Marx Engels Lenin Institute

Ukraine - Why Is There No Revolt?

In this episode we examine the impact of imperialist financial institutions on Ukraine. In doing so we look at the indebtedness of Ukraine to the imperialists and what this means in terms of the control exercised by US imperialism over Ukraine.

Episode artwork is 'Evening in Shadrikha' by the Soviet Russian artist Nikolay Prokofyevich Karacharskov

Can Trump Lose?

Is Trump blowing the election? What is the nature of the Trump phenomenon and has any populist element now left it? We'll be talking about this and other US related issues in this episode of the programme.

The Kursk Events

In this episode we look at the possible reasons for the successful Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. In doing so we look at the reputation that President Putin has for being cautious and where this stems from.

Episode Artwork is 'With Ilych' by the Soviet Ukrainian artist Vasily Hitrikov

How Will The War End?

How will the war in Ukraine come to an end? In this episode we look at ways that the war might come to an end and what the most likely outcome is.

Episode Artwork is 'Birch Wood' by the Soviet Russian artist Viktor Harlov.

Brexit Cancelled?

As Keir Starmer meets with Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron we examine the true nature of Starmer's policy regarding the EU. In doing so we look back at the clueless actions of Boris Johnson and how a long term split in the ruling class ended up doing immense damage to British imperialism.

The August Coup of 1991 - Part 2

In the second part of our series of the final collapse of the Soviet Union we look at the aftermath of the failure of the attempt by the GKCHP to take power. This saw the triumph of Yeltsin and the outright comprador faction. We look at why the CPSU itself took no action, why the masses who wanted to fight to preserve their country were left leaderless and how this vindicates points made by Mao regarding the bourgeoisie already being within the party. We also show that the tendencies in the party in the 1980s had their roots all the way back in the 1920s with the Bukharin, rightist faction and the plots of te 1930s.

The August "Coup" - Part 1

In this episode we examine what is described as the August Coup in the imperialist countries but which was called the 'State Committee On The State Of Emergency' in the USSR referred by the Russian acronym GKHCP. Was this an earnest attempt to preserve socialism? Were they really trying to overthrow Gorbachev? Which forces were actually aligned with Yeltsin? We discuss this all this in part 1 of our two part series on this momentous but little understood event.

Perfidious Albion and the Kursk Incursion

Kit Klarenberg returns to talk about the arrest of Richard Medhurst and how the British ruling class only have repression as their answer to the mounting problems facing them. We also talk about how the British are likely to be the prime movers in the planning of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region of Russia.

The Cynical Anglo Way Of War

In this episode we use the example of the Kursk incursions by the NATO forces to look at how the Anglo-American imperialists wage their wars. Under the constraints imposed on them by their defeats in the liberation wars of the 20th Century the imperialists have adopted a system which seek new proxies to hurl themselves onto the bayonets of the Russians and/or the Chinese. Ukraine is the latest of these and (we hope) the last.

Episode artwork is 'The Head Of A Warrior' by the Soviet Georgian artist Lado Gudiashvili

Kamala The Communist?

As Kamala Harris makes the smallest of rhetorical concessions to the working class and the US bourgeoisie has a public meltdown we ask, is Kamala Harris a secret communist? The answer of course (spoiler alert) is no but it does lead us to look at the last US President to impose price contols in the form of Richard Nixon. We also examine the state of monopolisation in the food industry in the USA (see attached graphic).

Episode Artwork is 'A Song' by the Soviet Armenian artist Nana Gyulikekhyvan

Blame It On Putin

In this episode we answer a listeners question as to why the imperialists have taken to blaming the spectre of Putin for everything that goes wrong for them.

Episode Artwork is 'Group portrait of the descendants of Alexander Pushkin' by the Soviet Russian artist Vladimir Pereyaslavets.

The Tel Aviv Connection - Interview With Kit Klarenberg

Repeat offender Kit Klarenberg returns to the programme to talk about his recent article in which he chronicles the links between a certain Stephen Yaxley Lennon (known by his stage name of 'Tommy Robinson') and various intelligence assets of the Israeli state. After this we move on to talk about why the Georgian government is now telling the truth about the war of 2008 being started by Saakashvili at the behest of US imperialism.

Episode Artwork is 'Interrogation of the Communists' by the Soviet Russian artist Boris Vladimirovich Ioganson

Delay In Recording

I will be away from my desk for a couple of days at least due to a family situation that has arisen that requires my attention. I'm hoping things will be clearer as of tomorrow and will update everyone accordingly.

I hope to return to regular schedules by the end of the week.

US Imperialism Quits Iraq

First a correction on numbers. The actual number US forces (not including mercenaries) in Iraq is 2,500 not 20,000.

With Iranian news sources stating that the US is planning to withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq we take a look back at the history US involvement in Iraq. To do so we go back to the formation of the Iraqi state by British imperialism and how this has affected its development. We also look at the Ba'athists and their errors as well as the way US imperialism weaponised Iraq against Iran. Our examination also brings us face to face with one US imperialism's rogues gallery of scientists, the man behind MK Ultra, Dr Jolyon West.

Episode Artwork is the work 'The Assault of Ochakov' by the Soviet Russian Artist Vladimir Illyukhin

The Kursk Incursion

In this edition of the programme we look at the recent incursion into Russia made by the NATO backed Ukrainian forces. We ask if this is anything more than a bloody PR move and try to locate this tactic within the wider strategy that the NATO officers have for the war.

Apologies again for the tinny sound quality on this episode

Episode Artwork is the work 'IV Stalin and KE Voroshilov at an armored train on the Tsaritsyn Front' by the Soviet Russian Artist Vasily Hvostenko

Intro and Outro music are excerpts from the Czech jazz aritst Karel Krautgartnera's album 'Jazz Golem'

The Market Crash and the Bangladesh Coup

In this episode we look at the recent market crash which saw a number of leading tech stocks crash. We then move onto to look at the causes behind the recent resignation of the Prime Minister Hasina in Bangladesh and the role that US and British imperialism played in this.

Episode Artwork is - 'We Are A Peaceful People' by the Soviet Ukrainian Artist Vasily Hitrikov

My apologies for the sound quality of recent episodes. This is due to having to use a different machine as my usual laptop was in for repairs. This will only affect the two episodes after this one before normal service is resumed

Iran, Israel & The War In West Asia

In this episode we start off with a rant about the various cynical propaganda narratives that have been deployed regarding the riots in Britain.

We then move to the main subject of the programme, the war in West Asia. In doing this we look at the potential response of Iran to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. We also make the argument that the third world war began in 1991 with the fall of actually existing socialism and the global rampage of the United States and its allies.

Episode artwork is "Triumph of the Masses" by the Soviet Russian artist Georgy Alexeyev

Riots, Fascists & Narratives

As the riots in England make international headlines we examine the narratives being pushed by the government, the bourgeois press, the left and the fascists.

In doing so we read through an article I published on the website which you can find here.

Viva La Revolucion Bolivariana!

In this episode we look at the most recent attempted counter revolution in Venezuela and why it is likely to fail. The history and the role of the masses are key things to examine here as to why Venezuela has managed to hold out against multiple attempts at counter revolution. We also look at the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and what this may mean.

On Art - Part 1

Following the furious rows about the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics we start an investigation into Art under capitalism and under socialism.

Episode Artwork is 'Alazani Valley' by the Soviet Georgian artist Elena Akhvlediani (1954)

American Crime Epics

In this special edition of the programme I will be looking at the Underworld USA Trilogy by James Ellroy and the two Presidential epics directed by Oliver Stone. This programme was inspired by the recent failed assassination attempt made against Donald Trump and the coup that effectively overthrew Joseph R Biden.

American Communism & Imperial Decay

In this episode we begin with a discussion of the reconstituted American Communist Party and why this should be viewed as a positive development. At one point we play the launch video for this which you can find here. We also discuss the reasons for the Biden presidency and what it tells us about the decay of US imperialism.

Outro music on this episode is the by the great US communist Paul Robeson and it is entitled 'What America Means to Me'

Episode Artwork is the badge of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade - The US section of the international brigades who fought in the Spanish civil war against Francoism.

Belarus, Bangladesh and Leeds

In this programme we look at the 30 year rule of President Lukashenko and make an argument for the progressive role that he has played during this time. We also look at the recent riots in Banlgadesh and the disturbances in Leeds.

The Fall Of Biden

As the US ruling class move to dispose of one puppet another is to be raised in his place. In this episode we look at the fall of Biden and what it means for the developing crisis of US imperialism. We also examine Biden's history and why such a man, with his obvious infirmities, was elevated to the (supposedly) highest office in the land by the ruling class.

Stalin - On The Opposition - Part 6

In Part 6 of our series we examine the 1924 work by Stalin 'October Revolution and It's Tactics'. I doing so we look at the failures of Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution, why land reform was a historic task of the bourgeois revolution and why revolutionary tactics must be treated like a science.

A Shift Of Priorities

As JD Vance is enthroned as Trumps Vice Presidential pick (and possible successor) we look at what the Trump-Vance ticket might mean in terms of the wars on Russia and (possibly) China. In doing so we also explore various flawed views on the multi-polar world. Towards the end of the episode we also examine a speech given recently by Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations and look at how the Russian governments view of the European nations is still flawed.

I must apologise for the sound quality on this episode. This is down to the regular microphone failing and thus I had to use the mic on the camera instead.

Episode artwork is 'The Untouched Urals' by the Soviet Russian artist Alexandr Burak

What Could US Fascism Look Like?

In this patrons special edition we look at how US fascism might look following a question from a listener about this

The (Attempted) Assassination Of Donald Trump

In this episode we look at the recent assassination attempt made against Donald Trump. We examine what is known so far about the (alleged) assassin and how he was able to get so close to killing Trump, and killing one other person who attended the rally. Following that we look at the most infamous assassinations of US Presidents and consider the possibility of a civil war in the USA.

NATO Talks Loud & Says Nothing

In this episode we examine the large amount of noise that came out of the NATO summit. We examine the commnique issued at the end which promises nothing to Ukraine except that they will aim to keep the war going. Meanwhile a process is clearly underway where by the US is trying to dump the war onto the Europeans and slowly edge away from it.

Patrons Stream - The Israel Lobby and It's Power

In response to a question from a listener I talk about why the Mearsheimer-Walt theory of the Israel lobby is deeply flawed and doesn't help us understand the relationship the US has with the zionist state.