Doug Greene on the Stalin and the Dialectics of Saturn

Doug Greene is an independent communist historian from the Boston area. He has written biographies of the communist insurgent Louis Auguste Blanqui and DSA founder Michael Harrington. Stalinism has left a complex and controversial legacy throughout history. How have interpretations of Stalinism been shaped by debates between anti-communists, Soviet defensists, and various figures of Western Marxism? Join us for an in-depth conversation with our guest, Doug Green, as we navigate the tangled history of Stalinism and its influence on Trotskyist and Maoist movements, as well as the resurgence of interest in socialism today.

We'll unpack the intricate web of anti-communist sentiment that has shaped interpretations of Stalinism in Soviet history, from the contributions of Trotsky's biography of Stalin and Marx's 18th Brumaire to the right-wing anti-communist arguments that don't hold up to current scholarship. Doug offers invaluable insights into the Sino-Soviet split, the role Stalin played in it, and the Maoist critiques of Stalin, which often lack historical details. We also explore the fascinating figure of Arthur Koestler and his seminal work Darkness at Noon, analyzing how his views on historical necessity evolved over time.

Finally, we delve into the trajectories of controversial figures such as Victor Serge, David Horowitz, Tony Cliff, and Sydney Hook, discussing how their interpretations of Stalinism have been influenced by anti-communist sentiment. We'll examine the various interpretations of Neo Kowskyism, Lars Lee Leninism, Mike McNair's Marxian Republicanism, and Eric LeBlanc's Social Democracy, among others, to assess the potential for a revived Marxist approach to the Soviet Union and Maoist China. This episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of the many facets of the complex legacy of Stalinism and its ongoing impact on contemporary politics.

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