Marx Engels Lenin Institute

A Marxist History of World War 2 - The Fall of France

Why did the much larger French army fail to combat the Germans in 1940? Why did the British and the French not support their Polish "ally" in 1939? Why does the end of the French 3rd Republic have so much to do with it's counter revolutionary beginnings?  These are the questions I examine in the latest episode of 'A Marxist History of WW2". 

Outro Song is 'Le Chant Des Partisans' 

Episode Image is a photograph of General Keitel handing over the terms of surrender to...

Article Review - Ischenko on Russian Capitalism

In this special episode I look at this recent article by the Ukrainian sociologist Volodymyr Ischenko regarding the nature of Russian capitalism.  It is an interesting analysis in some ways though, I argue, it's attachment to deeply flawed thinking on globalisation and the nation state leads Ischenko to commit some fundamental errors.  

Episode Artwork is 'For You ...

Pawns In The Game - Red Star Daily #25

In  this episode I look at the fate that has befallen those who have  provided themselves and their movements as allies to the US  imperialists.  This is relevant not only to the fate of Zelensky but  also to the latest selling out of the Kurds in Syria by the US.  It is  also something that has relevance to the current violence in Iran that  is taking place in Iranian Kurdistan and the Balochi region in South  East Iran, on the border with Pakista...

The Revelations of Boris Johnson - Red Star Daily #24

In this episode I look at the latest from the Russia-NATO war before  turning to related issues including Boris Johnsons recent interview on  CNN.  I then exa,ine why the European nations were so weak and how  Borish Johnson's interview confirmed much about this.  I also look at  the falling apart of Moldova and the risks of the Romanian intervention  there before concluding by looking at the latest from the CSTO summit in  Yerevan.

Episode Artwor...

November Q&A Part 2

Part 2 of the Q&A has everything from Bonpartism, later stage imperialist decay and maga "communism".  Thanks to all those who submitted questions! 

The final part of the Q&A will be out next week and it'll focus on a question submitted regarding Stalin and as you all know that always requires a massive amount of detail so it'll have it's own episode. 

Episode artwork is the work 'Lenin in October' by the Soviet Ukrainian Artist Nikolai Borovsky

*Early Release* Interview With Carlos Garrido

This an early release for patrons, the interview will go out on public release on Friday of this week.  

I recently spoke with Carlos Garrido, co-founder and editor of Midwestern Marx, about his new book 'Marxism and the Dialectical Materialist Worldview'.  Our discussion covers the themes of the book, the importance of Hegel, Soviet Marxism, the wretchedness of the Frankfurt School and the disconnect betwteen workers and the left.  

Episode Artwork is 'At The Const...

Castillo, Peru and Questions of Sovereignty - Interview With Alejo Schizo

In  this episode I speak to Peruvian nationalist Alejo who talks us through  the various different contradictions inside his nation.

We speak about the troubles facing the left reformist government of  Castillo, the role of the US empire and the actions of the numerous NGOs  in nations like Peru.

It's a really interesting discussion about an area of the world we hear very little of in the bourgeois press.

Scams Within Scams - Red Star Daily #21

In  this episode I look at the latest Ukrainian attempt to secure NATO  ground forces involvement in the war via the missile strike on Polish  territory.  This leads into a discussion of the FTX scam collapse and  it's links to the Ukrainian regime. Finally, I look at the recent  comments made by Chuck Schumer were he called for an urgent expansion of  the American labour force.

Outro Music is 'Shot by Both Sides' by Magazine

Episode Artwork is '...

The Contradictions Pile Up - Red Star Daily #20

In  this episode I look at the latest talk of a potential peace deal  between the Russians and Americans regarding the war in Ukraine and why  this is not likely to happen now.

I also examine the recent bombing in Istanbul and the claims that the US had some role to play in this plot.

In the final section I look at a recent speech 2022-11-15 11:44:43 +0000 UTC View Post

November Q&A Part 1

In this first episode of the Q&A I look at the following questions!

* What is an intelligence asset? 

* The neocon view of Taiwan

* Xinjiang and the Uyghur issue

* The prospects for Communist organising

* The role of the individual in history

* My brief sojurn with anarchism

The next episode of the Q&A will be out next Monday! 

Thanks for all your questions! 

Episode artwork is 'With Ilyich' by the Soviet Artist Vasi...

The Reluctance of the Bourgeoisie - Red Star Daily #20

In  this episode of the bulleting I look at the rotten propagandistic  coverage of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson and the perpetual role  of ex-Trotskyites as neo-cons and pet empire intellectuals.

The bulk of the episode though is taken up with an examination of the  way in which the Russian bourgeoisie are acting bears some similarities  to the reluctance of the English bourgeoisie to actually take the war  against the king seriously.  I also di...

The Coming Class Wars - Red Star Daily #19

In  this episode I look at further developments regarding the Russian  withdrawal from Kherson.  Is there a deal with the US?  Or is it  actually the case that this war will grind onwards as the US itself is  not capable of agreeing on a way forward within the Biden  administration?

I also look at the latest fall out from the midterms and ask would a  Theodore Roosevelt type figure be able to emerge with the state of US  capitalism today?

The Kherson Withdrawal - Red Star Daily #18

What  should we make of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson city?  Is there a  deal on the cards between the US and Russia?  Is Ukraine going to be  partitioned?

I'll be looking at all of this then turning to examine the US  midterms and the continuity that exists from Obama to Trump to Biden.

Outro Music is 'Slow Train Coming' by Bob Dylan

Episode Artwork is 'The Shift Is Over' by the Soviet Azerbaijani artist Tahir Salakhov

Delusions of a Decaying Empire - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

In this episode I speak to investigative journalist Kit Klarenberg about his latest work on the machinations of British intelligence in the Ukraine war.

We also cover the decline of British imperialism and get into some details over the latest flare up regarding Kosovo.

Be sure to check out Kits writing for The ...

The German Dilemma - Red Star Daily #17

In  this latest bulletin we look at the latest news from the frontlines in  Ukraine/Southern Russia including developments in Kherson, Ugeldar and  Bakhmut.  We then consider the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's recent  visit to Beijing, the comments made by President Xi Jinping and the  wider context of German deindustrialisation.

In the final part of the programme we take a question from a listener  regarding the potential choices facing the Russian g...

The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917

In  this special episode I look at the event that defined the last 105 years, that October Revolution of 1917.  In doing so I trace the origins  of the Bolsheviks victory back to the early days of Russian Marxism,  the role played by Plekhanov, the development of Russian capitalism and  the birth of the Bolshevik Party.  Particularly important is the  development of the Bolshevik relationship with the masses and how this  developed over time to reach it...

On Bourgeois Catastrophism - Red Star Daily #16

In  this episode of the Red Star bulletin I look at the latest news from  Ukraine, the developments in Iran and the threats of war in the  Democratic Republic of Congo.

I then look at the confused world of the MMT theorists and conclude  with a consideration of the role of bourgeois catastrophism in the covid  hysteria.

Episode Music is 'The End' by The Doors (Lyrics by Morrison)

Episode Artwork is 'Baltic, Human Bridge' by the Soviet Artist N Prisek...

The Bosphorus Connection - Red Star Daily #15

In this episode of the bulleting I look at the renewed Ukrainian grain deal and who really benefits from it.

I then examine how this is connected to Putins meeting with Pashinyan  and Aliyev, the Iranian connection to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict,   more US terrorism against Iran and finally the cucking of Elon Musk.

Outro Music is 'Everybody Knows' by Leonard Cohen (1989)

Episode Artwork is 'Here The Soldiers Go' by the Soviet Artist Yuri Mikhailovich Nepr...

Lulas Comeback and Truss Hacked! - Red Star Daily #14

In this episode of the daily bulletin I look at the latest from the frontlines in Ukraine including some fresh advances made by the Russian forces before turning to look at the new mass attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid.

I also examine the claims regarding the hacking of Liz Truss's phone and what it could tell us about the Nord Stream pipeline attacks.

The programme concludes with an examination of Lulas big comeback in Brazil and why a lot of policy won't actually change that...

The Empire of Self Deceptions - Red Star Daiy #13

In this episode I look at the latest from the frontlines in Ukraine.  I then examine the attack on the Russian naval base in Sevastopol and ask what the British involvement may have taken the form of.  There is also the question of the infinite self deception engaged in by the EU over the sanctions on Russian energy.

In the concluding part of the episode I examine a question about last nights episode on the nature of fascism taking into consideration the example of the Spanish...

Imperialism, Fascism & War - Red Star Daily #13

In  this episode of Red Star Daily I look at the nature of fascism, what  constitutes a fascist regime and what does not and why we should avoid  applying the term too hastily.

Outro is 'Partisans Song' by The Red Army Choir

Episode Artwork is 'Shooting the Fascist Vultures' by the Soviet Artist Viktor Kiselev

The Enlightenment Moves East? - Red Star Daily #12

In this episode of the daily bulletin I examine:

1) The latest from the frontlines

2) Chinese continue to expand their activity in European economies

The bulk of the episode though consists of an examination of the speech and Q&A given by Putin at the Valdai Club today.

Outro Music is 'This Is The Day' by The The

Episode Artwork is 'Winter Forest' by the Soviet Latvian artist Yanis Paulyuks

The Dangers of Decaying Imperialism - Red Star Daily #11

In  this episode of the daily bulleting I look at the latest from the  frontlines in Ukraine.  I then turn to comments made by Putin recently  at a meeting of CIS security officials regarding the sovereignty (or  lack thereof) of Ukraine.  I also consider the devastating effects on  population size and birth rates that the collapse of the socialist  system had on places like Latvia.

In the final part of the programme I look at the chances of the p...

The Incapacities of Europe - Red Star Daily #10

In  this episode of the bulletin I look at the latest updates from the  frontlines in Ukraine/South West Russia before turning to the overhyping  of US deployments done by CBS news.  I then look at the latest  developments on the "dirty bomb" story including an interesting article on this from Scott Ritter.

I conclude by looking at Rishi Sunak and...

Dirty Bombs and Tapped Phones - Red Star Daily #9

In  this episode of the daily bulletin I look at the latest from the  frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine war.  This then leads onto a discussion  of the allegations made by the Russian MoD that the Ukrainians are  preparing to detonate some kind of dirty bomb or low yield nuclear  device and how this has been reacted to.

I then look at an 2022-10-24 22:15:20 +0000 UTC View Post

Propaganda, Slander and NATO's War - Red Star Daily #8

In  this episode of Red Star Daily I look at the latest from the frontline  including the stories coming out of Kherson.  I then look at the  deployment of Russian forces to Belarus and how they may be potentially  used.  I then look at the propaganda stories regarding the Novaya  Khakovka damn and how believing this story depends upon a decade of  British/US propaganda regarding the the nature of the Russian  government.

Episode outro is 'So...

The Struggles of Haiti - Interview With Dan Cohen

In this episode I speak to the journalist Dan Cohen about his recent  article on political crises afflicting Haiti.  We discuss the many  invasions suffered by Haiti led by US and French imperialism, the role  of the liberal opposition as tools of the US, the tactics the Biden  regime is pursuing and the man emerging as a new leader of Haitian  resistance Jimmy Cherizier.  It's a fascinating interview and be sure to  keep an eye out for Dan's upcoming d...

Red Star Daily #7

In this episode of Red Star Daily I look at the following events in the light of the Ukraine war

* The fall of Liz Truss

* The recent leaked audio of the candid comments of Silvio Berlusconi

* The evolving Russian plans for the war

* The failure of the US plans at each turn

* The disintegration of NATO and the EU

The outro music is the song 'Marie Douceur Marie Coleur' by Marie Laforet

The episode artwork is entitled 'Mist' by the Soviet Artist Victor...

Red Star Daily #6

n  this episode of the daily update I look at the latest decisions made by  the Russian Security Council including the imposition of martial law in  the four new regions of Russia, the potential for Ukrainian assaults in  Kherson and the evacuation of the civilian population from there and  the continued attempts by Ukraine to retake the Zaporozhye nuclear power  plant.  

I also consider the cliches indulged in by western intellectuals when it  ...

Red Star Daily #5

In this update on the Russia-Ukraine war I look at the latest information coming from the frontline before turning to an interesting interview given by the new commander of the Russian forces in South West Russia/Ukraine General Surovikin.  In the latter part of the episode I examine some of the possible ways the war may end.  

Outro music is 'Downpresser Man' by Peter Tosh

Episode Artwork is entitled 'Commander SM Budyonny' by Nikolai Ponamarev (1985)