https://iclfi.org/pubs/wvtv/2026-uci-imperialism
On January 17 2026, the 2026 West Coast Regional Conference of the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel titled "Imperialism: What is it, why should we be against it?"
Prompt:
From Palestine to Ukraine, to Venezuela the Left invokes the rallying cry of "Imperialism!" to oppose or support the actions of various state powers. This evokes disparate historical memories, including anti-war protests of the 2000s and 1960s, the Falklands war, and WWI, which Marxists called "the Imperialist War." Understanding the relation of these events requires clarification on the category of imperialism. We ask panelists:
- What is imperialism?
- How should Marxists critique it?
- Has imperialism changed in the century since Lenin's pamphlet?
- Does overcoming it mean an overcoming of capitalism?
Panelists:
- Julie Lawrence (Spartacist League)
- Jonah Henkle (Communist Party USA)
- Mychal Odom (The Burning Spear)
