We meet on Zoom every Thursday, 6:30pm – 8pm: Zoom link
Newcomers are always welcome! We’re currently reading a different text every week, so missing weeks is okay!
Revolutionary Theory Series (Sep.–Dec. 2023)
- For those short on time, key excerpts are highlighted in the Weekly Packets linked below.
- Completely reading the assigned texts is encouraged but not mandatory for discussion participation.
- Audiobooks and optional supplementary materials are also linked.
Future Weeks
Click the link after the date below for each Weekly Packet.
Dec. 7. Macnair: What do we make of the socialist revolutions of the 20th century?
- Reading: Revolutionary Strategy, Chapters 1 and 5
- “Revolutionary Strategy” Audiobook
- Optional: Ralph Miliband, Marxism and Politics, Chapter 6 (pp. 154-190)
Dec. 14. Trotskyism (Weekly Packet coming soon): What is Lenin’s legacy?
- Readings: Lenin and the Vanguard Party by C.L.R. James, and Lenin and the Vanguard Party (Toward the Communist International) by Joseph Seymour approx. 30 min
- C.L.R. James Audiobook
Past Weeks
Sep. 7. Lenin (A): Does a revolution need theory?
- Readings: What is to Be Done by Lenin (Skip Ch. 5) approx. 5 hours
- What Is to Be Done Audiobook
Sep. 14. Kautsky: What is capitalism? What is Marxism?
- Readings: Class Struggles by Karl Kautsky approx. 6 hours
- “The Class Struggle (Erfurt Program)” Audiobook
- Slideshow: From The Internationals to DSA
- “The Class Struggle Adapted for the New York People” Audiobook and PDF: IWW co-founder Daniel De Leon’s translation of Kautsky
Sep. 17. In-person meeting
- Location: The Terrace at GSU’s Library North (100 Decatur St. SE, 2nd floor)
Sep. 21. The Labor Theory of Value: Does labor create value?
- Readings: The Wealth of Nations (Book 1: Chapters 6, 8, 9; Book 3: Chapter 3) by Adam Smith, What is the Third Estate? by Sieyes approx. 2.5 hours
- “The Wealth of Nations” Audiobook
Sep. 28. Political vs Civil Society: Would Hamilton oppose Cop City?
- Readings: “The Federalist Papers (No. 8)” by Alexander Hamilton, “The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns” by Constant approx. 1 hour
- “Federalist Papers (No. 8)” Audiobook
- “Liberty of the Ancients” Audiobook
Sep. 30. In-person meeting
- Location: The Terrace at GSU’s Library North (100 Decatur St. SE, 2nd floor)
Oct. 5. Marx and Engels: What is the nature of the capitalist state?
- Readings: 18th Brumaire (Chapter 1 and 7 only) by Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program (part 4 only) by Marx, Critique of the Erfurt Program by Engels, Parti Ouvrier program by Marx and Guesde approx. 2 hours
- Historical background: The Second French Republic
- “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte Audiobook”
- “Critique of the Gotha Program” Audiobook
Oct. 12. Luxemburg (A): Should we try to reform the capitalist state?
- Readings: Reform or Revolution by Rosa approx. 3 hours
- “Reform or Revolution” Audiobook
Oct. 14-15. Atlanta Pride
Oct. 19. Michels (A): Why did the largest Marxist party of all time fail?
- Readings: Political Parties (part 1 and 2) by Michels approx. 6 hours
- The Iron Law of Oligarchy (video explainer)
- “Political Parties” Audiobook
Oct. 26. Michels (B): What is the purpose of a party?
- Readings: Political Parties (parts 3 to 6) by Michels approx. 6 hours
- The Iron Law of Oligarchy
Oct. 28-29. Halloween Weekend
Nov. 2. Luxemburg (B): What is a revolution?
- Readings: The Mass Strike by Rosa approx. 3 hours
- “Mass Strike” AI Audio Book
Nov. 9. Special Presentation: History of white supremacy in Georgia
Nov. 16. Chapter Social
Nov. 23. Thanksgiving
Nov. 30. Lenin (B): What is a workers’ government?
- Readings: State and Revolution by Lenin approx. 5 hours
- “The State and Revolution” Audiobook
Revolutionary Theory Reader
- Here’s all the readings in our Revolutionary Theory series in a single book-length compilation.
- The current version does not include the series facilitator’s extremely helpful highlighting.
- At the end of the series, we’ll update the compilation by adding the facilitator’s highlights.
Foreword to the Revolutionary Theory Reader
Getting Involved
Interested in helping us organize socialist political education events in Atlanta?
Join Atlanta DSA’s Political Education Committee!
- …email us at education@atldsa.org, or…
- …find us at a General Meeting or other Atlanta DSA event!