Continuing Education Syria Capitalism
12/11/2024
Continuing Education
As Syria is entering and for some, re-entering our organizing spaces, exploring anti-imperialist perspectives helps us critically engage with how imperialism shapes economic policies, militarized interventions, and social transformations.
Cody O'Rourke
Cody@goodshepherdcollective.org
Continuing education is vital for deepening our understanding of ongoing movements of liberation. As Syria is entering and for some, re-entering our organizing spaces, exploring anti-imperialist perspectives helps us critically engage with how imperialism shapes economic policies, militarized interventions, and social transformations. The provided resources—podcasts and readings—offer critical pieces for organizers to consider.
Podcasts delve into topics such as the commodification of war, the trajectories of Palestinian communism, and anti-Zionist praxis, connecting these struggles to broader regional dynamics. Their conversations link political, economic, and cultural elements, illuminating intersections beyond surface-level analysis. Meanwhile, the articles and studies challenge conventional accounts by situating the Syrian liberation movement in the context of capitalist accumulation and imperialist aggression. We hope these materials encourage critical assessment and discussion and develop anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist praxis.
Podcasts
Here are some critical conversations we've been listening to lately.
“War Is the Basis of Accumulation” - Ali Kadri on Genocide, Waste, Imperialism, and the Commodification of Death
By Millennials Are Killing Capitalism
Ali Kadri is the author of Arab Development Denied: Dynamics of Accumulation by Wars of Encroachment, The Unmaking of Arab Socialism: Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development and The Cordon Sanitaire: A Single Law Governing Development in East Asia and the Arab World.
History of Palestinian Communism w/ Patrick Higgins
By Guerrilla History
In this absolutely fascinating and important episode of Guerrilla History, we are joined once again by Patrick Higgins to discuss the history of Palestinian communism. Patrick serves up an masterclass here, and honestly this one is worth listening to and then re-listening to while taking notes despite its 2 hour length. You certainly don't want to miss this one! Also be sure to share this with comrades, this episode is sure to benefit many!
"The settlers and the land will never be one" w/ Good Shepherd Collective
By The East is a Podcast
The Good Shepherd Collective discusses anti-zionism, liberal praxis, and the need to develop an understanding of decolonization and resistance.
Readings
Here are some helpful and insightful texts we've been reading.
The Enemy at Home: U.S. Imperialism in Syria
Viewpoint Magazine - By Patrick Higgins
The Political Economy of the Syrian Crisis
Working Papers in Technology Governance and Economic Dynamics no. 46 - By Ali Kadri
Gunning for Damascus: The US War on the Syrian Arab Republic
Middle East Critique - By Patrick Higgins
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