Inspired by the LA class proposal, 'the destructon of Socialism in America,' I am interested in something slightly less fatalistic.
The LA proposal reads:
"Phase 1- We'll all contribute, discuss literature from the period between ww1 and ww2 in which the socialist party of america was targetted by the Wilson Administration using his sedition act to jail it's leaders and finacial backers to lengthy prisons sentences and the following creation of American social sciences and introduction to higher education by John D Rockefeller Junior through the philanthropic institutions of Rockefeller Philanthropies, Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, Social Science Research Center and the Problems and Planning committee (among others).
Phase 2- We'll dig up the texts to arrive at an understanding of american socialism at the time of it's eradication and we will restart the evolution of the philosophy from where it left off, publish our findings so that large scale participation can be acheived in the ideological advancement of socialism
Phase 3- The goal of the class will be to describe a viable tactic for separating socialism from it's association with the welfare/prison state created by the social sciences to replace socialism. We'll develop and implement strategies to gain popular support with the goal of creating a viable, popularly controlled entity that can challenge government power and force legislation that benefits the people."
I would be cuious to hear which parts of this people would be compelled to keep, and which could be modified. Which is to say, perhaps the first class ought to be a discussion of the concept itself. Is socialism the prefered name for the contemporary leftist imaginary? It's not at all clear to me that it is, and yet, at the same time, there is this strange attatchment to the word as the preferred slur of the populist right.
The work it seems, therefore, is twofold. On the one hand there is the practical question - what is socialism presently, and what has it been. And, second, what is the word socialism, and what has it, in turn, signified historically.
For example, seperate from this question of socialism-as-smear, there remain quite powerful anti-essentialist arguments against socialism made by the new social movements. These began to see theoretical articulation in the late 1970s and early 1980s through a revitalization of Gramsci's concept of hegemony, among many others. Most contemporary theory continues to operate within this paradigm, which is not self-evidently socialist, far from it, in fact. Any return to socialism, it would seem, must reckon not only with the current, largely semantic, insidiousness, but also with much more difficult and entrenched historical and theoretical legacies.
The reading list should be synthesized based on the interests of the participants.
- Date
- June 19, 2010 at 1:00pm
- Limit
- none
Comment
Take a look at some of the upcoming panels on Marxism and Theory at Left Forum, March 19-21 (http://www.leftforum.org/node/372). Since a lot of people come in from out of town, a meeting scheduled around this time might bring some interesting participants, particularly if the class is run on site at LF.
3 Mar 2010 10:52AM
I'm personally interested in at least a session or two that would trace the history of socialism in the US. Eugene Debs, for instance, is a figure I find fascinating but know hardly anything about (I'm curious to read Marguerite Young's insane-sounding book on Debs, edited down after she died from the 1750-page manuscript she'd submitted, but it's probably not the best starting point: http://www.amazon.com/Harp-Song-Radical-Eugene-Victor/dp/0679427570)
And I found 'The Romance of American Communism' by Vivian Gornick to be quite rewarding, and a good candidate for a reading group...
3 Mar 2010 1:12PM
I have contacted the Left Forum to see about having a class there. Depending on their response, that should determine how we proceed. Thanks to Sarah for that excellent idea.
@sam: Agreed about Debs. I've had Citizen and Socialist, Nick Salvatore's bancroft winning effort sitting on my shelf for a few years now. Would love an excuse to finally get at it.
I'd also be really fascinated at mapping where the many socialist trends have ended up. There the various social forums, as we know, but also the league for the fifth international. I would love to hear what representatives from these organizations have to say...
Be in touch soon!
5 Mar 2010 12:51PM
So I am in talks with Seth, who organizes the Left Forum about having not only a class, but a panel there. The hope would be that the panel would address questions the class would generate at a previous meeting, sort of like we are doing with Democracy Now only with (even more) socialism.
If anyone has any suggestions for people they might like to see on said panel, please drop me an email or even a text or a call (508-397-5525) as we are up against the wire with this.
6 Mar 2010 12:33PM
Ok. We have a panel. Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at 3pm at the Left Forum.
Participants will be Marshall Berman (Adventures in Marxism, All That's Solid Melts Into Air, The Politics of Authenticity), Kenneth Levin (BMCC), Fred Magdoff (Monthly Review) and Martha Rosler (Artist/Activist). More info coming.
9 Mar 2010 3:19PM
This sounds great! Unfortunately, those of us who work at galleries (on the Tues - Sat schedule) won't be able to make it. I hope that we might be able to schedule some additional events on the topic. The Fate (and history) of Socialism in America is obviously a salient topic with some current relevance.
9 Mar 2010 9:35PM
Hey, I second the interest in one session that's more historically oriented; in fact, if we're going to focus on thinking about a viable tract for socialistic thought and action today, I think we should spend some time examining the popularity of and later disenchantment with socialism in the U.S. (and, to a lesser extent, Europe), especially among intellectuals. In addition to the Gornick book, we could read selections from The God That Failed, the classic anthology edited by Arthur Koestler. (And perhaps watch Antonioni's film "Chung Kuo Cina"?)
10 Mar 2010 5:08PM
I'd lobby for keeping this to America (the rest of the world will come in despite itself) and skipping the Koestler (except maybe the Richard Wright chapter? Is that supposed to be a good one? Louis Fischer is the other American--don't know anything about him). The Gornick book is a bit less one-sided...
Are there other American historical moments worth touching on?
10 Mar 2010 5:42PM
Two other notes toward a possible reading list:
1) This book might be an interesting curiosity, at the least...one of the first books to pose the question in its title:
Sombart, Werner (1906): Warum gibt es in den Vereinigten Staaten keinen Sozialismus? Tübingen: Mohr. Several English translations, incl. (1976): Why is there No Socialism in the United States? New York: Sharpe.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/7913
Out of print and quite expensive, but maybe we could scan it?
2) Beverly Gage at Yale teaches a class called "Communism and Anti-Communism in the United States"--I have some friends who took it; I could write her for the syllabus or suggestions.
11 Mar 2010 9:42AM
Hi All,
So first meeting is Monday at 9:30 at 177 Livingston, to discuss and plan for the panel next Saturday. We realize its short notice, but would love you to come if you are able.
More information on a group rate for the Forum coming shortly.
13 Mar 2010 10:05AM
Group Rate Info:
Sorry for the delay on this, but after sorting through some stuff, I've finally figured out the group rate question for the Left Forum.
The Forum needs a lump payment in order to give us the rate, via paypal. I will make this payment on Thursday from my own paypal account. If you or anyone you know is interested simply make a 15 dollar payment to my email address, scsquibb@gmail.com, email me to confirm, and put your name in the note box of the payment. I will send an email confirming with everybody before I send the money to the forum. You will then have badges waiting for you.
I know it sucks that it costs at all, but 15 is much cheaper than 50. Given the left's history with resource management, I understand that this appears a bit odd, so feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
best
Stephen
16 Mar 2010 10:46PM
Any interest in a reading-group session? I could scan that Gornick book this week if anyone is interested. It's also very cheap online, for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0465071112/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0465071104/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF...
Or some other book...
2 Apr 2010 7:59AM
Good idea, Sam. I'm definitely interested in a reading group on the Gornick book. I just ordered a copy online.
Mike
4 Apr 2010 10:15AM
Is there still interest in a reading group?
26 Apr 2010 3:33PM
SarahR,
Absolutely!
Nolan
27 Apr 2010 10:26AM
Hegemony and Socialist Strategy would be a text I'd like to revisit....
27 Apr 2010 12:45PM
What about the Gornick book? I'd be interested in reading that....
27 Apr 2010 12:47PM
Agreed. Let's do the Gornick. Sam are you still up to scan it?
28 Apr 2010 11:15AM
I'll try today.
29 Apr 2010 7:16AM
http://a.aaaarg.org/text/13153/romance-american-communism should have the text; let me know if it doesn't work. (Aaaarg log-in required.)
29 Apr 2010 5:43PM
http://a.aaaarg.org/text/13153/romance-american-communism should have the text; let me know if it doesn't work. (Aaaarg log-in required.)
29 Apr 2010 5:44PM
Sorry, fixed the pdf problem (I hope).
Part 1: http://ifile.it/2anhrub
Part 2: http://ifile.it/zh3kf4u
30 Apr 2010 4:21PM
So ... is this class going to happen?
26 May 2010 3:51PM
Seems like we've got everything in place for a reading group: a book, a place to meet, and enough people to discuss it. Now we just need to schedule a meeting. Maybe we can meet within the next two weeks or so, that way everyone has plenty of time to get through the first chapter of the Gornick book beforehand.
What day of the week works best for everyone? I'd vote for a day early in the week - like a Monday or Tuesday evening - or for Sunday, although 177 Livingston might be crowded with other classes on a Sunday.
26 May 2010 5:53PM
Maybe Monday, June 14?
31 May 2010 7:39AM
I leave on the 11th for Basel, so if we don't mind meeting few days early I'd appreciate it. I realize that'd be quite soon, so if I'm the only one who can't do the 14th, by all means schedule the meeting without me. Otherwise I return on the 22nd.
31 May 2010 7:49AM
I'm out of town next week; Alex is out of town as of 6/16... anyway, not everyone will be able to make it. If next week works best for everyone, I can miss it, but 6/14 is open on the calendar; 6/19 is open; 6/21 might be; 6/24 and 6/25 and 6/28 are...
And there are some open slots next week.
31 May 2010 7:57AM
Hi Sam and all,
Traversing 42nd street is scheduled for 6/14. The class will take place on / across 42nd street - not at 177 - but I wonder if we want to schedule two classes the same evening.
how about later that week - the 19th?
31 May 2010 9:18AM
I'll be out of town 6/19-6/21 but if that's the best time for everyone else I can miss the first session. All the other dates sound fine.
31 May 2010 8:14PM
I'm going to be in town on the 19th so I'd be excited if this happened then!
31 May 2010 10:58PM
19th sounds good. Any objections? Shall I schedule away?
2 Jun 2010 10:44AM
A possible addition to the reading list: Elana Kagan's senior thesis, “To The Final Conflict: Socialism in New York City, 1900-1933.”
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2010/06/elena-kag...
pdf here: http://bit.ly/cTNHUt
From the Times: "In 153 pages, the paper examines why, despite the rise of the labor movement, the Socialist Party lost political traction in the United States — a loss that she attributed to fissures and feuding within the movement."
5 Jun 2010 9:27AM
19th at one it is! See you all there!
11 Jun 2010 9:05AM
Am I the only one that doesn't understand why this -public school- class is happening somewhere else that is going to charge a pretty considerable amount of money when we have a very free and very decent space to use? Am I also the only one that would love to go but most likely will not because of the steep and seemingly unnessciary attendance fee?
15 Jun 2010 7:00AM
Sorry, Melissa, that's an artifact of the first class session, from a few months ago. This will be at 177 Livingston at 1 p.m. on 6/19 and free.
15 Jun 2010 7:18AM
Hi everyone. Just a reminder that the reading group on Vivian Gornick's 'Romance of American Communism' is being held tomorrow at 1 p.m. at 177 Livingston; it's free.
You should be able to download the Gornick in two parts:
http://ifile.it/2anhrub
http://ifile.it/zh3kf4u
And if we have time we'll discuss Elena Kagan's senior thesis, available here:
http://bit.ly/cTNHUt
Sam
18 Jun 2010 7:51AM
Hi
Please help as I'm still confused. Maybe I need to read more carefully, but my confusion is.
Reading group at 1pm in 177 Livingston and Fate of communism at Left forum. are they two different event?
RSVP info is showing this will happen at Left Forum, but latest comments show this will be a reading group.
At the Left Forum website I found the following info.
The Fate of Socialism
W607
Martha Rosler (Chair) -
Marshall Berman -
Kenneth Levin - Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY
if this happens at Left Forum, where to meet? looks like a very busy event.
19 Jun 2010 8:23AM
tchoi8:
Sorry for the confusion! All residual scheduling information for the Left Forum event last March has now been removed from the class page. The class today will function as a reading group at 177 Livingston. See reading information in the comments section above...
19 Jun 2010 8:30AM