After the triumph of the Soviet Union over fascism in World War Two, world politics was completely transformed. No longer allies in the war against the Axis states, the “democratic” capitalist countries turned on the USSR and formed a global bloc of all the imperialist powers to confront the rising tide of socialist revolution. 

In Part 4 of The Socialist Program’s multi-part series on the history of the Soviet Union, we discuss the emergence of the global class war known as “the Cold War” and key milestones in its early years. This includes the advent of nuclear weapons; the revolutions in China, Korea and Vietnam; the formation of NATO, and more. 

Watch the video edition of “The Real Story” on BreakThrough News!

Brian is joined by Carlos Martinez, author of “The End of the Beginning: Lessons of the Soviet Collapse,” co-founder of the No Cold War Campaign, and editor of the political analysis site Invent-The-Future.org.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Revolution vs. Counter Revolution after World War Two — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 4

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

After weeks of US claims that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was imminent, Vladimir Putin instead recognized the breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. The decision has triggered a new round of US-led sanctions while bringing attention to rebel-held areas, where,  according to UN figures on the Donbas war, 80% of civilian casualties have occurred since 2018.

Professor Richard Sakwa analyzes the factors behind Putin's move, and its likely consequences. Putin's decision, he says, comes after Kiev refused to implement the 2015 Minsk accords, which could have ended the conflict, and a longstanding US-driven project to expand NATO to Russia's borders. 

Guest: Richard Sakwa. Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent. His books include “Frontline Ukraine: Crisis in the Borderlands” and his latest, “Deception: Russiagate and the New Cold War.”

Rejecting NATO expansion, Putin recognizes forgotten Donbas civilians

The war in Ukraine is entering a new phase. NATO leaders are meeting and are clearly worried that the Zelenskyy government might agree to a negotiated end to the war. Brian Becker and Dr. Gabriel Rockhill discuss the internal politics in Ukraine with a focus on the role of the far right, fascists and neo-Nazis.

Brian is joined by Dr. Gabriel Rockhill, Founding Director of the Critical Theory Workshop and Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University. You can check out his latest article on today’s subject at LiberationNews.org, titled, “Nazis in Ukraine: Seeing through the fog of the information war”

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram.  We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you  consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more  are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Give War a Chance: NATO and Neo-Nazis Want Ukraine Conflict to Go on Forever

On today's episode Walter Smolarek and Prof. Richard Wolff discuss how demonization of China has gone into overdrive as the country chooses its new leadership, and how a key component of this has been increasingly strident advocacy for so-called “economic decoupling” from China. And in fact, just ahead of China’s Communist Party congress, the U.S. government unveiled a harsh blow to a critical sector of trade.

Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

U.S. steps up high-tech economic war with China

Richard Seymour on why Lula's margin of victory was so narrow in Brazil's presidential election and how it is that Jair Bolsonaro maintained such substantial support, despite Brazil's poor economic performance and his disastrous handling of the covid-19 pandemic. We also talked about what to expect from Lula's third term in office, both domestically and regarding Brazil's foreign policy.

Interregnum - Lula's knife-edge victory

Rishi Sunak is using record inflation to justify austerity 2.0. We ask James Meadway if that makes economic sense.

Plus: Trump launches his 2024 presidential election bid; and the shameful neglect by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing that led to the death of a 2-year-old.

With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.

__________________________________________

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Novara Audio: Radio For A Different Politics

TyskySour: Inflation Highest In 41 Years

Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he’s running for president again, despite only delivering a “red trickle” in the midterm elections and losing the presidency by seven million votes in 2020. What was his real record in office?

Brian is joined by Eugene Puryear, an author, activist, and co-host with Rania Khalek of The Freedom Side LIVE, a live video show every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on BreakThrough.

Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.

Trump’s 2024 Announcement Speech Debunked — His Real Record Against Workers

As Wales crash out of the World Cup after defeat against England, Keir Milburn and Tom Williams question their dedication to international football. After all, how can you support a national team if you don't believe in borders?

On the third episode of Pro Revolution Soccer, Keir and Tom are joined by writer and broadcaster David Goldblatt, author of acclaimed football history tome The Ball Is Round, to discuss football as a national culture. Is cheering for England inherently jingoistic? Or can football be the bedrock of a popular progressive identity – one that no longer feels the need to mention the war when England play Germany? David explores the political potential of the current squad and reflects on the varied responses to Qatar '22 around the world.

Pro Revolution Soccer is out every Friday until the World Cup final.

Produced by Chal Ravens. Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone.

Pro Revolution Soccer Ep 3: Should You Support Your National Team?

Ash is joined by Novara's own Aaron Bastani, Moya Lothian-McLean, Michael Walker and James Butler to talk about what was bugging them in the year 2022.

From landlordism to normativity and a nasty turn in identity politics and from the declining fortunes of Europe to the absolute state of the discourse, the Novara team summarises the year that was and looks forward to another bumper year of fighting back.

Happy New Year!

Downstream: Novara's 2022 Roundtable Review

We get into Evgeny Morozov’s latest essay on the geopolitical interests and military neoliberalism that’s really driving the AI arms race. Morozov traces today’s developments back to the Cold War – not just as a metaphor, but by showing how many of the same people and institutions are still in positions of power. To understand the America vs China framing of technological competition, which is now so dominant and two-dimensional in the discourse about AI, we must see how it is stoked by people like Eric Schmidt and Gilman Louie and their  networks of influence, capital, and ideology.

Article we discuss:
••• AI: the key battleground for Cold War 2.0? | Evgeny Morozov https://mondediplo.com/2023/05/02china 

Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills   

Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (www.twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (www.twitter.com/braunestahl)

253. The Cold War Origins and Future of Today’s AI

Following a misguided attempt to crack the American market, Jack and Geraint desperately try and cling onto their remaining UK fans with a tight hour of Blairite-bashing and Starmer-slagging.

Reel Politik

Episode 264 - The Rest Is Banter

News and views about the world for those who want to change it, with Brian Becker

Revolution vs. Counter Revolution after World War Two — Lessons of Soviet History, Part 4

The Socialist Program with Brian Becker

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