NYC 7/11-14: Brecht Forum's 24th Annual Marxist Intensive Study

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The Brecht Forum/New York Marxist School
122 West 27 Street 10 floor
New York, New York 10001
(212) 242-4201
info@brechtforum.org
http://www.brechtforum.org



Another World is Possible!
24th Annual Marxist Intensive Study
July 11-14


The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways, the point
is to change it." --Karl Marx, from the Theses on Feuerbach.


That the world is in need of change is itself not a Marxist discovery.
Injustice and oppression, usually by the few over the many, have
historically combined to ensure the emergence of a perspective rooted in the
vision of a better, more just world.

Indeed, the violent social dislocations that accompanied the triumph of
capitalism over feudal tradition in Europe produced many theories and
movements seeking a way to a better world. From its 15th century beginnings,
capitalism has spread to become a global system of wealth generation.

Yet, at the beginning of the 21st century, more than two billion inhabitants
of the planet exist on less than $2 per day, while the assets of the three
wealthiest capitalists in the world surpasses the GDP of the 48 poorest
nations. Capitalism has enmeshed the world's population in relationships of
extreme exploitation and degradation, and has managed this state of affairs
through wars, the threat of war, even to the point of nuclear annihilation.

So, what are our dreams of a better world? If another world is possible, how
shall we achieve it? What do we need to know about this world if we want to
create a different one? These are the kind of questions that prompted Karl
Marx and Fredrick Engels to undertake their pathbreaking study of capitalist
society. They began their work from a very down-to-earth investigation of
real individuals, their activity and the material conditions under which
they live, both those which they find already existing and those produced by
their activity.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, many activists equate the defeat of
that attempt at socialism with the inadequacy of marxism as a theory of
sustainable revolutionary change. We think that they are missing out on
invaluable tools for understanding today's world and how we can change it.
Participants in this 4-day Intensive will explore ways that marxism can help
us to grapple with the roots and branches of today's problems and the
grounds for a political response that can confront the interdependence of
capital with racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia.


WHAT:

A 4-DAY INTENSIVE STUDY OF MARXISM that will explore marxism, how it can
help us understand today's world, and how understanding our reality can help
us to change it.

With today's global economy as our starting point, we will examine some of
the ideas of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels as well as the contributions of
some of the more recent theorists of social change and the strategies of
current movements for social change.

WHEN:

July 11-14, 2002, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
Registration: Thursday, July 11th at 8:30 am (Preregistration is advised.)

WHERE:

At the Brecht Forum's New York Marxist School, 122 West 27 Street (between
Sixth and Seventh Avenues), New York City.

HOW MUCH:

Sliding scale: $75-$125 for the 4-day seminar. Limited scholarships
available.

FOR OUT-OF-TOWNERS:

If you are planning to attend from out of town and need a place to stay,
please let us know as we have a very limited ability to place you in
someone's home in the New York City area for the four days of the intensive

 
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