RFH Ep. 82 National Self Determination

Brendan and Andrew discuss the Ukrainian fight for national self-determination, drawing lessons from V. I. Lenin’s responses to “imperialist economists” and Rosa Luxemburg, who all claimed that national self- determination is unachievable under imperialism. The co-hosts review what “imperialist economism” meant at that time and they discuss parallels today, including a new variant––campist imperialist economism. The issues discussed include: what “national self-determination” and its achievement mean; how it is achievable, even in the context of inter-imperialist conflict, as in Ukraine today; and how arguments that national self-determination is unachievable often misuse the axiomatic method. (Owing to the special nature of the above discussion, this episode does not include a distinct current-events segment.) The next episode of Radio Free Humanity is scheduled to air starting on December 23, not December 16. Radio Free Humanity is co-hosted by Brendan Cooney and Andrew Kliman, and sponsored by Marxist-Humanist Initiative (https://www.marxisthumanistinitiative.org/ ).