Episode 164: Marx’s Refutation of Proudhonism: Wanting the Impossible

Co-hosts Andrew Kliman and Gabriel Donnelly discuss a new chapter of Andrew’s book-in-progress on Marx’s understanding of a post-capitalist future. This chapter covers much of Marx’s engagement with the work of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, an anarchist whose influence on the radical movement has persisted into this day. While the conversation does delve into some of what Proudhon thought, argued, and proposed, most of the discussion focuses on what Marx’s refutation of Proudhon in The Poverty of Philosophy reveals about Marx’s thought.

In particular, Andrew and Gabriel discuss how Marx pushed back against the impracticality of Proudhon’s vision, which was only able to address symptoms of capitalism, not the root of the issue.

Plus current-events segment: the co-hosts discuss the collapse of MAGA in the face of the upcoming 2026 US
midterm elections.

Radio Free Humanity is a podcast covering news, politics and philosophy from a Marxist-Humanist perspective. It is co-hosted by Gabriel Donnelly and Andrew Kliman. We intend to release new episodes every two weeks. Radio Free Humanity is sponsored by MHI, but the views expressed by the hosts and guests of Radio Free Humanity are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of MHI.

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