Marxist Voice

Revolutionary Communist Party
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Marxist Voice is the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in Britain. We discuss Marxist theory, revolutionary history, and current events. Head to our website for daily news and analysis, as well as links to join and support the party, and to subscribe to our various publications.

  1. For an independent revolutionary art: Marxism and Surrealism

    31 MIN AGO

    For an independent revolutionary art: Marxism and Surrealism

    Surrealism was a revolutionary artistic movement founded in 1922 and led by writer and poet André Breton.  The movement produced and influenced a galaxy of the 20th centuries finest artists.  Surrealist artwork deals in the bizarre and the strange. On the surface, it can seem as if this is all it is - though, it stands for something much deeper.  In this talk, Will Collins from the RCP Central Committee explains how surrealism grew out of the general feeling of malaise and anger that existed across Europe following the barbarism of the First World War and at the same time the inspiration from the revolutionary events that swept Europe. This revolutionary spirit reflected itself in the art produced by the surrealists. Surrealist art seeks to express a contradictory view of reality. It reveals the violence and savagery that lurks underneath the thin veneer of bourgeois civilization. The polite manners and “good taste” of bourgeois society is really just a façade that conceals the most terrible suffering, exploitation and repression. But really the essence of the surrealist movement, was to liberate the artist from the shackles of ‘official’ culture, the state, church and even of the mind itself.  In its form, the surrealists developed techniques that aimed to tap into the creative well-spring of the subconscious mind - they experimented with automatic writing and painting, dream recitals and research into mental illness and recent studies in psychoanalysis. The surrealists were not at all armchair intellectuals, but committed revolutionaries. After being ex-communicated by the Stalinist Communist Party, Breton was drawn into the orbit of Leon Trotsky who in 1937 together published a manifesto called a ‘Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art.’ Here, they argue that art must remain true to itself and not degenerate into mere propaganda dictated to it by a revolutionary party yet should place itself at the service of the revolution.  But to truly liberate the mind, a life and death struggle would have to be waged against the system that enslaves it, and commit to the building of a socialist society.  The manifesto finishes with the slogan: "Our aims: The independence of art — for the revolution. The revolution — for the complete liberation of art!”

    44 min
  2. How to end women's oppression

    10 MAR

    How to end women's oppression

    Sunday March 8th marked International Working Women's Day. This day was created by Socialists and Communists to highlight the role of working women under capitalism and in overthrowing it. Communists have always been at the forefront of the struggle against women's oppression. But what is it that we actually say on this topic? How can women's oppression be overthrown? In this talk from Revolution Festival 2025, Manon Powrie, leading RCP member, spoke on this topic.

    43 min
  3. How do Marxists view history?

    3 MAR

    How do Marxists view history?

    From the comfort of their cosy armchairs and university lecterns, the well-learned professors of bourgeois academia throw all manner of wild accusations at the Marxist view of history. Fatalistic, teleological, economically deterministic, class reductionist, Messianic... there’s no end to the high-sounding mutilations that Marx’s ideas receive at the hands of their adversaries. But these are all misunderstandings, distortions, and lies. The Marxist method of historical materialism is, in reality, the only way to understand the logic of history – which is driven by social relations, revolutionary upheavals, and class struggle. In this talk, communist.red editor Jack Tye Wilson uncovers the profound insights that Marx and Engels offer into the historical process, and combat the false and one-sided interpretations their ideas have suffered over the years. He coves questions like: Is there such a thing as progress? Does Marxism reduce everything to economics? What about the role of ideas and individuals? And is the victory of communism inevitable?

    49 min
  4. The British General Strike: A Communist History

    24 FEB

    The British General Strike: A Communist History

    Hear the author of A Communist History of the British General Strike talk on the contents of his new book. And order your copy of the book. In May 1926 the working class of Britain moved in its millions. Whispers of a new world — one run by the workers, without the need for bosses, bankers or politicians — were in the air. Britain, an island supposedly lacking in revolutionary traditions, was on the brink of an almighty upheaval. For nine days, British workers defied the state and their employers to bring the country to a standstill. The General Strike had the potential to change the country forever, but it was betrayed by the very people who were supposed to lead it. Today, a century later, there are striking similarities with Britain of the 1920s. The economy is weak. Living standards are falling. Public services are collapsing. People are angry, and class battles are close at hand. In his book, Ben Gliniecki, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist Party, presents a sketch of the events of the strike and what led to it. Through it, we can study the hard-learned lessons of 1926 — about betrayal, state repression and failure of leadership. And we can be inspired by the power, initiative and unity of the working class in struggle. With this, we can turn the whispers of a new world into reality.

    53 min
  5. Does Britain have free speech?

    17 FEB

    Does Britain have free speech?

    Questions of free speech and state repression have reared over the recent period. The right wing cynically uses the idea of free speech to pretend figures like Farage are being silenced. In reality, however, those defending the needs of capitalism and the status quo are given all the free speech they need. In the mean time, elderly protestors have been arrested for standing against genocide. Last week the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could no longer be brandished as terrorism, coming after the inability to find a jury which would sentence the activists. Both the harsh repression from the British state and the inability to put this repression into practise in a systematic way shows the mess the British ruling class is in. Here we share Nelson Wan, RCP executive committee member speaking on this topic at our 2025 Revolution Festival.

    44 min
  6. Year One of the Russian Revolution

    10 FEB

    Year One of the Russian Revolution

    The Russian Revolution was the greatest event in human history, where the workers took power into their hands and grasped the state. But revolution is never a one act drama, it is a transition from one mode of production into another. This means that the revolution does not create socialism or communism overnight. The was abundantly clear in Russia, with its underdeveloped economy. This was the topic of a discussion at the latest Central Committee meeting of the Revolutionary Communist Party. Listen to the talk, by executive committee member Daniel Morley, here. If you want to know more about this period of history we would recommend ⁠this article⁠ from the RCI on the same topic. For a longer read covering the topic, ⁠In Defence of Lenin⁠, ⁠Russia, from Revolution to Counter Revolution⁠, ⁠Trotsky's My Life⁠ and ⁠Victor Serge's Year One of the Russian Revolution⁠.

    1h 1m
  7. Sudan: From Revolution to Barbarism

    3 FEB

    Sudan: From Revolution to Barbarism

    Friedrich Engels once said 'bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.' In many countries, this barbarism is already upon us. This is the topic of the latest In Defence of Marxism magazine. Here we share the author of the lead article, Thomas Soud, discussing his lead article on the Sudanese revolution and counter revolution of 2019. If you would like to get your own copy of this magazine, click here.

    41 min
  8. Imperialism in the Middle East

    27 JAN

    Imperialism in the Middle East

    The middle east has been the playground of western imperialism for decades. With tensions raising in Iran, and western imperialism attempting to use this for its own gains, it is the job of communists to understand the role of imperialism in this region. For this reason, we publish here Lubna Badi's talk from Revolution Festival 2025. Lubna is a Central Committee member of the RCP who regularly writes and speaks on the middle east. If you would like to learn more on this topic we reccomend reading Thawra hatta'l nasr! - Revolution until Victory! as well as Israel-Palestine A Revolutionary Way Forward.

    39 min
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About

Marxist Voice is the official podcast of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in Britain. We discuss Marxist theory, revolutionary history, and current events. Head to our website for daily news and analysis, as well as links to join and support the party, and to subscribe to our various publications.

Information

  • Creator
    Revolutionary Communist Party
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    382
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Revolutionary Communist Party
  • Show Website
    Marxist Voice

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