Alex Callinicos - What does it mean to be a revolutionary today?

Debate with Slavoj Žižek at Marxism 2009
http://www.counterfire.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Slavoj
• Žižek
• marxism
• socialism
• communism
• revolution
• resistance
• NWO
• capitalism
• Lenin
• party
• trotsky
• adorno
• left
• philosophy

[IiiERT]

The thing about immigrants is (or at least it looks to me like it is) that is the eyes of ordinary people they do not belong to any class, they're just foreigners. Our leaders are telling us of significant budget cuts coming up while at the same time bringing in more immigrants. The commoner just wants to preserve our public services and is wondering how in this situation can the foreigner possibly be an asset.

[adycousins]

@IiiERT Because the NHS runs on migrant labour - from Doctors, surgeons and nurses to cleaning and portering staff, its defence inseperable from migrant rights. Cut immigration and you cut the NHS.

[jayboselecta]

Whilst Zizek is undoubtedly an asset to the left he contradicts and neglects key aspects of what fighting for socialism is about in his effort to showcase his considerable intellect. The class struggle and the working class is pretty much the same except for the less turbulent economic environment it finds itself in. We should be unapologetic to the postmodernists and the liberals and not be afraid to call the WORKING CLASS just that!

[human3485bil]

I have watched several of these videos and have enjoyed them very much. Thanks! I finally figured out that when the screen goes black and the speaker returns, they are responding to each other's comments. (i.e. Callinicos to Zizek). It would be helpful for viewers if you could indicate that this is what is happening. I realize that this is probably a lot of work but even would be to edit in the video footage that the speaker is responding to. Regardless, thanks a bunch for this!

[sahilmkale]

i have a friend named alex and kaykay and they mean!

[IiiERT]

National Healthcare Sysss...idiot.

[sturatcliffe]

@originaljawz Really sad when people say things like this, and utterly blind. bad for you if that's your experience of life, it's a minority experience. I've travelled the world and met selfless giving people in droves. The people you describe are an insignificant handful and even they can change.

[Croiq]

@originaljawz thats just bollocks, just think about all the aid workers who help poor people around the world, sometimes even paying to be able to do so! To say nobody does anything good for the sake of good itself, is only to talk from your own egoistic perspectiv. You judge others as you judge yourself, the saying goes.

[IiiERT]

What is the NHS?

[originaljawz]

everytime people about socialism, they seem to ignore the individuality spectrum. People are fueled by their own selfish desires. No one does good for the sake of doing good. There will never be social change until unless the desire for change is uniform and that everyone wants the same change.

[brachikamoko]

This speech is just pathetic! It has no verve at all. It is just intellectual bullshitting based on no rationality whatsoever. The intention is not revolutionary. He provides nothing but hot air. Ridiculous!