Monday 13 December 2010

Upcoming work: Das Kapital, Marxism in Africa and Merthyr Tydfil

So, a couple of things are set before me. Amongst the usual shite like coursework, revision and learning Python, I've tasked myself with a couple of things to further broaden and deepen my political and social knowledge.

First of these is to, finally, begin reading Das Kapital. I've just finished David Harvey's excellent The Enigma Of Capital, and need something to read next. After picking Das Kapital up at Socialism 2010 about a month ago I've been putting off reading it, mainly due to the density and the size of the thing (seriously, its massive. Jesus). But, an opportunity to read it within a reading/discussion group has arisen, so I may as well. Plus I'll be using Harvey's great lectures on Capital (available here) to help me along. May Marx have mercy on my soul.

Another task that looks interesting is that my local Socialist Party branch has tasked me of doing a small talk/lead in about socialism and Marxism in Africa, giving me an excuse and opportunity to gush about Thomas Sankara and to actually look into how Marxism has manifested in Africa, something which I admit I haven't given much thought.

Finally, i'm visiting a friend in Wales, in Merthyr Tydfil which was made recently famous by Iain Duncan Smith's recent get on your bikes message to the unemployed people there. It'll give me a good excuse to have a look and find out more about the town, why unemployment is so heavy there and to look at the place where workers first waved a red flag. That sort of thing.

Busy, busy, busy. I will part with this great picture from the tuition fees protest.

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