Bolshevism or Mutual Aid?

With interest in communist ideas rising every year, questions of communist strategy and tactics have become increasingly pertinent to discuss. Capitalism has created desperate conditions of poverty for billions across the globe, as well as a burning desire to stop the suffering of the oppressed, drawing some young revolutionaries to the idea of “mutual aid.”

In this presentation we will discuss what mutual aid is and what role it can—and can’t—play in the class struggle, drawing lessons from historical experiences such as the Black Panther Party and the German Social Democratic Party. We will discuss how the methods of Bolshevism can win the struggle to end homelessness, hunger, exploitation, and oppression once and for all. 

This discussion will be introduced by Mia Jimenez, a leading member of the RCA in Los Angeles.

Reading list:

Articles

• FAQ: Marxism, Bolshevism, and Mutual Aid – RCA
• Base-Building or Bolshevism? – Antonio Balmer
• Morality and the class struggle – Hélène Bissonnette
• Lessons from the History and Struggle of the Black Panther Party – John Peterson

Podcasts/Videos

• Marxism or Mutual Aid? – Josie Seaton