What We Are Reading (Patreon)

Hope y'all are well. For this week's what we are reading I'd like to highlight this important work by the American socialist Hal Draper. In his piece "The Two Socialisms" he sketches out a brief history of socialism and puts forward a very interesting thesis regarding socialism from above and socialism from below. Very important piece. 

I'd also like to draw your attention to two recent Jacobin videos, one by me on "Socialist Greatness" and another great debate on Jacobin between Christian Parenti and Leigh Phillips on nuclear power. 

Another fascinating piece here by Bridget Read on a fascinating and horrific story of gentrification, the wellness industry, and worker's rights. An important update from Levitz on the FED policy. And a great argument by Liu and Krapp on meritocracy focusing on both the how it exists, but crucially why. Lastly, it's behind a paywall, but I highly suggest reading Murphy's piece on Japan's recent political history, the piece takes an important focus on the bureaucracy and the BOJ. 

As always reach out with any thoughts, 

David Griscom 

What We Are Reading -

The Two Souls Of Socialism - Hal Draper, 1966

Meritocracy Agonistes- Leo Krapp and Catherine Liu, 2020

FED Will No Longer Kill Jobs To Fight Phantom Inflation - Eric Levitz, 2020 

Privilege Preserved - R. Taggart Murphy, 2020 

The Eco–Yogi Slumlords of Brooklyn - Bridget Read, 2020

What We Are Watching - 

Are Socialists Against Greatness? - David Griscom, 2020 

Nuclear Power Debate - Christian Parenti & Leigh Phillips, 2020