Wednesday, Socialism: What it is & What it’s not

**please forward widely**

Socialism: What it is & What it’s not 

Robinson Hall 105

February 15th

7pm 

In the past year, the revolutions throughout the Middle East as well as the Occupy Movement have raised questions about alternatives to capitalism. As the global economic crisis continues to deepen, more and more people are beginning to question whether the ills of capitalism can be successfully reformed or whether a wholesale
transformation of society is necessary to end a system which, for many people, has meant little more than economic hardship, indignity, and strife.Socialism is a much-abused word that has been used to both slander politicians, movements, and political projects and legitimize them as well. Throughout the past century, Socialists have insisted that reforming society is not enough, and that a revolution is needed to abolish the havoc that capitalism has wrought.Whether you’re beginning to question the necessity of capitalism, consider yourself a socialist, or just want to learn more about radical politics and organizing, come join us for a discussion about the real socialist tradition and why we think a better world is both possible and necessary.

Harvard Socialists
http://www.facebook.com/events/136645526455475/

Occupy Harvard!

New England Marxism Conference

November 12-13 at Harvard University

Register Online Now at http://www.nemarxismconference.org/#!register

Capitalism is not working. Socialism is the alternative—a world organized for human need, not profit greed, where resources are controlled by and for the vast majority, instead of by a tiny rich minority. Millions of people are fighting back against the ills that this broken capitalist system has created. From Egypt to Wisconsin to Athens to Boston—people are standing up and fighting back. People are taking to the streets, occupying public squares and capital buildings and saying enough to the attack on ordinary working class people. Marxism provides a revolutionary understanding of society and provides the strategy for ridding society of exploitation and oppression once and for all. This conferencewill give activists a chance to discuss the burning questions that are arising during this current rise in struggle. People from around New England will have the opportunity to have core political discussions on Marxism, the importance of the working class and that not only is revolution needed, but that is very much possible.If you fought against the criminal injustice system to save the life of Troy Davis, if you are energized and excited about the Occupy movement and the struggles from around the world or just sick and tired of this unjust society, a society with rampant unemployment, poverty, war, opression, exploitation, and environomental destruction–then this conference is for you! 

New England Marxism Conference

November 12-13, 2011

Harvard University

The Science Center

1 Oxford Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

 

 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

Saturday

10 Registration

11 Opening Plenary

Why Marx was right [Ashley Smith]

12 Lunch

1-2:45 Session 1:

No power greater: Marxism and the centrality of class [Shaun Harkin]

Slavery and the origins of racism [Jonah Birch]

Theories of women’s oppression [Leia Petty]

3-4:45 Session 2:

The Minneapolis Teamster Strike of 1934: a case study in working class power [Tristin Aidie]

The Black freedom struggle from Martin to the Black Panthers [Brian Jones]

The roots of racial oppression [Jonah Birch]

5-6:45 Session 3:

The changing working class and the future of the labor movement [Ashley Smith]

Black liberation and socialism [Khury Petersen-Smith]

Can the working class liberate the oppressed? [Sherry Wolf]

7 Dinner

8 Evening Plenary

Is revolution possible in the US? [Sherry Wolf]

Sunday

11-12:45 Workshop Session 1:

How to build an ISO branch [Shaun Harkin]

The United Front: Socialists and movements [Hadas Their]

1 Lunch

2 – 3:45 Workshop Session 2:

Why we need a revolutionary party [Dave Florey]

What is the real Marxist tradition? [Kyle Brown]

Registration: $5-$20 sliding scale, $5 low income

See Boston Socialism and nemarxismconference.org (New England MarxismConference on Facebook) for more details, or call 617-651-0762.

Sponsored by the International Socialist Organization and Socialist Worker.