SPS Platypus

Episode 65 comes in two parts: In the first segment, Andreas talks with Platypus members Clay (Chicago) and Ethan (Philadelphia) about the upcoming Platypus International Convention, taking place in Chicago April 4-7 under the title "What is Left after Trump?". They discuss the various panel topics of this year's 16th Platypus Convention as well as why we keep hosting them. More information can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/whatisleft2024

In our second segment we welcome a triumphant return of the Shit Platypus Does segment - Lisa and Rebekah sit down with members Thuy Linh (Berlin), Noah (Cologne) and Liv (New School) to reflect on the European Conference, held in Berlin at the end of January this year: What did we learn about "The Legacy of Lenin" ?

Panels from the 2024 European Conference:

Legacy of Lenin panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoX0unyoPX4
Building a Marxist Mass Party Anew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ban_NkqrEVE
Krise im sozialistischen Lager (in German): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYby-ScT8U

Further videos of events can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

Visit our website at http://platypus1917.org

In this episode of Shit Platypus Says, we introduce the first segment of Reds, a series examining the growth of new communist organizations around the world.

Hosts Tamas, Lisa, and Rebekah discuss the impetus for such a series: the sudden growth of self-styled communist organizations after a decade of social democratic activity on the Left and a dissatisfaction with liberal politics; a related revision occurring within Trotskyist organizations; and the historical echoes and discontinuities raised by the transition from the Millennial to the Zoomer generation.

For the bulk of the segment, our inaugural segment of Reds, Melbourne Platypus members Ryan and Tom sit down with Jamie and Anthony of the Revolutionary Communist Organisation and its Collective of Leninist Youth, based in Australia, for a discussion about its current outlook, challenges, and tasks.

The RCO appeared on a panel discussion held by Platypus Melbourne:
“Imperialism: What is it, and why should we be against it?” (Dec 2 2023 panel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSj2IZOgpg

More info about the Revolutionary Communist Organisation (RCO):
Program: https://www.revcomorg.info/general-clean
Publication “Direct Action”: https://directactionnewcastle.wordpress.com/direct-action-rco/
Queer liberation paper: https://www.revcomorg.info/projecto-1

Collective of Leninist Youth (CLY):
Publication “Red Youth Spectre”: www.tinyurl.com/redyouthspectre

Andreas sits down with Berlin-based members Jakob and Tamas to discuss the upcoming sixth annual Platypus European Conference, set to take place January 25th through the 27th.

Further info can be found at:
https://100yearsafterlenin.com

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A century after Lenin’s death, the Platypus Affiliated Society aims to critically examine the legacy of the failure of world revolution. Our sixth annual European Conference provides the time to reflect on the nightmare of the twentieth century through teach-ins, panel discussions, and presentations by international Leftist organizations. We hope thus to contribute to overcoming the present obstacles to any future emancipatory Left.

The Left is dead! Long live the Left!


Ein Jahrhundert nach dem Tod Lenins sucht die Platypus Affiliated Society nach einer kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit dem Erbe der gescheiterten Weltrevolution. Unsere sechste europäische Konferenz bietet Raum zur Reflexion über den Albtraum des Zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts – mit Teach-ins, Podiumsdiskussionen und Präsentationen internationaler linker Organisationen. Wir hoffen, damit einen Beitrag zur Überwindung der Hindernisse zu leisten, die heute der Formation einer emanzipatorischen Linken entgegenstehen.

Die Linke ist tot! Lang lebe die Linke!

This special holiday episode of SPS comes in three parts: (1) In order to make sense of the present, Platypus is hosting an international series of panels "Left Perspectives on the Israel-Palestine Conflict". In the first segment, member Gabe G. and Pamela N. reflect on the first panel of the series, which took place at the University of Chicago. They take up disagreements as well as the assumed agreement and the response from the audience. (2) In the second segment you'll hear soundbites and brief interviews from pro-Palestine rallies recorded by our members in Philadelphia and Auckland, New Zealand. (3) The third part is a deep dive into the Platypus archives. The current conflict has prompted Rebekkah and Lisa to speak with our member Ian M. about past engagements from our archives. They talked about the founding moment of Platypus as well as past panel initiatives on the politics of solidarity and decolonization.

References from the Segment Reflecting on the Israel-Palestine Panel
- Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness (UChicago, 09 November 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus UChicago, 29 November 29 2023)
https://youtu.be/Nw0Rc_3Hn88?si=OX1c-WYyfWvSIb7S

- Left Perspectives On The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Platypus Oregon State University, November 29, 2023)
https://youtu.be/lDnRfYh5tLs?si=qtf2XnPfjLs5jsG
- Imperialism! What is it, and why should we be against it? (Platypus Melbourne, 02 December 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/live/rLSj2IZOgpg?si=S4QMnYg_NpH5mgeF
- Linke Perspektiven auf den Nahostkonflikt (Platypus Germany, 03 December 2023)
https://youtu.be/OGkf83h52MY?si=BHi0Dz_WKWl2_lGX
- Left Perspectives On The Israel Palestine Conflict (Platypus London, 14 December 2023)
https://archive.org/details/left-perspectives-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-platypus-london
- The Politics of War and Peace (Platypus Northwestern University, 17 November 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACIzgf-mEi8&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety

References from the Archive Segment:
- 2006: Moishe Postone, “History and helplessness: Mass mobilization and contemporary forms of anticapitalism”
https://platypus1917.org/wp-content/uploads/readings/postonemoishe_historyhelplessness.pdf
- 2008: Ian Morrison, “Ba’athism and the history of the Left in Iraq: Violence and politics”
https://platypus1917.org/2008/03/01/baathism-and-the-history-of-the-left-in-iraq-violence-and-politics/
- 2010: Against the status quo: An Interview with Iranian trade unionist Homayoun Pourzad
https://platypus1917.org/2010/01/08/against-the-status-quo-an-interview-with-iranian-trade-unionist-homayoun-pourzad/
- 2021: Panel "The Politics of Solidarity: Israel, Palestine, and the Left" w/ Yoav Gal Tamir (Da'am Workers' Party), Arash Azizi (Left Party of Iran {People's Fedaian), Marco (Angry Workers of the World), Moshé Machover (founder - Israeli Socialist Organisation and its publication Matzpen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORoCuGAPheQ&t=12s
- 2010: Which Way Forward for Palestinian Liberation? (w/ Richard Rubin, Joel Kovel, Hussein Ibish)
https://platypus1917.org/2010/04/08/which-way-forward-for-palestinian-liberation-platypus-review/
- 2023: Panel "Decolonisation and the Left" w/ Ralph Leonard, James Heartfield, Andrew Sanchez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfScpu06K_o
- ​​2010: Initiative Sozialistisches Forum, “Communism and Israel”
https://platypus1917.org/2010/10/08/communism-and-israel/
- 2023: Teach-in Pamela N.: History and Helplessness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9BX4HGK1m8&t=148s&ab_channel=PlatypusAffiliatedSociety
- 2023: Teach-in Lucy P.: The Anti War Movement, Platypus And The Death Of The Millennial Left
https://archive.org/details/antiwarmovementteach-in

Platypus European Conference, 25 - 27 Jan. 2024 in Berlin
https://100yearsafterlenin.com/

We discuss this year's protests in France around police brutality, pension reform, and cost of living with our members Lucas from Bretagne and Paul from Vienna, as well as check in with Parisian protestors with Kristian.

To stay up to date with Platypus France, get in touch at:
platypusfrance [at] gmail [dot] com
or visit:
https://www.platypusfrance.org

On this special back-to-school episode of SPS, Pamela & Laurie discuss the recent Russell Brand controversy. Brand has been in the news lately, under some heat, as a result of public allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. We take this up in the context of the ongoing sex panic and the ongoing transformation of feminism after #metoo, which leads us to discuss the Barbie movie. On the second part of the episode, our members Evan and the current president of Platypus, Erin, sit down with Benjamin Studebaker, the author of the recently published book, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023). Studebaker explains that the crisis of American democracy is deeply embedded in the America economic system, and develops a theory of “legitimacy crisis”. They take this up in their interview and ask some questions about the current state of American politics as well as his formulations of the ends of a Left political movement. We hope you enjoy this expanded edition of SPS, if you like it, leave us a comment and maybe you’ll find more of these longer episodes in the future. If you like the podcast share it and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, it helps us get the word out about the pod.

Links:
- System Update w/ Glenn Greenwald: “New Russell Brand Accusations Deserve Scrutiny & Due Process; Yoel Roth Wails Over Censorship-Regime Backlash; & 4 Republicans Demand Insane Ukraine Escalation” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-russell-brand-accusations-deserve-scrutiny-due/id1669610956?i=1000628426173

-Benjamin Studebaker, The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy: The Way is Shut (2023) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-28210-2

- “What is Marxism for?” A Panel with Benjamin Studebaker, Donald Parkinson, James Heartfield, and Chris Cutrone, PR# 153 (February 2023)
https://platypus1917.org/2023/02/01/what-is-marxism-for/

- “Marxism and liberalism” A Panel with James Heartfield, Spencer Leonard, Anthony Monteiro, and Benjamin Studebaker, PR #150 (October 2022)
https://platypus1917.org/2022/10/01/marxism-and-liberalism-2/

Original soundtracks by Tamas Vilaghy
Editing work by Michael Woodson