Communist Summer School
"Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement." — Lenin
The capitalist system is rotten. The liberal status quo is dying. Right-wing populism is rising in its wake. No capitalist party has any solution to the crises facing the working class. All capitalism offers is division, poverty and war.
But there is a way out: socialist revolution. And the key to winning the revolution is getting organized and educated—now. That’s why the Revolutionary Communist Party is working to arm all those who want to fight capitalism with revolutionary ideas.
That’s the purpose of the Communist Summer School, the biggest gathering of communists in the Canadian prairies.
Sessions
Is Fascism coming back?
Trump has returned to the Oval Office. And all around the world, right-wing imitators—like Pierre Poilievre, Marine Le Pen, and Nigel Farage—are either coming to power or rapidly gaining in popularity. The Liberals, and many on the left, are describing this as a “rise of fascism”. This argument is usually used to rally support towards the decaying establishment as our “last hope” against dictatorship.
But are they right? Is fascism about to return? And if not, what does this right-populist wave really represent?
Recommended readings
Art and Revolution
It’s a common misconception that Marxists see art merely as a product of economic relations, lacking any independent meaning or value of its own.
In reality, we recognize art as an integral part of what it means to be human. Art reflects humanity’s striving to forge meaning, to understand itself, and—no less importantly—to create beauty. As such, the degradation of art and culture under capitalism is not an afterthought for us, but one of the most powerful reasons we have to fight for revolution.
By ending the commodification of art and culture, we would make human creativity the driving force of culture—not the alien and inhuman logic of the market. For the first time in centuries, art would genuinely belong to all of humanity.
Recommended readings
Cracks in the Foundation: The Crisis in Canadian Confederation
Trump’s trade war has revealed all of the cracks that exist within Canadian confederation. The federal government has called for “national unity” to face the crisis, but this hasn’t stopped provinces from openly moving in opposite directions to protect their own economic interests. Danielle Smith has opportunistically toyed with the idea of Alberta separatism, and the Quebec national question looms in the background of federal politics.
Why is the Canadian nation-state so weak? Could the country really break apart? And among all this uncertainty, what can workers do to protect their own interests?
Recommended readings
Why hasn’t there been a revolution? The need for leadership
Mass anger against capitalism is developing everywhere. More young Americans sympathize more with Luigi Mangione than the CEO he assassinated. And yet the system is still standing.
Many on the left blame the working class, calling them ‘too conservative’ or ‘brainwashed’ to wage revolution. But this flies in the face of reality. As Rosa Luxemburg said, all revolutions seem impossible—until they happen, and then they are seen as inevitable. But what actually drives revolution? Do we need a revolutionary party, and if so, what is its role, and how can it be built? Most importantly, how do we win?
Recommended readings
Marxism vs. Post-colonialism
Communists stand for a united struggle of all workers—regardless of nationality, race, or culture—against the capitalist system. Yet, in academic circles, Marxism is often described as “Eurocentric”. Critics say that Marx only cared about the relationship between worker and capitalist and that his ideas don’t apply to the ex-colonial world.
Is there any truth to this? Is Marxist philosophy really a product of “European subjectivity”? And most importantly, which ideas can actually help us win the fight against imperialism and racism?
Recommended readings
Operation Solidarity: British Columbia’s aborted revolution
In 1983, British Columbia was on the verge of a revolution. Hundreds of thousands of workers took to the streets against one of the most brutal austerity programs ever put to paper. Some took control of their work places, and there was a mass movement pushing towards a general strike. However, at its climax, the movement was betrayed by its reformist trade union leadership.
What could have allowed for the working class to take power? How do we prevent a betrayal like this from happening again? And what other lessons can we take from this buried chapter of Canadian history?
Recommended readings
Event details and registration
Location & Accommodations
More details about location will be provided in the coming weeks.
If you are traveling from out of town and need accommodations, here are some options:
University of Alberta Dorm Rooms ($77/night)
HI Edmonton Hostel ($45/night)
Argyll Plaza Hotel ($80/night)
Subsidies
We do not want finances to be a barrier to attending this event. If you require a subsidy (for example, to cover travel costs from out of town), please contact marisolisjensenrcp@gmail.com.
Ticket prices & communist finances
The base price for tickets is $60 for those in Edmonton and surrounding areas, and $30 for those traveling from out of town. This will cover admission and lunch on both days. The money from tickets will be used to reimburse the expenses for the event and pay for travel for guest speakers from across Canada and Quebec. Additionally, we allocate a certain amount to accommodate participants who would not be able to pay the full fee.
Financial independence is essential to our work. We have no big financial backers, nor would we want them. We rely exclusively on the support of our members and supporters, those who want to see the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism.
With this in mind, we encourage you to make an additional donation with your ticket, and to take out a solidarity subscription to our paper.