9/1 - Fundamentals of Marxism Study Series #4: The Politics of Social Classes

This week is discussion #4 in our Fundamentals of Marxism Summer Study Series 

The Politics of Social Classes

The Class Struggles in France was Marx’s first attempt to explain a piece of contemporary history -- the 1848 French Revolution -- by means of his materialist conception, on the basis of the prevailing economic situation.  He continues to analyze France in The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, a pamphlet looking at historical events leading up to Louis Bonaparte's coup d'état of December 2, 1851—from the viewpoint of his materialist conception of history. Together with Marx's contemporary writings on English politics, the Eighteenth Brumaire is the principal source for our understanding of Marx's theory of the capitalist state.

Recommended prerequisites:

• We recommend that for folks to follow the historical allusions, to use wikidedia as a reference for this period http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution_of_1848
• Trotsky on 1848 (From Results and Prospects):
  http://www.marxistsfr.org/archive/trotsky/1931/tpr/rp03.htm
  

Main Reading:

• Engel’s introduction to The Class Struggles in France
  Introduction (18 pages): http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1895/03/06.htm
• Marx’s The Class Struggles in France: 1848 to 1850
  http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1850/class-struggles-france/index.htm

If you prefer to buy the books: The Class Struggles in France


We'll continue the politics of social classes in 2 weeks with a discussion on  The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,

8/25 Organizing for Fall quarter

Join us for our Bi-weekly organizing meeting as we continue to discuss and plan for the fall quarter.

1. Socialist roundup of current events
We'll kick off the meeting with a discussion of socialist take on recent events & headlines: from the "withdrawal" of us troops from Iraq, to challenging the anti-Muslim racists backlash that has erupted over the proposal to build an Islamic community center in lower Manhattan near the site of the World Trade Center; to the developing trends in the ongoing economic crisis --including homeless and hungry college students.
 
Check out some of the lastest articles at socialistworker.org and bring your thoughts on the news and events of the the week.

2. Campus Movement Work
In this discussion we'll assess last spring's activity and plan for our involvement in the fall in the campus moments. We'll focus primarily on the anti-budget cuts organizing and the Yes on 1098 ballot initiative campaign that would tax the rich and raise $2billion for health care and education in WA state.  Help us discuss lessons lear from the spring as well as new ideas for organizing around these issues this fall.

3. Topic Brainstorming for fall meetings
in the last few weeks we decided on broad topics for our fall meetings. This week we'll get more in-depth into the first two topics: "Why you should be a socialist: What is socialism and how do we get There" and "How capitalism works--and how it doesn't: a Marxist primer on the great recession" we'll discuss what we hope to cover in each meeting, how to pitch it to folks on campus and what we want to get out of it. Bring your ideas!

8/18 - Fundamentals of Marxism Session #3: Marx’s Political Economy Primitive Accumulation

Marx’s Political Economy
Discussion #3 in our Fundamentals of Marxism Summer Study Series


For most people economics is a mystery better left unsolved, but Marx rescued economics from the economists and turned it into a tool for explaining inequality, exploitation, and crisis--as well as a way to end all three. And the current economic crisis makes study of this topic even more pressing!



Recommended prerequisites:

• Paul D’Amato, The Meaning of Marxism, chapter 4, Marxist Economic: How Capitalism Works and How it Doesn’t
• Phil Gasper, The Classics of Marxism: Capital Volume 1  http://www.isreview.org/issues/49/capital.shtml 

Main Reading:

• Capital, Vol 1, Part VIII Primitive Accumulation (chapters 26 - 32) (55 pages) http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/

If you prefer to buy the books: Capital, Volume 1

Leftwing Communism, socialist perspectives on current events & more

Wed 8/11 7-9pm
UW School for Social Work Room B12 (corner of 15th N.E. and N.E. 41st)

We have a full schedule for this week's organizing meeting! Join us to discuss a socialist take on the pressing issues of the day, a political strategy for change, and help us figure out how to put it into practice!

1. Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder

How do revolutionaries operate in non-revolutionary times? This is the central question discussed in Lenin's classic pamphlet, Leftwing Communism. Join us for a discussion on how this relates to the movements we're involved in today. Full text of the book can be found online, but all are welcome regardless if you've had the chance to read it. Also see this overview of the book in the International Socialist Review

2. Socialist roundup of current events

Discuss and hear a socialist take on recent headlines: from the victory over Prop 8 in California, to Wikileaks and the war in Afghanistan, to rising unemployment and what the prospects of a Democratic defeat in November means for the left. Check out some of the lastest articles at socialistworker.org and bring your thoughts.

3. Outreach and fall plans

We'll be discussing upcoming plans for tabling and outreach on campus, other events we're planning to attend, and a schedule for meetings in the fall.

Fundamentals of Marxism Discussion #2: Marx's Political Economy

This the second session in our summer-long Fundamentals of Marxism Study Series Check out the full series and readings.

For most people economics is a mystery better left unsolved, but Marx rescued economics from the economists and turned it into a tool for explaining inequality, exploitation, and crisis--as well as a way to end all three. And the current economic crisis makes study of this topic even more pressing!



Recommended prerequisites:

• Paul D’Amato, The Meaning of Marxism, chapter 4, Marxist Economic: How Capitalism Works and How it Doesn’t
• Phil Gasper, The Classics of Marxism: Capital Volume 1 http://www.isreview.org/issues/49/capital.shtml

Part 1: Value, Price and Profit -- Wed 8/4

• Marx, Value, Price and Profit (43 pages)
  http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1865/value-price-profit/index.htm

If you prefer to buy the books: Wage-Labour and Capital and Value, Price, and Profit