: 
•	‘Socialism: Utopian and Scientific’ by Frederick Engels, available at socialistbooks.co.uk – where you can also find the discussion questions Ben mentions
•	‘The renewed relevance of Socialism: Utopian and Scientific’ by Tony Saunois: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/28107/17-10-2018/the-renewed-relevance-of-engels-classic-socialism-utopian-and-scientific 
•	‘The Masses Arise’ by Peter Taaffe on the French revolution, available at leftbooks.co.uk 
•	‘Value Price and Profit’ by Marx, available at leftbooks.co.uk
•	‘An introduction to the Logic Of Marxism’ by George Novack, available at leftbooks.co.uk 
•	Last week’s episode on Venezuela, as mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnoMCW-aJpI

Socialism

18. Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

The Class Struggle in 2020

A fierce factional struggle is being waged around the ruling ANC between the supporters of so-called ‘white monopoly capital’ around President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the supporters of former-President Jacob Zuma, whose siren-call is ‘radical economic transformation’. Both factions however defend the capitalist system.  In essence, their argument is about the best way to perpetuate the exploitation of the working class.
In this podcast, Weizmann Hamilton, general secretary of the Marxist Workers Party, explains this factional struggle as the inevitable outcome of the class interests the ANC has served historically – those of the black aspirant capitalist class, and sketches-out how this mission developed historically, including the role of Nelson Mandela and the 1994 negotiated settlement that ended apartheid.
Hamilton brings things firmly up to date and warns the leaders of the trade unions that the reformist economic and timid political alternative being put forward will see them following in the ANC’s footsteps and objectively playing the role of defenders of capitalism. Capitalism’s economic and political crisis demands a policy of strict working class independence from the intra-class conflicts of the different wings of the capitalist class. A genuinely independent working class policy must have the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy under democratic workers control at its heart.

Recorded at the MWP’s Gauteng branch meeting in Johannesburg on 8 February 2020.

NB: We apologise for the sound quality, especially from 20:00 to 22:30. The meeting took place during severe rainstorms.

The ANC’s Historical Mission: The Defence of Capitalism

The Marxist Workers Party of South Africa bases its programme on the following ideas: 

(1) Karl Marx (1818-83) & Friedrich Engels (1820-95)
(2) Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)
(3) Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
(4) The First Four Congresses of the Communist International (1919-22)
(5) Trotsky’s Left Opposition (1923-27) and the founding of the Fourth International (1938)
(6) The Committee for a Workers International (1974) and its forerunners.

Taken together, we believe these are the ideas necessary to guide the working class’s struggle for the liberation of humankind from poverty and exploitation.

The MWP is organising a series of day schools to introduce each of these to new members and supporters. The first took place on 22 February 2020.

The workshop covered how the capitalist class first emerged, the bourgeois revolutions of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Industrial Revolution, ideas of the Communist Manifesto and Marx’s Das Kapital, the organisation of the First International and the events of the Paris Commune and their impact on the development of the Marxist Theory of the State.

The workshop was presented by Shaun Arendse for the MWP ‘s Executive Committee.

A Brief History of the International Marxist Movement & the Revolutionary Programme (Part 1)

Socialism the Podcast offers a Marxist approach to the big issues we face in a world of capitalist crisis. Fighting for jobs, homes and public services for all. From strikes and mass movements through to community campaigns, history and theory. We shine a light on the struggles of workers and young people, and discuss the strategy for a socialist fightback.

18. Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Socialism

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