Actually Existing Socialism

Latest Episodes:

The Indigenous Peoples of the Soviet Union (Part 2) w/ Alice and Dennis Bartels (Part 2) Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Alice and Dennis Bartels, authors of "When the North Was Red: Aboriginal Education in Soviet Siberia", join the show to discuss their extensive ethnographic research of the Indigenous (also known as Northern) peoples of the Soviet Union. We cover the experience of the various Northern peoples before, during, and after Soviet socialism and how it greatly differed from the genocidal experience of the Indigenous peoples of North America. The Bartels also give us insight into their own experience of living in the Soviet Union to conduct their research at the height of the Cold War. This is part two of a two part discussion.

More information regarding what we discussed and articles written by the Bartels be found on the patreon posting of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69226790

Episode Credits

Intro/Outro: (Internationale Trap Remix - Matt Cousins) Opening Interlude Voice Over: (Theses on the National Quetion by Vladimir Lenin) Opening Interlude Music: (Logic X JID Type Beat "Arkham")

The Indigenous Peoples of the Soviet Union (Part 1) w/ Alice and Dennis Bartels (Part 1) Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

More information regarding what we discussed and articles written by the Bartels be found on the patreon posting of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69218802 Episode Credits

Intro/Outro: (Internationale Trap Remix - Matt Cousins) Opening Interlude Voice Over:(Marxism and the National Question by Joseph Stalin) Opening Interlude Music: (Logic X JID Type Beat "Skywalker")

What Has Socialism Ever Done For Women? w/ Julia Mead Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

Julia Mead joins the show to discuss the article she co-authored with Kristen Ghodsee entitled "What Has Socialism Ever Done For Women?" From abortion rights to women's unions the Soviet Union was a leader in the fight for women's equality. In this enlightening episode Julia expertly explains the ideas of 19th century socialist feminism, the realization of these ideas in the struggle for women's rights in the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries, and finally the lasting impacts of those achievements!

The article and more information regarding what we discussed and Julia's work can be found on the patreon posting of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69210703

Episode Credits

Intro/Outro:

(Internationale Trap Remix by Matt Cousins)

Opening Interlude Voiceover:

(AK-47 Podcast by Kristen Ghodsee (Episode 7)

Opening Interlude Music:

(R&B Beat x Smooth Rnb Instrumental 2021 - "Lola")

Socialism v. Capitalism: The Empirical Data w/Howard Waitzkin May 23, 2022

Show notes

Premier episode! Dr. Howard Waitzkin joins the show to discuss his landmark 1986 study which compares physical quality of life (life span, literacy rates, education accessibility, infant mortality rate etc.) between capitalist and socialist nations at the same level of development.

The study demonstrates conclusively the material benefits of a socialist political economy. Some of the stuff we cover in this discussion includes origins of the study, it's startling conclusions, how it was received after publication (including criticisms), what this study would like replicated in 2022, and even how socialist countries have tackled COVID-19!

Links to the study itself and more information regarding this episode are freely accessible on the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69057149/

Episode Credits

Intro/Outro:

(Internationale Trap Remix - Matt Cousins)

Opening Interlude Voice Over:

(Micheal Parenti - Reflections on the Overthrow of Communism)

Opening Interlude Music:

V.I.P.N - Epic Cloud Trap Beat