Book Club — Revolutionary Theory (Sep. 7–Dec. 15, 2023)

This reading series has concluded.

The readings are archived in Weekly Packets linked below.

  • Audiobooks and additional materials are also linked.
  • A summary list of texts appears at the bottom of this page.

Weekly Packets

Sep. 7. Lenin (A): Does a revolution need theory?

Sep. 14. Kautsky: What is capitalism? What is Marxism?

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?

Sep. 28. Political vs Civil Society: Would Hamilton oppose Cop City?

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?

Oct. 12. Luxemburg (A): Should we try to reform the capitalist state?

Oct. 14-15. Atlanta Pride

Oct. 19. Michels (A): Why did the largest Marxist party of all time fail?

Oct. 26. Michels (B): What is the purpose of a party?

Oct. 28-29. Halloween Weekend

Nov. 2. Luxemburg (B): What is a revolution?

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?

Dec. 7. Macnair: What do we make of the socialist revolutions of the 20th century?

Dec. 14. Trotskyism: What is Lenin’s legacy?

Readings from Prior Years

  • This Supplement to the Revolutionary Theory Reader collects selected texts from Atlanta DSA reading groups in prior years.
  • It includes:
    • “Liberalism, Ultra-Leftism or Mass Action” by Peter Camejo
    • “Anatomy of the Micro-Sect” by Hal Draper
    • “The Approaching Obsolescence of Housework” by Angela Davis
    • “Why Socialism?” by Albert Einstein
    • “On Authority” by Friedrich Engels
    • “The Tyranny of Structurelessness” by Jo Freeman
    • “Introduction to Mutual Aid” by Andrej Grubacic and David Graeber
    • “I Am Your Sister” by Audre Lorde
    • Excerpt from Marxism and Politics by Ralph Miliband

Texts

  • Reading Packet (Week 1): What is to Be Done by Lenin
  • Reading Packet (Week 2): The Class Struggle by Kautsky
  • Reading Packet (Week 3): Excerpt from The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, “What is the Third Estate?” by the Abbé Sieyès
  • Reading Packet (Week 4): “The Federalist Papers (No. 8)” by Alexander Hamilton, “The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns” by Benjamin Constant
  • Reading Packet (Week 5): Excerpts from 18th Brumaire by Marx and “Critique of the Gotha Program” (part 4 only)” by Marx, “Critique of the Erfurt Program” by Engels, Parti Ouvrier program by Marx and Guesde
  • Reading Packet (Week 6): Reform or Revolution by Rosa
  • Reading Packet (Week 7): Political Parties (part 1 and 2) by Michels
  • Reading Packet (Week 8): Political Parties (parts 3 to 6) by Michels
  • Reading Packet (Week 9): The Mass Strike by Rosa
  • Reading Packet (Week 10): The State and Revolution by Lenin
  • Reading Packet (Week 11): Revolutionary Strategy by Macnair, Chapters 1 and 5
  • Reading Packet (Week 12): “Lenin and the Vanguard Party” by C.L.R. James, “Lenin and the Vanguard Party (Toward the Communist International)” by Seymour
  • Supplement:
    • “Liberalism, Ultra-Leftism or Mass Action” by Peter Camejo
    • “Anatomy of the Micro-Sect” by Hal Draper
    • “The Approaching Obsolescence of Housework” by Angela Davis
    • “Why Socialism?” by Albert Einstein
    • “On Authority” by Friedrich Engels
    • “The Tyranny of Structurelessness” by Jo Freeman
    • “Introduction to Mutual Aid” by Andrej Grubacic and David Graeber
    • “I Am Your Sister” by Audre Lorde
    • Excerpt from Marxism and Politics by Ralph Miliband

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