Mike Foster
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Here are details of another talk at this year’s Summer School. For more details about the event, see here: https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2024/
“They are many, we are few” The Political Consciousness Of The Capitalist Class?
Brian Gardner (Glasgow branch) presents a talk on political consciousness that he dubiously claims was given at the annual convention of the global capitalist class held in the Swiss Alps at Davos in January.
Allegedly smuggled out in a delegate’s complementary Faberge egg, the secret talk celebrates the diverse and inventive propaganda efforts passed on by each ruling class throughout history to help preserve their position of privilege over the ungrateful global masses, – from royalty, religion and racism, to patriotism, consumerism and culture wars.
To help maintain the current order, concerted acts of good old-fashioned violence are of course still an option available to many of the rich. But in this snowflake era, concepts such as democracy and freedom are gaining strength, and brutal, semi-genocidal state terror does carry significant PR and reputational downsides.
The talk supposedly goes on to warn the global elite attending that many of the old ideologies used by the 1% – and that could previously be relied upon to distract, divide and demoralise the 99% – are just not proving to be so effective anymore. Our citizens are increasingly reluctant to fight our turf wars for us. They are unwilling to ignore economic crises and pandemics. And despite being effectively trespassers on the planet, they appear to think they have some interest in its health. “Fooling some of the people some of the time” may have proved a sufficient strategy over the centuries, but there are worrying signs that “the few” may be running out of new arguments to manage “the many”. Our authority was once unquestioned, conveniently handed down by various Gods. Then we found we had to actually argue the point by championing capitalism. Now, our PR advisers tell us not to defend capitalism but just try and change the subject. We once had philosophers on our side, writing passionate speeches for Margaret Thatcher to deliver. Now it’s GB News and Liz Truss.
The alternative is to join Elon Musk’s rocket trip and escape to Mars. But if the prospect of bunking down for six months in class solidarity with the likes of Nigel Farage, Prince Andrew and Michelle Mone doesn’t attract you, what arguments are now left for the poor, misunderstood, class-conscious elite? … And, most of all, what might the workers be making of it all?Well done to everyone who took part in the campaign, and hopefully we’ll get some more interest from it.
I’m pleased to announce another talk at Summer School!
Darren Poynton will be speaking on ‘Socialist Consciousness, Solidarity and Democratic Virtues’
What is required for Socialist consciousness can be thought of as comprising two parts. One: a theoretical understanding of capitalist relations as a form of social compulsion that inevitably constrains the actions of both workers and capitalists. Two: a practical capacity to organise in a democratic and active way, that is required for both the establishment and continued reproduction of socialism. This talk will focus on this second aspect.More news soon!
I’m pleased to announce the first of the talks at this year’s Summer School.
Keith Graham will be speaking on ‘Political Consciousness: What Can We Learn From Marx?’
Karl Marx’s views on political consciousness are best understood in the context of his wider views about human society in general and capitalist society in particular. This talk will assess the plausibility of the relevant elements in these theories and consider what implications they hold for the transition from capitalism to socialism. In particular, the question of inevitability will be addressed.More announcements coming soon! For further details about the event, see the link in the previous post.
Thanks for the updates, and for going out to the rallies. Hopefully this will generate some more interest.
Howard’s talk was recorded at Summer School through the venue’s microphones, so in a different way to the other talks which are much clearer.
Summer School has been and gone, and I thought the event went well. The venue had decent facilities, and between the four interesting and thought-provoking talks there were plenty of amiable chats. As always, the weekend was a nice opportunity to catch up with others.
Recordings of three of the sessions will be uploaded in due course.Ken H pointed out that there are some upcoming programmes on Radio 4 which fit in with Summer School’s theme of work:
Rethink Work: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001p6rg/episodes/guideAlready uploaded is The Moral Maze: Is Idleness Good For Us: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001p1w6
(this mentions Paul Lafarge)Here’s the link for the Summer School talks, being streamed through Jitsi:
https://meet.jit.si/SPGBSummerSchool
(ie NOT the Zoom link as previously suggested)Times and further details are provided here:
http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2023/Summer School is now only a couple of weeks away. Bookings for the weekend have now closed, as all the places are now filled. (If you’ve already been in contact with me about a booking, then this is all still ok).
There are still a few places available at Summer School on 21st – 23rd July in Birmingham, but bookings will have to close on Wednesday 5th July. For more information on what’s happening over the weekend, and how to make a booking, see the previous posts on this thread.
There are still a few spaces available for Summer School, so bookings remain open for now. For more information about the event see the previous posts in this thread or go to http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2023/ , which includes details about how to book a place.
The event will now also include a bonus session – a Saturday afternoon of mosaic-making!
There are still spaces available for Summer School, so bookings are still open. For more information about the event see the previous posts in this thread or go to http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2023/ , which includes details about how to book a place.
If you’re planning on coming along to Summer School on 21st – 23rd July in Birmingham, please make a booking before 17th May. For more information about the event see the previous posts in this thread or go to https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2023/ , which includes details about how to book a place.
Hot on the heels of the previous announcement, I’m happy to confirm the remaining Summer School session. Richard Field will give a talk about ‘The Need For Work – And How To Avoid It’:
Why should I let the toad work
Squat on my life?
Can’t I use my wit as a pitchfork
And drive the brute off?
Philip Larkin
Work has a complex and curious history, one that’s central to human experience. Yet what is it? And why does it seem so contradictory? Work is obligatory. We desire it. We rely on it for a sense of purpose and belonging, maybe even for identity. And yet as Sunday draws to a close and Monday approaches the thought of it can leave us clammy and hollow inside. Perhaps…
This is a lightning tour through the story of work, from the open Savannah to the open-plan office and beyond. On the way it attempts to throw some light on the brutish toad and maybe offers a pitchfork or two in consolation.Please see the previous post for further information about the event, and bookings should be made within the next few days.
I’m pleased to confirm the Saturday evening session at this year’s Summer School: An evening of puzzle-solving and code-breaking, starting with a message hidden in a jigsaw. Work together in teams to follow the clues to find the answers.
There is still one more talk to be announced, and details will follow soon. As with previous years, the event will also include an exhibition of how the Socialist Standard has reported on the topic of ‘Work’ over the years, an exclusive publication and a re-stocked bookstall.
Bookings should be made before 17th May, which isn’t far away now! For more details, including how to make a booking, see here: http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/summer-school-2023/
