Youth School 2012

Monday 20/08
0. Arrivals, introduction

Tuesday 21/08 1. Introduction to our critical Marxism – Alex Merlo

• Historical presentation of Marx and historical materialism
• Basic concepts: labour value theory, surplus value, exploitation, profit…
• The revolutionary Marxist currents. Mass strike and self-emancipation.

Wednesday 22/08 2. The global economic crisis – Catherine Samary

• Historical origin of the crisis: the neoliberal era
• Marxist analysis of the crisis : falling rate of profit, over accumulation, etc.
• Nature and possible outcomes of the current crisis

Thursday 23/08 3. The global ecological crisis – Marijke Colle

• Climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, energy crisis and link with the capitalist mode of production.
• The notion of progress put into question, struggle of indigenous peoples, land grabbing etc.
• Our ecosocialist answers

Friday 24/08 4. Women’s oppression, autonomous women’s movement – Marijke Colle

• A Marxist-feminist analysis of women’s oppression and exploitation under capitalism
• Gender, sexuality, intersectionality: the question of oppression in a broader framework
• The economic and ecological crisis and their specific consequences for women
• Strategic necessity of an autonomous women’s movement; feminism and ecosocialism

Saturday 25/08 Day off

Sunday 26/08 5. Imperialism and permanent revolution in the 21st Century – Gilbert Achcar

• Classic theory on imperialism, imperialism today
• Uneven and combined development
• The example of the Arab region revolutions and the dynamics of “permanent revolution”

Monday 27/08 6. The crisis in Europe, far right movements – Miguel Urban

• The Marxist analysis of fascism
• Economic and political crisis in Europe
• Racism and the extreme right in Europe, how to fight it.

Tuesday 28/08 7. New movements of resistance, USA – Michael Marchman

• The crisis in the USA
• Indignados/Occupy : a new type of movement and its impact
• Their relationship with the workers movement

Wednesday 29/08 8. The crisis in Asia – Alex de Jong

• The economic changes in the region
• National and religious conflicts
• Party building experiences and the relations to social movements

Thursday 30/08 9. Building broad parties and the Fourth International – Penny Duggan

• What is our strategic project as revolutionary Marxists today?
• The building of broad parties today
• The current orientation and forces of the Fourth International

Friday 31/08 10. Evaluation and general cleaning