Show Notes
In the narrative for Part Three of "The Stalin Eras", Tony and Jeremy detail Joseph Stalin's life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1935-1936. This narrative, titled "Triumph and Tribulations" highlights the USSR as a rising star to both the global proletariat and colonized peoples, the utter triumph of socialist construction during the Great Depression, the highly progressive 1936 Soviet Constitution, and finally the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War! Stay tuned for the next episode which will continue the narrative through from 1936-1939 focusing mostly on the controversial Moscow Trials, the Great Purge, the climax of the Spanish Civil War, and apocalyptically - the beginning of World War II. The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode "Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective, mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you're a socialist history enthusiast, someone who's just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone. Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod Recommended Additional Reading Stalin History & Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo Recommended Additional Listening Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb
How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective Foundations of Leninism Sources Stalin's Constitution: Soviet Participatory Politics and the Discussion of the 1936 Draft Constituion by Samantha Lomb The New Soviet Constitution: A Study in Socialist Democracy by Anna Louise Strong Stalinist Values: The Cultural Norms of Soviet Modernity, 1917–1941 The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Spanish Civil War Broué, P. (1990). Party opposition to Stalin (1930-1932) and the first Moscow trial. In J. W. Strong (Ed.), Essays on revolutionary culture and Stalinism. Selected papers from the Third World Congress for Soviet and East European studies. Craig, G. A. (1951). Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918–1945. Series D (1937–1945). Volume III. Germany and the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. Volodarsky, B. (2015). Stalin's agent. The life and death of Alexander Orlov. London and New York: Oxford University Press.
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Jeremy, Justin, and Tony examine Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez's June 17, 2026 speech, "Reality Demands Urgent and Necessary Changes," delivered at an extraordinary meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. Facing a severe economic crisis forced on it by the United States sanctions regime, Cuba's leadership has announced a new wave of economic transformations aimed at stabilizing the economy, increasing production, attracting investment, and restructuring parts of the socialist model. Link to Text of Speech Support the show Join us on Patreon for early-release episodes, study guides, bonus content, TheoryBeats, and more! You can even sign up for free to access study guides, merch updates, and surprise drops. Stay connected: Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and don't forget to rate and review it helps the show reach more comrades.Follow us on: Twitter/X: @prolespod
Tony, Jeremy, and Justin break down The Wall Street Journal's recent coverage of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, centering on the headline-grabbing article, "The World's Most Surprising Economic Success Story Is... North Korea." Has Western capitalist media finally acknowledged that communism works? Or is there more to the story than the headline suggests? Join the hosts as they unpack the article's claims, examine the broader narrative around North Korea's socialist construction, and explore what this surprising piece reveals about capitalist media and it's limits. Additional Links
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