Marxist Audio Archive

Revolutionary Communist Party
  • 4.5 (17)
  • Politics
  • Updated Semimonthly

The Marxist Audio Archive is an archive of presentations and talks recorded at meetings and events hosted by the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Canadian section of the Revolutionary Communist International. This resource serves to help you educate yourself on the the foundations of Marxist theory and revolutionary history. But we're not just an podcast - if you agree with what you hear, you should reach out to us at marxist.ca/join to build the Revolutionary Communist Party where you are!

  1. Canada in Crisis — who pays? | RCP Political Perspectives 2026

    19h ago

    Canada in Crisis — who pays? | RCP Political Perspectives 2026

    “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” This presentation by Joel Bergman outlines the key processes shaping the class struggle in Canada. The changing world situation, and in particular the relative decline of US Imperialism, leaves Canadian capitalism in a dead end. Mounting government debt, a looming recession, inflation, and low productivity weigh heavy on Canada's economy. Carney is stuck with an economy which is uncompetitive and which requires massive investment. In order to invest, the capitalists are demanding cuts to wages, social programs, and public spending. This will inevitably push the working class to defend against attacks on their standard of living. The road is being prepared for class battles ahead. The fault lines of capitalism are beginning to crack. This is being expressed through the rise of separatism in Alberta, renewed talk of Quebec independence, and the heating up of the Indigenous movement. Everywhere, people are looking for ideas, for answers. Canada is broken, and someone will be made to pay for the crisis. The question is, "who pays?" This presentation served as the introduction to a discussion on "Canada and the new world order", as part of the Third congress of the RCP. The discussion was based around our 2026 perspectives document (linked below), which was amended and approved by the congress. 📖 Further reading: Perspectives document - Canada and the new world order (2026 Perspectives) Read more about the Congress - Third RCP Congress: A party up to the task Watch more from the Congress 🫵 Join the Revolutionary Communist Party 📰Subscribe to Communist Revolution, the newspaper of the RCP ▶️ YouTube 📱Apple Podcasts 📸 Instagram 💬 X 💻Facebook Recorded live in Toronto on May 16, 2026.

    37 min
  2. Revolution in Ireland: The Legacy of James Connolly

    Jun 3

    Revolution in Ireland: The Legacy of James Connolly

    "For our demands most moderate are, We only want the earth." - James Connolly, 1907 James Connolly is often portrayed as simply an Irish nationalist. This couldn't be further from the truth. The leader of the Easter rising, he was a revolutionary Marxist. His study of Marx and Engels guided his fight for an Irish socialist republic, independently bringing him to similar conclusions as Lenin and the Bolsheviks. From the question of national liberation, to international socialism, and the struggle for working class unity, Connolly's legacy offers invaluable lessons for revolutionaries today. In this presentation, Ben Curry (from the International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Communist International) explains the impact of Connolly's life and ideas. Connolly's unfinished work - for an Irish socialist republic, and a socialist world - is up to us to complete. Armed with his ideas, as well as those of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky, the working class will win. This presentation was recorded live in Toronto on May 19, 2026. Further reading:James Connolly and the Easter Rising Ireland: Republicanism and Revolution Buy the book!Join the Revolutionary Communist Party

    1h 4m
  3. Imperialist War and Class Struggle: World Perspectives 2026

    May 27

    Imperialist War and Class Struggle: World Perspectives 2026

    The global crisis of capitalism is shaking the world order, bringing about imperialist wars, class struggle, and revolution. In this presentation, Ben Curry (from the International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Communist International) explains the processes underneath the events unfolding on the world stage. He explains that the nation state and private property relations - the very things which first helped capitalism develop - are leading it into an unprecedented crisis. Ben breaks down the direction the world is headed in, and outlines the opportunities it will present for revolutionaries in the coming period. This presentation was part of a discussion held at the Revolutionary Communist Party's Third Congress, which took place in Toronto May 16-18. Read more about the congress here. Further reading: 2026 kicks off to the sound of imperialist war drums and class struggle Trump’s defeat in Iran and its worldwide consequences AI investment prepares new attacks on the working class The meaning of the rise of China How the global crisis is strengthening Russia Ten Theses on the 2026 Minnesota General Strike Australia faces “nightmare scenarios” after ruling class backs Iran War This presentation was recorded live in Toronto on May 16, 2026.Note: translation has been edited out for clarity. Join the Revolutionary Communist Party

    44 min
  4. The Role of the Individual in History

    Apr 29

    The Role of the Individual in History

    Most textbooks and documentaries would like us to believe that all historical progress is the product of ‘Great Men and Women’ with ‘Great Ideas’, in which the masses are merely the passive recipients of charismatic, determined, and resolute individuals. Marxism is opposed to this unscientific approach. Many academic critics attempt to paint Marxism as being rigid and mechanical, accusing the theories of scientific socialism of being ‘economically deterministic’. Yet Marx never denied the importance of human agency in determining the course of history. Indeed, ‘history’, Marx stressed, is not some mystical force. There is no ‘destiny’ or ‘fate’. History is made by people. But we need to uncover the dialectical relationship between the individual (the subjective) and the great forces (the objective) that govern the movement of society and see the individual’s role in its historical context. This presentation, given by Holly Quilty, was recorded live in Montreal on April 10, 2026. Recommended readings: Adam Booth - The individual and the Marxist view of history Rob Sewell - The Decisive Role of the Individual in History G.V. Plekhanov - On the Role of the Individual in History Join the Revolutionary Communist Party

    1h 16m
  5. Marxism or Mutual Aid?

    Apr 22

    Marxism or Mutual Aid?

    As the crisis of capitalism deepens, millions of people are looking for a way out. This has caused many on the left to look to the ideas of mutual aid. But what is mutual aid, and can it help us end capitalism? In this video, Josie Seaton (from the Central Committee of the RCP) explains the Marxist approach to mutual aid, its historical role, and what we can do today in to build a force that will truly end capitalism. This presentation was recorded live in Toronto on April 10, 2026.Recommended readings:A communist critique of mutual aid Base-Building or Bolshevism? The class, the party and the leadership: How to organize revolution FAQ: Marxism, Bolshevism, and Mutual Aid Communism or Mutual Aid? (Booklet) Referenced texts:Nechayev's The Revolutionary Catechism Join the Revolutionary Communist Party

    41 min
  6. Myths of Canadian Confederation

    Apr 18

    Myths of Canadian Confederation

    Canada is often painted as a calm country of polite compromise. Confederation is presented as the bright, hopeful moment when this friendly land of peace, order, and good government was born. The real history is very different. Confederation was a rotten deal for the majority of people, achieved through the putting down of revolutions, the genocide of Indigenous peoples, and underpinned by ruthless oppression of francophones. In this presentation from the 2026 Montreal Marxist Winter School, Marco La Grotta (member of the RCP Executive Committee) exposes the reality of confederation, which allows us to understand the crises facing Canada today. This presentation was recorded on February 14, 2026. Suggested readings: Why would Alberta separate?What is behind Trump’s threat to annex Canada?How to abolish the monarchyWhy John A. Macdonald needed to fall Note: This presentation has been edited to remove translation. Additionally, the sound for his presentation was corrupted, and had to be salvaged from the camera audio. Please excuse the poor audio quality.

    39 min
  7. Hugo Chávez and the Venezuelan Revolution

    Apr 1

    Hugo Chávez and the Venezuelan Revolution

    The Venezuelan Revolution and the unprecedented upsurge of the Venezuelan people in the early 2000s was one of the most inspiring events in recent history. The oppressed masses, rallying behind Hugo Chávez, waged a heroic struggle against imperialism. They carried out vast land seizures and nationalizations, and showed that it is possible for workers to run their workplaces without bosses. But the revolution did not unseat the Venezuelan oligarchy. And now the country is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis—a fact that right-wingers and reactionaries love to point to as an example of “why socialism never works”. These events illustrate a vital lesson that all revolutionaries must grasp: a revolution cannot stop half-way. In this presentation from the 2026 Montreal Marxist Winter School, Marcus Katryniuk (member of the RCP Executive Committee) explains the revolution, and what communists today can learn from it. This presentation was recorded on February 14, 2026.Suggested readings:The Venezuelan Revolution: A Marxist Perspective Permanent Revolution in Latin America (Buy the book) Five years on: revolutionary legacy of Hugo Chavez Trump’s escalation in the Caribbean – US imperialism attempts to reassert control over its ‘backyard’ Join the Revolutionary Communist Party

    57 min
  8. Quebec 2012: How a Student Strike Brought Down the Government

    Mar 31

    Quebec 2012: How a Student Strike Brought Down the Government

    In 2012, Quebec students went on a months-long strike to reverse a planned 75 per cent tuition increase. At its height, hundreds of thousands of students refused to attend class, making it one of the largest movements in Canada’s history. It ended with the fall of the provincial government and the cancellation of the tuition hike. Quebec students had fought and won. Today, post-secondary education is being cut to the bone. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that student funding to help pay for tuition will be changed from being mostly grants to mostly loans—plunging students deeper into debt. Similar cuts have been announced, or are being threatened, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and B.C. Given all of this, it’s no surprise that Quebec 2012 is being discussed in English Canada like never before. People want to know how this movement was built, and why was it able to win. Julien Arseneau explains the lessons of the Quebec 2012 Student Strike movement - how it was able to beat the tuition hikes, how the movement could've gone further, and what's needed today. This presentation was recorded live in Toronto on March 27, 2026. Interested in reading more? Check out our new book Lessons from the 2012 Quebec Student Strike, available here! Join the Revolutionary Communist Party Subscribe to Communist Revolution

    55 min
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About

The Marxist Audio Archive is an archive of presentations and talks recorded at meetings and events hosted by the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Canadian section of the Revolutionary Communist International. This resource serves to help you educate yourself on the the foundations of Marxist theory and revolutionary history. But we're not just an podcast - if you agree with what you hear, you should reach out to us at marxist.ca/join to build the Revolutionary Communist Party where you are!

Information

  • Creator
    Revolutionary Communist Party
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    223
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Revolutionary Communist Party
  • Show Website
    Marxist Audio Archive

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