On Saturday, April 1, 2023, the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel discussion titled "The Politics of the Democratic Socialists of America" as a part of their 15th annual international Convention.15th annual international convention of the Platypus Affiliated Society.

Description:
From the early to mid-2010s, a mounting crisis seemed to be registered in “politics as usual.” The Occupy movement, the Indignados, and similar anti-austerity protests erupted and receded, only to be reconsolidated in various attempts at left-wing party politics. However, the new political parties, such as Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, and Razem in Poland were ultimately sidelined by the political turmoil from which they hoped to benefit. Despite being an attempt to transform an existing and well-established party, rather than founding a new one, Jeremy Corbyn’s bid at leading the Labour Party was overwhelmingly defeated in 2019. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) experienced phenomenal growth following the Sanders campaign and the election of Donald Trump. Even as late as 2020 or 2021, the DSA could claim to be holding ground. At present, however, the DSA appears to be fracturing under the stresses of “late Bidenism” and the intractably conservative nature of the Democratic Party. The time is ripe, then, not only for a retrospective, but also for a reflection on the prospects for socialism. What are the goals and tasks of the DSA? Did the economic and political turmoil of the last decade present any opportunities for emancipatory politics? How were those opportunities seized — and not seized — by the DSA, or by the Left more generally? What are the prospects for socialism in the coming decade?

Speakers:
-Harold Meyerson (Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee; DSA)
-Matthew Strupp (Marxist Unity Group)
-Jamal Abed-Rabbo (Class Unity)
-D. L. Jacobs (Platypus Affiliated Society)

Respondent: Erin Hagood
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The Platypus Affiliated Society organizes reading groups, public fora, research, and journalism focused on problems and tasks inherited from the "Old" (1920s-30s), "New" (1960s-70s), and post-political (1980s-90s) Left, for the possibilities of emancipatory politics today.

http://www.platypus1917.org