Karl Marx has a reputation for being a stuffy old guy, tucked away in a library writing impenetrable tomes. But he was a revolutionary in practice as well as in theory! With his buddy Engels, he was involved in many of the great revolts of the 19th century: from the 1848 revolutions to the Paris Commune, from the American Civil War to the Irish rebellions against Britain.
Seeing as this is a Marxist podcast, we thought we'd dive into the life and times of Marxism's founder. Chloe and Emma spoke to Rick Kuhn; activist, author and winner of the Deutscher Prize (for great Marxist works!) about Karl Marx.
Further readings
Find out more about what Marx learnt from the struggles of his era:
What Marx discovered in the woods
What Marx learned from the Paris Commune
Marx's battle against 'state socialism'
Read more from Rick Kuhn:
Rick Kuhn writes about understanding economic crises
Lessons from the Anti Nazi League with Moira Leahy
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Abolish the Police with Emma Norton and Luca Tavan
Mass uprising in the USA with Gavin Stanbrook and Vinil Kumar
Nature, capitalism and the metabolic rift with Sagar Sanyal
NTEU Fightback defending university workers pay and conditions with Alma Torlakovic and Katie Wood
Trotsky and Trotskyism with Emma Norton and Luca Tavan
Workers' resistance to the ALP-ACTU Accord with Liz Ross
ANZAC myths and the realities of WW1 in Australia with Robert Bollard
What do we mean by socialism? with Sarah Garnham and Moira Leahy
Rebellion and resistance during the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic with Mick Armstrong
Right wing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic with Vashti Fox
Explaining the economic impact of COVID-19 with Marxist economist Rick Kuhn
Educators, parents and students fighting to shutdown schools and childcare centres with Cathy, Anita and Maya
Workers Organising Resistance in the Pandemic with Kath Larkin and Jerome Small
Socialists Respond to the COVID-19 Crisis in Australia with Louise O'Shea and Sandra Bloodworth
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Celebrating International Working Women's Day with Liz Walsh and Louisa Bassini
Food production, farming and capitalism with Roxanne Kelly
A (revolutionary socialist) beginners guide to economics!
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