Events & Appeals - Marxist-Humanist Initiative

Appeals

Upcoming Events

On-Going Events

Request Invitation to Meetings

MHI holds monthly meetings via Skype, some of them open to guests. We are also holding our Annual Conference via Skype on December 5 & 6. If you wish to be invited to a meeting or the conference, write to MHI’s email and tell us a little about yourself and why you wish to attend.

Radio Free Humanity, the Marxist-Humanist podcast, has new episodes every 2 weeks.

MHI encourages submissions for our publication. What are you involved in? Please send us an article.

“Raya Dunayevskaya: Biography of an Idea”

This documentary film is now available on our website. Contact us if you would like a speaker for a screening in your locale.

Past Events

2019

London 11 & 18 June: Discussions at Birkbeck College

MHI will participate with others in these two panel discussions:

Where is the Women’s Struggle Today? From Liberation to Equality

7:00 pm Tuesday, 11 June
Birkbeck Room 102
28 Russell Square London WC1N 1DB

Donald Trump-An Extraordinary Danger to the World. What We Can Do

7:00 pm Tuesday, 18 June
Birkbeck College, Room B18
Mallet Street, London WC1E 7HX

More information here

Friday, April 12, 2019 MHI program in New York City:
“Brexit and the Future of Ireland and Scotland: Beyond the Pro/Anti-Brexit Quagmire”

7:00-9:00 pm, at Bluestockings Books. 172 Allen St., LES, Manhattan
(two blocks south of Houston; go to 2^nd Avenue subway stop and exit at 1^st Ave.)

The program will feature Chris Gilligan, Scottish/Irish academic, author, and Open Borders activist, who will draw attention to the human dimensions of immigration restrictions and highlight grassroots movements for human freedom in existing pro-immigrant campaigns. A second speaker, Adam Plante, will give “Remarks on Marxist-Humanism’s Challenge to the ‘Left.,” emphasizing the need to reject commonly “given” alternatives and to ground action in liberatory philosophy.

Saturday, April 13, 2019 MHI panel at conference in New York City:

“Fighting Trumpism and Left Accommodation: Marxist-Humanist Perspectives”. The video of the event is available here.

Speakers are Andrew Kliman, Brendan Cooney, Chris Gilligan, Anne Jaclard, & Adam Plante.1:00 pm, at Historical Materialism’s “Socialism in Our Time” conference, which takes place April 13 & 14 at the James Baldwin School, 351 W. 18^th St., Manhattan.

Also, we hope you will visit our book table throughout the conference.

Beginning Sun. April 7, 2019 available everywhere via Skype:

A study group on Raya Dunayevskaya’s 1973 book,
Philosophy & Revolution: from Hegel to Sartre and from Marx to Mao.

We will do a close textual reading of this foundational work of Marxist-Humanism.

Meeting every 3 weeks (Sundays at 1 pm NYC time); 11 classes.

2018

MHI’s Annual Conference

A week-end in December, held in NYC, London & cyberspace

For members, supporters, and invited guests, our Annual Conference will discuss the past year and project future tasks for the development of Marxist-Humanist philosophy and organization. Write us with information about your interest if you wish to be invited.

MANY MHI PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND POSTED IN OUR PUBLICATION, “WITH SOBER SENSES.”

2017

Left Forum 2017, NYC:

MHI’s panel June 4: Confronting “Anti-Neoliberal Left” Collaboration with Trumpism and the Far Right

A video and some of the papers are published in our publication.

2016

MHI discussions in London Sept. 11 & Stockholm Sept. 14

London: “The Economic Crisis and the Rise of the Xenophobic Right” on Sun. 11 September at 4:00 pm in Dragon Hall, 17 Stukeley Street. Speakers: Andrew Kliman, Moshe Machover, Joseph Choonara & Ravi Bali.

Stockholm: “What makes a free society? Marxian and Libertarian perspectives” on Wed. 14 Sept. at 6:30 pm in Södra Teatern Kägelbanan. A debate between Andrew Kliman and Per Bylund, co-sponsored by MHI and bubb.la.

Details of both events in first featured article in our publication.

MHI’s Annual Conference
NYC & cyberspace in December
For members, supporters, and invited guests, our Annual Conference will examine the past year and project future tasks for the development of Marxist-Humanist philosophy and organization. Write us for information.

Left Forum 2016, New York City, May 20-22

MHI panel:

Sat. May 21, 10:00 a.m., Room 1.107 (Session 1)
“The Vanguardist/Spontaneist Binary and the Marxist-Humanist Alternative”
Speakers: Andrew Kliman, economist, author; Anne Jaclard, MHI, journalist; Mike Dola, worker-student-activist; Ravi Bali, London housing activist.

Also recommended:
Sun. May 22, 10:00 a.m., Room 1.121 (Session 5)
“Human Rights Industry and Commodification of Public Spheres in Iran”
Speakers: Soheil Asefi, student, journalist, former political prisoner; Arash Kia, scientist, left Iranian activist; Andrew Kliman, author of Reclaiming Marx’s Capital

Sun. May 22, 12 noon, Room 1.109 (Session 6)
“Overcoming Capitalism”
Sponsor: Zero Books. Speakers: Terry Tapp, author of A Serf’s Journal; Anne Jaclard, radical journalist; Andrew Kliman, author of The Failure of Capitalist Production; Pete Dolack, author of It’s Not Over; Douglas Lain, publisher of Zero Books.

Fuller descriptions here.

Reading “Capital” Closely: Livestream Course on Volume 1

During the 2015–16 school year, Marxist-Humanist Initiative (MHI) is sponsoring a course on the first volume of Marx’s Capital: A Critique of Political Economy. Marx regarded Capital as a theoretical blow to the bourgeoisie from which it would never recover. The course is taught by Andrew Kliman. Only members of the class have access to the videos. It is now too late to apply, but you may wish to see the article in With Sober Senses for more information about the course.

March talks in London: MHI launch of public events in the UK. Videos are here.

Thurs. March 17, 7:00 p.m. “Do we Need Marx’s Humanism Today?” Speakers: Andrew Kliman, Anne Jaclard, Mike Fitzpatrick & Alan Hudson

Mon. March 21, 6:30 p.m. “Activity, Theory, and the Grass-Roots Housing Movement” Speakers: Anne Jaclard, Jack Dean & Ravi Bali

MHI meeting on state-capitalism and the nature of the Soviet Union, Jan. 23, 2016. Recording and text of talk.

2015

MHI’s Annual Conference is in early December this year.

Friends may be invited to attend; write to MHI at mhi@marxisthumanistinitiative.org if you are interested.

Andrew Kliman’s public talks in England, June 27 – July 11

Information is from the sponsors of the events.

Sat., June 27, 1-3pm, informal meeting on “Neoliberalism and financialisation–active or reactive features of the crisis of capitalism?” The Lucas Arms (pub), 25A Grays Inn Road, London (near Kings Cross)

Sat, June 27, 6:30pm – 9:30pm. “Andrew Kliman debates with Peter Taaffe and/or Lynn Walsh – invited.” Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, Room B36. (https://www.facebook.com/events/617588808344740/628385757265045/)

Thurs.-Sat., July 2-4. Southampton Solent University, conference of Association for Heterodox Economics (http://hetecon.net/).

1. Thurs., July 2, 1-2:40pm, “The Whiggish Foundations of Marxian and Sraffian Economics,” presentation in panel on “Growth/Ideology”

2. Fri., July 3, 9:20-11am, “Is Marx’s Theory of Profit Right? Lessons for Pluralism,” presentation (with Nick Potts) in “Marx I” panel

3. Sat., July 4, 11:15am-12:30pm, panelist in “Crisis” plenary session. Other panelist is Geoff Tily of the Trades Union Congress.

Sun., July 5, 3pm-, “The Failure of Capitalist Production: Political Implications of the Great Recession,” at premises of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, 52 Clapham High Street, London (http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/talk-andrew-kliman-head-office-3pm)

Thurs., July 9, 3:35-5pm, “Economic recovery & the prospect of ‘secular stagnation.’” SWP Marxism 2015 festival. Clarke Hall, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London (http://marxismfestival.org.uk/timetable/thursday)

Sat., July 11, 2-5pm, informal meeting on the TSSI and a Marxist-Humanist view of revolutionary organization. In pub near Kings Cross Station. Write to ravibali@btinternet.com to confirm attendance and obtain exact address. (TSSI = temporal single-system interpretation of Marx’s value theory.)

MHI at the Left Forum, NYC May 31

Videos of MHI’s 3 panels are published in With Sober Senses. They were:

Marx’s “Critique of the Gotha Program”: new direction for revolutionary organization

Anti-Neoliberalism vs. Anti-Capitalism (with focus on Greece)

Harvey vs. Marx: on capitalist crisis and “Marxist entertainment” (Rm. 1.121)

2014

Classes via Skype on Marx’s Critique of the Gotha Program as New Foundation for Organization
MHI conducted this class series on Sundays Nov. 2 through Dec. 7 by Skype.

MHI’s Annual Conference
NYC in December
For members, supporters, and invited guests, our Annual Conference will examine the past year and project future tasks for the development of Marxist-Humanist philosophy and organization. Write us for information.

The Politics of Inequality Discourse
SEE VIDEO OF THIS MEETING
Monday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
at Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue, Manhattan (bet. 35-36th St.), Room 403
Outside NYC: write MHI for Livestream information
This discussion will explore the politics behind the inequality rage. In an opening talk, Andrew Kliman will suggest that this phenomenon is rooted in acceptance of the permanence of capitalism, and in a failure to listen to the renewed aspirations for a different future that opinion polls and grassroots struggles have brought to light. He will also ask why so many liberals and leftists resist accepting facts that challenge their preconceptions about the extent and causes of increasing inequality, and suggest that lack of concern for truth is a main factor.
Donation requested, but no one will be turned away for inequality of funds.

Left Forum 2014
May 30, 31 & June 1 in New York City
MHI sponsored three panels at Left Forum on June 1, 2014.

The Economic Crisis and Crisis Theory
Panel I: Brendan Cooney, Andrew Kliman, Thom Workman
Panel II: Alan Freeman, Michael Hudson, Andrew Kliman
Reading Raya Dunayevskaya’s Marxism & Freedom Collectively
A roundtable with members of an international Skype reading group evaluated the experience and Dunayevskaya’s significance today

Phone-in Reading Group on Dunayevskaya’s Marxism and Freedom
Beginning Monday Feb. 17 at 8:00 p.m. EST, we’ll have 10 weekly sessions of no more than two hours, covering about 30 pages in each. Please write to us at mhi@marxisthumanistinitiative.org if you want to take part so we can keep you informed of the plans and give you the phone number to use (not MHI’s phone). People who are outside the U.S. should consult us immediately so we can enable them to participate.

2013

Can Redistribution Solve Capitalism’s Crises?
A public roundtable conversation, co-sponsored by Marxist-Humanist Initiative and Internationalist Perspective, will critically examine proposals to redistribute income and wealth that are currently popular in “Marxist,” social democratic, and left-Keynesian circles. Discussants will address the questions: Can redistribution make capitalism “fair”? Can it prevent repeated economic crises? Does inequality cause crises and poverty? If not, what are the causes? Can capitalism be reformed to make it serve human needs? If not, what is the alternative?
Discussants: Andrew Kliman, Anne Jaclard, Mac Intosh, and Sander
At Bluestockings bookstore, fair trade cafe, and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington, south of Houston St. (212) 777.6028
Dec 2, 2013
New York, NY

MHI Public Meeting on the publication of our new pamphlet:
“Can Income Redistribution Rescue Capitalism?: on Monthly Review’s Factual and Theoretical Myths” by Andrew Kliman
Monday September 16, 2013, New York City

Douglas Lain’s “Think the Impossible” book and podcast tour, on the publication of his novel, Billy Moon
New York City appearance at Bluestockings Bookstore, Sept. 15, 2013.

Rethinking Marxism Conference
September 19-22, 2013
Amherst, MA

50th Anniversary March on Washington
August 24, 2013
Washington, DC

“Why Do Popular Movements Vanish? And Do They Have To?”
MHI Public Meetings, May 22 & June 26, 2013
New York City

Left Forum 2013
MHI-sponsored panels:

“Is it True that People Need Their ‘Consciousness Raised’? The Implications for Left Mobilization”
“Roundtable on ‘More Misused Wage Data from Monthly Review: The Overaccumulation of a Surplus of Errors”
“Marx’s Humanism: Folly, Peripheral, or Integral to His Philosophy?”
Screening of “Raya Dunayevskaya: Biography of an Idea”

June 7-9, 2013, New York City

The Workers and Punks’ University May Day School
Transition, Austerity and Primitive Accumulation-Left Answers
April 26-May 1, 2013
Ljubljana, Slovenia

“Inequality and the Great Recession”
March 15, 2013
Boston, MA

“The Impasse in Movements for Social Change and the Need for ‘Organization of Thought’”
MHI Public Meeting via telephone conferencing
January 23, 2013
New York, NY

2012

MHI’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Sat. Nov. 17 in New York City.

“Raya Dunayevskaya: Biography of an Idea”
Film Screening at Bluestockings Bookstore, Fair Trade Café, Activist Center
Nov 20, 2012
New York, NY

“Radical Interpretations of the Present Crisis”
November 14, 2012
New York, NY
Speakers: Loren Goldner, David Harvey, Andrew Kliman, Paul Mattick

“Why Trickle-Up Economics Won’t Work: The ‘Crisis of Distribution’ Myth and its Political Implications”
MHI Public Meeting
September 12, 2012
New York, NY

“Is It True That ‘People Are Not Ready for Socialism’?”
MHI Public Meeting
July 29, 2012
New York, NY

“On MHI’s ‘FAQs” on Occupy Movement & Marxist-Humanism”
MHI Public Meeting
May 9, 2012
New York, NY

“6 Months of Occupy Wall Street: Time for Theoretical and Practical Assessments”
MHI Public Meeting
March 23, 2012
New York, NY

Left Forum 2012
2 MHI-sponsored panels:

“David Harvey and Capitalist Accumulation”
“Roundtable on Andrew Kliman’s ‘The Failure of Capitalist Production: Underlying Causes of the Great Recession'”

March 16-18, 2012
New York, NY

“The Failure of Capitalist Production: Underlying Causes of the Great Recession”
Talk by Andrew Kliman on his new book
February 6, 2012
Bluestockings Bookstore
New York, NY

2011

“Is An Emancipatory Communism Possible?”
MHI public meeting
April 13, 2011
New York, NY

“Crisis, Austerity, and Resistance in the Euro Zone: A View from Finland”
MHI public meeting
March 22, 2011
New York, NY

Left Forum 2011
MHI-sponsored panel: “The Great Recession & Its Aftermath”
March 19, 2011
New York, NY

Workshop/Classes on Current Events & the Dialectical Method
MHI public meeting and workshop/classes
August, 2011
New York, NY

2010

Economic Crisis Conference
Organized by MHI
November 6 2010
New York, NY

“What Must Be Changed In Order to Transcend Capitalism”
Forum organized by The Commune and MHI
July 5, 2010
London, UK

“The Relevance of Marxist-Humanism Today”
April 6, 2010
New York, NY

Left Forum 2010
Panel on the “Future of World Capitalism” book series
March 2010
New York, NY

“Roots of the Economic Crisis”
2010 Historical Materialism Conference
January 15, 2010
CUNY Graduate Center
New York, NY

2009

Rethinking Marxism Conference
“Temporal Value Theory at a Moment of Capitalist Crisis”
November 7, 2009
Amherst, MA

“Swedish ‘Socialism’: Not What It Used to Be, But Then Again It Never Was”
MHI Public Meeting
November 4, 2009
New York, NY

“Causes and Implications of the Economic Crisis”
Public Meeting
July 8
London, UK

“Confronting Capitalism’s Economic Crisis”
MHI Public Meeting & 4-part seminar
June 23-July 28
New York, NY

Left Forum 2009
4 MHI-sponsored panels:

April 17-19, 2009
New York, NY

2008

“Theorizing Women’s Liberation Before, During, and After the Revolution”
Anarchist Book Fair
April 12, 2008
New York, NY

December 4, 2009