We'll be studying Lenin's What Is To Be Done? in the context of Lars Lih's commentary in Lenin Rediscovered, Thursdays 8pm (UTC+1) from 15 April to 27 May inclusive.
Zoomlink https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81679399952?pwd=WW9lRzF1M1l4VVVsWTZVOFdyTS84dz09
Study guide: click here to download as docx, and here to download as pdf. Please read the texts indicated as reading for the first session before you join the course.
Schedule
Session 1: Models and adversaries
Reading: Extracts – German SPD model, Bernstein’s revisionism and Russian socialism before WITBD. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 2: Revolutionary theory and the class struggle
Reading: Preface and Chapter I. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 3: Spontaneity and consciousness
Reading: Chapter II. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 4: Propaganda and agitation
Reading: Chapter III. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 5: Professional revolutionaries
Reading: Chapter IV. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 6: Newspapers and party building
Reading: Chapter V and Conclusion. Click here to download PowerPoint
Session 7: What was done with WITBD
Reading: Extracts – Lenin, Martynov, Plekhanov, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Gramsci, Shachtman, Stalin, Wolfe, Draper. Click here to download PowerPoint
Background
Notes on the roots of Bolshevism, by Sean Matgamna, covering the historical background in Populism, the various strands of Russian socialism, and workers' struggles
Review by Paul Hampton of Lenin Rediscovered
Notes from Brisbane Workers' Liberty study group on Lenin Rediscovered
Timeline used by Brisbane study group
Review by Paul Hampton of Lenin
Interview with Lars Lih
The Bolsheviks as they really were, by Pierre Broué
Propaganda and agitation: what they mean. Excerpts from AWL publications, and Plekhanov's classic discussion
Zoomlink each Thursday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81679399952?pwd=WW9lRzF1M1l4VVVsWTZVOFdyTS84dz09
Meeting ID: 816 7939 9952
Passcode: 695850
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