“Is Socialism Just a Western, Eurocentric Concept?” with Nivedita Majumdar

Part 3 of the “ABCs of Socialism” series, sponsored by Verso Books and Jacobin, featuring lectures and discussions with contributors of the “ABCs of Socialism” book.

Filmed at Verso Books in Brooklyn, March 20, 2017.

Socialism is in the air. But the idea of socialism also faces heavy counterattack—and not only from the Right. Within the Left itself, there is suspicion of an ideal many view as single-mindedly focused on economic issues and distant from other everyday sufferings, especially those of black and brown people.

The underlying assumption is that socialism, a supposedly Western (and white) ideology, while capable of addressing economic injustices, remains incapable of speaking to the lived experience of oppression and discrimination in the Global South, as well as oppressed groups elsewhere.

Is there any validity in this criticism?

About the speaker:
Nivedita Majumdar is an associate professor of English at John Jay College. She is the secretary of the Professional Staff Congress, the CUNY faculty and staff union.

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View the other episodes in the “ABCs of Socialism” series:

“Why Do Socialists Talk So Much About Workers?” with Vivek Chibber
   • Why Do Socialists Talk So Much About Worke...  

“Does Human Nature Make Socialism Impossible?” with Adaner Usmani
   • “Does Human Nature Make Socialism Impossib...  

“No, Socialism Isn't Just More Government” with Chris Maisano
   • “No, Socialism Isn’t Just More Government,...  

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“The ABCs of Socialism” book:
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2219...

Verso Books:
https://www.versobooks.com/
  / versobks  
  / versobooks  

Jacobin:
https://www.jacobinmag.com/