This is a free preview of the episode "Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism: An Introduction." You can listen to the full episode by subscribing to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/upstreampodcast

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"Sure, I agree that capitalism sucks—but what's the alternative? We tried socialism in the 20th century and it failed." We've all heard this line from well-meaning friends, family members, or any variety of interlocutors we happen to find ourselves in dialogue with in any variety of contexts. There are a lot of compelling and nuanced responses to this common position, and regardless of what you think of the idea itself, it's an important one for us on the left to be able to answer. 

In this Patreon reading series, Robert reads a passage from a book that attempts to answer this question. The passage is the introductory chapter of the excellent new book, The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism, by Torkil Lauesen. Published by Iskra Books.

What is the response to the idea that socialism is a failed ideology? Why should we see the transition from capitalism to socialism as a long struggle of experiments and struggles that, far from being fruitless, are essential parts of a world-historical struggle that is still playing out? Why is it important to center historical materialism in our analysis of the world? And why should we be more excited than ever at the prospects of human and more-than-human emancipation and thriving in a world organized under socialism? These are just some of the questions we tackle in this reading and analysis of the introductory chapter of The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism, by Torkil Lauesen.

Further resources:

• Iskra Books
• The Long Transition Towards Socialism and the End of Capitalism, by Torkil Lauesen
• Hyper-Imperialism: A Dangerous Decadent New Stage, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research

Related episodes:

• Dialectical Materialism w/ Josh Sykes
• Historical Materialism w/ Torkil Lauesen (coming 12/16)
• The Exhausted of the Earth w/ Ajay Singh Chaudhary
• Trans Liberation and Solidarity with Alyson Escalante
• Everyday Utopia and Radical Imagination with Kristen Ghodsee
• Prefigurative Politics and Workplace Democracy w/ Saio Gradin and Nicole Wires

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