Mike Foster
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Here are details of another talk at Summer School, presented by guest speaker Edmund Griffiths.
Red-Brown Politics In Russia And Beyond
Post-Soviet Russia has witnessed the emergence of a distinctive ‘red-brown’ political ideology, blending Soviet and Stalinist themes with ideas from the nationalist or neo-Tsarist far right. As early as 1996, the leader of the official Communist Party of the Russian Federation was speaking of Russia’s innate imperial destiny and endorsing the old Tsarist slogan ‘Orthodoxy, autocracy, popularity’ (the last word here could also be translated ‘nationality’, or indeed ‘populism’). The left / right synthesis began in the Russian opposition, among figures like the ‘National Bolshevik’ novelist Eduard Limonov, the ‘patriotic’ general Albert Makashov, and perhaps above all the writer and newspaper editor Aleksandr Prokhanov. But aspects of it have subsequently been borrowed by the Kremlin’s propaganda operations, for audiences both inside Russia and abroad. And attempts to do something similar have been made in other countries (even, to a limited extent, in Britain): ‘populists’ of left and right have been invited to sink their differences and join forces against the ‘globalist elite’. This talk will provide an introduction to the ‘red-brown’ worldview: was Stalin a saint? Will he yet come back from the dead to redeem his people? And could any of it catch on here?
Edmund Griffiths is the author of Aleksandr Prokhanov and Post-Soviet Esotericism (2023): “a veritable map of ideological trends and fads in a disoriented […] society” (Slavic Review)
There isn’t much time left to book a place at the event, as the deadline for bookings is 19th July. For more information, go to https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/
I’m pleased to announce another talk at this year’s Summer School on the theme of Populism. Paul Bennett will go ‘In Search Of Left-Wing Populism’:
Most populist parties are right-wing (Reform UK, Fidesz in Hungary), but it has been suggested that populism could also apply to left-wing organisations (such as the Greens, maybe, or Podemos in Spain). An article in Jacobin suggested that left populists ‘have prioritized a defense of popular over national sovereignty’; this would be in contrast to national populism, an ideology which prioritizes ‘the culture and interests of the nation’ (Eatwell & Goodwin).
We will explore claims such as these and look at how standard populist positions could apply to the left, such as the division between the people and the elite, and opposition to pluralism. Is populism really such a vague notion that it can include a wide range of views?More updates are on the way. The event is being held in Worcester on 21st – 23rd August, and information – including about making a booking – can be found here: https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/
Other sessions at Summer School are in the pipeline and will be announced over the coming weeks. The event will also include a second-hand bookstall, a display of Socialist Standard articles on the Populism theme and an exclusive publication. The deadline for bookings is 19th July, so only just over a month now. For more information, see https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/
Here are details of another talk at this year’s Populism-themed Summer School. Brian Gardner will be speaking about the following:
Rage Against The Dying Of The Right
The rise of populism and fascistic politics is undeniable. But should world socialists be too pessimistic? Beneath the waves of fascistic performative politics tectonic changes in class consciousness appear to be happening. This talk will try to look at populism as an insight to what really matters: the state of global working class consciousness.
· Are we being ‘gaslit’ about the strength of populism?
· Is this really a new era? Or the same old authoritarianism of capitalism, just without the pretence?
· To what extent is the working class around the world genuinely embracing conservative or nationalistic views?
· Is the rise of the far-right actually a desperate tactic by a ruling class running out of ideas?
· Is this just a temporary tech-driven anomaly (subsidized by billionaires and driven by outraged algorithms) which humanity will soon learn to overcome?Other sessions will be announced soon. The event is being held in Worcester on 21st – 23rd August, and more information can be found here: https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/
Levellers Day in Burford was enjoyable again. Three of us ran the party’s stall, which attracted a steady flow of browsers and some interesting conversations. The t-shirts and William Morris pamphlets were popular, and having the banner (and a box of second-hand books) helped draw some interest. There were seven or eight stalls there, including for CND, the Communist Party, save the NHS, a pro-Palestinian organisation and Make Votes Matter. There were fewer people there overall than in previous years, unfortunately, but there was still a varied programme of sessions: talks (with John McDonnell as star guest), a history walking tour, workshops and music.
Here are details of another talk at August’s Summer School on the theme of Populism. Bill Martin will be speaking on ‘Populism As A Keyword’: Words change meaning, and have contested meanings (especially political words). This talk will look at the origin of the word ‘Populism’, showing how it has roots in particular movements, moments and practices that defined it at birth and have shaped its evolution into the word we use now. This talk will range from the Wizard of Oz to the Beatles, and will then come back to try and understand what populism means today.
For more information about the event, including how to make a booking, go to https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/I’m pleased to announce the first of the talks at this year’s Summer School on Populism, being held in Worcester on 21st – 23rd August. Paddy Shannon will be speaking on ‘Should / Could Socialism Be Populist?’
Populism is any political message that’s popular, regardless of merit or political orientation. Ideas become popular when they resonate with how people think. And just how do they think? In Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), psychologist and Nobel prize-winning behavioural economist Daniel Kahneman identifies two modes of thought. System 1 is fast, heuristic and emotional. System 2 is slow, effortful, logical and dispassionate.
In the whirl of everyday life, says Kahneman, people get by with System 1 thinking. But that’s highly vulnerable to manipulation by populist politicians. We generally explain the socialist case in the language of System 2 thinking, because we need people to understand it, not just react emotionally to it.
Which gives us a problem. If socialism is ever to succeed, it must first become popular, and to do that, it must contend with System 1 thinking. People won’t listen to us if we don’t speak their language. Is a populist socialist approach possible? What would it even look like?For more information, including about making a booking, visit https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2026/
Thanks for the interesting information. I was only familiar with the Frank Furedi RCP, so it was useful to learn about the other RCP! It’s a side point, really, but Howard’s mention of their use of the hammer and sickle design made me roll my eyes. It’s worrying that there are still people out there who adhere to what this design represents, given the grim results when the ideas behind it have been tried to be put into practice.
Yes, it was sad to hear about Peter Watkins’ death, and thanks for posting the links. The War Game is rightfully lauded, and there’s much of interest in his other work too. ‘Privilege’ (1967) describes how pop culture can be used by the elite as a means of control. The film opens with a riot at a gig, deliberately-engineered by the state to channel youthful anger away from dissent. This was filmed in Birmingham’s Town Hall, and I went to a screening of the film in the same auditorium, which was quite unsettling (although there was no riot when I was there!). Watkins’ 1971 film Punishment Park is an astonishing piece of work, depicting the trial and punishment of characters representing the strands of 1960s counter-culture. Most of the actors were non-professionals, improvising their dialogue and reactions, giving the film added realism and impact. These films, though, used techniques which Watkins would later reject as he developed his own style, intended to counter the prevailing manipulative style of film-making. He was one-of-a-kind.
Thanks for the meeting reports. It sounds like there’s a lot of energy and confidence and we’ll have to see if YP can maintain this momentum. We’ll also have to see if it leads to far left groups being weakened if lots of their members cross over to YP. The Green Party has tried to divert some of the left’s attention with all the media appearances of its new leader recently.
Thanks very much for putting these together and uploading them – they’re a nice reminder of the Summer School weekend, and now others have the chance to listen to the talks.
Please note that Saturday morning’s talk will now be ‘Was Lenin Ever a Marxist?’ by Adam Buick (presenting over Zoom).
Lenin considered himself to be a Marxist and saw nothing incompatible between Marx’s views and his own view that a minority, vanguard party could seize power in the course of a bourgeois revolution and turn it into a socialist revolution. Was there any basis to Lenin’s belief?The ‘What is Marxism?’ Summer School is now less than a week away, starting on Friday 22nd August. Although bookings at the venue have now closed, the talks will be streamed live through the usual Zoom link. For more information, see https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2025/
