In this episode we discuss M. E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi’s speculative fiction Everythingfor Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 (Common Notions Press, 2022). We both really enjoyed this slight departure from our usual reading choices for the podcast, which provoked and stimulated how we think about history, and the expe…

In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Dr Alexandra Paulin-Booth, to discuss her book Time and Radical Politics in France, published by ManchesterUniversity Press in 2023. Alex’s work treats the conception of time as both a window and a key into the left and right in France, during the turbulent period between the Dreyfuss Affair and the …

In this episode we speak to our longtime friend and comrade Jessica Thorne about her work on anarchist prisoners under the Franco regime in Spain. Jess has recently completed a PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London on this subject, which is also discussed in an article recently published in European History Quarterly, available here. See also…

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by Ronald Grigor Suny, one of the most distinguished scholars of the Russian Revolution in the world. Suny has written extensively on a huge range of topics, including nationalism within the Russian and Soviet empires, the Armenian genocide and, in 2020, a monumental biography of the young Joseph Stali…

In this episode we discuss Sho Konishi's brilliant Anarchist Modernity: Cooperatism and Japanese-Russian Intellectual Relations in Modern Japan (Harvard University Press, 2013). This book has been on our radar for a long time, and it was a pleasure to spend some time discussing Konishi's framing of anarchism as an alternative vision of modernity, a…

In this episode we discuss our first ever ABC Edition pamphlet: a translation of Víctor García's ‘José Xena Torrent: A Contribution to a Necessary Biography’. Danny has taken the lead on this project, and introduces us to García (the pen-name of Germinal Gracia), his relationship with Xena, and the experiences of both through the Spanish Civil War …

After a few months off, ABC returns with a brilliant guest, Zoe Baker (⁠@anarchopac⁠) author of Means and Ends published with AK Press in 2023: ⁠https://www.akpress.org/means-and-ends.html⁠. Zoe's book provides an engaging and accessible overview of the revolutionary strategy of anarchism in Europe and the United States between 1868 and 1939. Zoe i…

In this episode we discuss 'Print Culture and the Formation of the Anarchist Movement in Spain,' a reprint of Jim's book published by AK Press in September 2022. This conversation is a natural follow up from Jim's appearance on the excellent podcast 'Coffee with Comrades,' which you can listen to here: https://coffeewithcomrades.com/episode-178-tie…

In this episode we are joined by Michael Richmond and Alex Charnley to discuss their new work 'Fractured: Race, Class, Gender and the Hatred of Identity Politics,' published with Pluto Press. You can order the book online here: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745346588/fractured/ A lively and fun conversation, covering the possibilities of universal…

*** We begin this episode with a statement read by Danny from Ryan Roberts, one of the Bristol Kill the Bill protesters, who has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. If you would like to learn more about this situation and how you can help, see the following accounts on Twitter: Bristol Anarchist Red and Black Cross: @Bristol_ABC Bristol Defendant…

In this episode we are joined by Arturo Zoffmann Rodriguez of Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal. Arturo's work focuses on the transnational and comparative history of revolutions and radical ideas, with special focus on Russia and the Hispanic world. Our discussion focuses on Arturo's studies on the impact of the Russian revolution of 1917 on…

This episode provides an overview of the biographical essay on the Spanish anarchist activist Juan Santana Calero (1914-1939) contained in Miquel Amorós, Los incontrolados de 1937. Memorias militantes de los amigos de Durruti (Aldarull, 2014).

In this episode we discuss Eric Hobsbawm's classic - and much-criticised - study of social banditry, millenarian insurrection and mob politics, 'Primitive Rebels' (1959). This key text remains a touchstone for discussions of anarchism, and is often the first port of call for English speakers interested in the Spanish movement. We reflect on Hobsbaw…

This episode is something a little different, a recording of a live event we held with in Liverpool in December 2021 with Joe Glenton (@joejglenton), discussing his recent book Veteranhood: Rage and Hope in British Ex-Military Life, published by Repeater. You can buy the book directly from Repeater here: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/veteranhoo…

*Note, this episode contains some strong language* In this episode we were joined by Max Farrar to discuss his forthcoming biography, 'Arthur France MBE: The Life and Times of an African-Caribbean-British Man' (Hansib 2021). Arthur France was born in the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis, where he began his activism in trade unionism and black power. …

This episode is something of a special, a recording of our first ever ‘live’ event, which was held on Friday 8 October on Zoom. We were delighted to be joined by Mike Finn and Dana Mills, to mark the recent publication of Mike’s book ‘Debating Anarchism’ (Bloomsbury 2021). Mike’s book is a brilliant, provocative introduction to the debates which su…

In this episode we discuss A.M. Gittlitz's 'I Want to Believe' (Pluto Press, 2020), a study of the remarkable development of a branch of Cold War Trotskyism under the direction of the Argentine J. Posadas. Gittlitz combines an astute reading of the Posadist movement with humour and pathos, bringing together stories of nuclear apocalypse, 'coffee sh…

A short overview of the book Joan Puig Elías. Anarquismo, pedagogía y coherencia by Valeria Giacomoni (Barcelona: Descontrol, 2016), a biography of the anarchist teacher and leading light of the Escuela Natura who presided over the Consejo de la Escuela Nueva Unificada (CENU) during the Spanish civil war.…

In this episode we discuss Loren Goldner's collection of essays 'Revolution, Defeat and Theoretical Underdevelopment' (Haymarket 2017), which examines the promise and failings of four revolutionary episodes in the twentieth century: Russia, Turkey, Spain and Bolivia. Goldner's blog 'Break Their Haughty Power' is well worth exploring, you can find i…

In this episode we were joined by Dr Pascale Siegrist of the German Historical Institute London. Pascale is an intellectual historian whose first book project examines the ‘global’ thought of fin-de-siècle anarchists. You can find more on Pascale's research interests here: https://www.ghil.ac.uk/team/our-team/pascale-siegrist. For this episode we r…

In this episode we take a break from our usual format - to coincide with our 1st 'birthday' we discuss the first two pieces to be published in our new newsletter: 'Ten Years on the Turn' and 'People Just Do Something', both written by Danny as reflections on the past decade of politics. We also use this as an opportunity to reflect on the past year…

In this episode we discuss Paul Avrich's classic 'Kronstadt 1921' (Princeton University Press, 1970), marking 100 years since this pivotal event in radical history. Along the way we discuss anti-Semitism within critiques of communism, the perils of a mechanistic understanding of class struggle and historical change, the nature of Bolshevik smear ca…

In this episode we're delighted to be joined by Martha Ackelsberg (Smith College, Massachusetts) to discuss her classic study of Mujeres Libres, 'Free Women of Spain,' on the 30th anniversary of its original publication. Martha's work has been hugely influential in the study of anarchism, gender and the Spanish Civil War, and has shaped the work of…

In this episode we discuss Marie Fleming's 'The Geography of Freedom' (Black Rose Books, 1988), a study of anarchist geographer Elisée Reclus who was a key figure in the 19th century movement. We are very grateful that Black Rose provided us with this book to discuss. Black Rose have been publishing alternative, radical works from their base in Mon…

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by our friend, colleague and comrade Dr Matthew Kerry (University of Stirling) to discuss his book 'Unite Proletarian Brothers!: Radicalism and Revolution in the Second Spanish Republic' (Institute of Historical Research, 2020), which is available to everyone as an Open Access publication here: bit.ly/…

A short overview of the new book by Agustín Guillamón, La matanza del cuartel Carlos Marx. Bellaterra, mayo de 1937 (Serra de Tramuntana: Calumnia, 2020), which details the investigation into the torture and murder of twelve anarchists during the Barcelona May days, 1937.

In this extra special festive bonus episode we join Pearson Bolt of the excellent Coffee with Comrades podcast to chat with Professor Ruth Kinna (Loughborough University) about her recent publication 'The Government of No One' (Pelican, 2019). We really enjoyed this opportunities to go in-depth into theory and history with one of the most prominent…

In a break from our usual set up, this episode features Danny and Jim speaking to Alan McGuire of the Sobremesa podcast about the history of anarchism in Spain. Sobremesa is weekly podcast which covers subjects about contemporary Spanish society, politics and history, you can subscribe using your usual podcast app and find more information here: al…

In this episode we were delighted to be joined by Professor Kathy Ferguson (The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa) to discuss her fascinating work on anarchist printing over the turn of the twentieth century. Along the way we discuss the formative role that creating print had in anarchist communities, the value of considering the 'materiality' of radi…

In this episode we discuss Julius S. Scott's 'The Common Wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution,' an extraordinary text which began life as a PhD thesis in the 1980s, and has gained an almost cult reputation amongst scholars of transnational radical history until it's publication with Verso in 2018. You can watch a video …

In this episode we discuss David Roediger's 'Seizing Freedom' (Verso, 2014), a brilliant account of the radical upheavals brought by the US Civil War and the self-emancipation of slaves in the 1860s. Along the way we discuss the concept of revolutionary time, the meaning of tragedy, and the errors of liberal history. Danny has previously spoken abo…

This episode is a conversation with Frank Jacob (Nord University, Norway) about his forthcoming book 'Emma Goldman and the Russian Revolution: From Admiration to Frustration,' which will be published with De Gruyter later this year (print ~November; Open Access digital ~December): https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/570450. We discuss Goldman's li…

This episode is a conversation with Ole Birk Laursen about his work on the fascinating Indian anarchist M.P.T. Acharya. We discuss Acharya's life in Europe, the USA and India, as well as his views on Indian nationalism and figures including Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the Indian Communist Party M.N. Roy. For more on Ole and his work see his excel…

In this episode we are joined by Dr Liz Stainforth (University of Leeds) to discuss Kristin Ross's Communal Luxury (Verso, 2015). Together we talk about the appeal of utopian history, the relationship between ideas and actions and the value of reclaiming of public space. An interview with Ross in which she discusses her approach to the history of M…

This is the first episode of ABC Bitesize, a subseries of the Anarchist Book Club. Inspired by a tweet by the famous youtuber anarchopac, the idea is to provide overviews of radical history books that are currently unavailable in English. Episode 1 is based on Dieter Nelles, Harald Piotrowski, Ulrich Linse and Carlos García's book Antifascistas ale…

In this episode we discuss Silvia Federici's seminal work 'Caliban and the Witch,' which calls for us to examine the development of capitalism through the eyes and the body of women in the early modern era. Along the way we discuss the idea of modernity; the relationship between theory, politics and history; and the claim that Federici's recent wor…

This episode is our first with a guest, the brilliant scholar of French & transnational anarchism Dr Constance Bantman (University of Surrey, @ConnieLorene). Constance joined us to speak about her forthcoming book, 'Jean Grave and the Networks of French Anarchism,' which examines the life, work and connections of one of the most influential anarchi…

In this episode of ABC with Danny and Jim we discuss Paul Gilroy's The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (Verso, 1993). Our discussion follows this book's navigation through black culture and modernity, reflecting on thinkers from WEB du Bois to Hegel as well as Gilroy's rich investigation of black music. Along we way we discuss th…

In this episode of Anarchist Book Club we discuss Steve Wright's 'Storming Heaven: Class Composition and Struggle in Italian Autonomist Marxism' (Pluto, 2017). Our conversation takes us through the roots of autonomism and its relationship to the PCI (Italian Communist Party) in post-war Italy, into reflections on the practice of work-place inquiry …

In this episode we discuss Maia Ramnath's 'Decolonising Anarchism' (AK Press, 2011), an account of radical groups and individuals involved in the Indian independence movement and its post-colonial successors: from bomb-throwers and Californian bohemians to peasant collectivists and syndicalist educators; from Mahatma Gandhi to the dissident communi…

In this episode we discuss Domenico Losurdo's 'War and Revolution: Rethinking the Twentieth Century,' trans. Gregory Elliott (Verso, 2020), an extended critique of historical revisionism which stretches from Edmund Burke to Niall Ferguson, via Ernst Nolte, Hannah Ardent and Francois Furet. We question the value of Losurdo's approach, including his …

In this first episode of Anarchist Book Club with Danny and Jim, we discuss Eric Laursen's 'The Duty to Stand Aside' (AK Press 2020), which explores the relationship between George Orwell and the pacifist, anarchist and doctor Alex Comfort, who became famous in the 1970s as the author of 'The Joy of Sex'. We use this as a starting point to discuss …