Working Class History

First of the three-part series on migrant worker poetry in China. In these episodes, we speak to Maghiel van Crevel, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at Leiden University. Maghiel has travelled extensively in China meeting with and writing about the work of Chinese migrant worker poets.In this episode, we discuss the concept of the 'migrant worker' in China, and how it relates to the internal hukou system and China's relationship to global capitalism. We also discuss what we mean by 'migrant worker/migrant worker poetry' in relation to the Chinese words dagong and dagong shige. We also look at two migrant worker poets, Wu Xia and Zheng Xiaoqiong.Full show notes including sources, further reading, photos, films and eventually a transcript are here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/wcl-7-9-chinese-migrant-worker-poetry/AcknowledgementsAs always, huge thanks to our patreon supporters who make this podcast possible. A special thanks to Jamison D. Saltsman, Jazz Hands, Fernando Lo

Second of a double podcast episode about the South Korean movements of 1987 which overthrew the US-backed military dictatorship and won big improvements for workers. In these episodes we speak with Kim Jin-sook and Hong Seung Ha about their experiences of the June Democratic Struggle, and the Great Workers’ Struggle which immediately followed it.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryPart 2 covers the Great Workers’ Struggle, the massive strike wave, the first elections after the fall of the dictatorship, and its legacy today.More informationE53-56: The Gwangju uprising – WCH podcast about the 1980 uprising in Gwangju which preceded these movements.E51: Jeon Tae-il and Lee So-sun – WCH podcast about the organising of textile workers and the general historical

First of a double podcast episode about the South Korean movements of 1987 which overthrew the US-backed military dictatorship and won big improvements for workers. In these episodes we speak with Kim Jin-sook and Hong Seung Ha about their experiences of the June Democratic Struggle, and the Great Workers’ Struggle which immediately followed it.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryPart 1 covers the June Democratic Struggle, the historical background, and how the movement began. Listen to part 2 now by joining us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e92-south-korea-110947071More informationE53-56: The Gwangju uprising – WCH podcast about the 1980 uprising in Gwangju which preceded these movements.E51: Jeon Tae-il and Lee So-sun – WCH podcast about the or

Preview of our first Fireside chat. To celebrate our 10th birthday on 30 July 2024, we launched a new series of discussion podcast episodes exclusively for our supporters on patreon. For the time being, as a trial, we are going to be releasing at least one bonus episode for patreon supporters every month.By doing this, we hope to be able to grow our base of supporters on patreon. If we manage to grow our base of supporters, and increase the amount of support we get each month, then we will be able to devote more resources into producing and releasing more regular free podcast episodes.To start off with, we will have a series of discussion episodes called Fireside chats. Our first Fireside chat is one where two of our hosts, John and Matt, answer questions from patreon supporters, listeners and readers, about the WCH project, and us.To listen to the full episode, and help us make more regular podcast episodes freely available for everyone, join us on patreon at https://patreon.com/workingclasshistoryThis episo

Following on from his excellent book, 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance, Gord Hill of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation gives us an overview of over three decades of Indigenous resistance in the Americas since 1992. A podcast in two parts.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryThis part covers Indigenous land defenders in Ecuador, Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America, Mi’kmaq fishing rights, fossil fuel resistance, cultural resistance including language revitalisation, land acknowledgements and more. More informationGord Hill, 500 Years Of Indigenous Resistance – get hold of Gord’s book here in our online store.WCH timeline of people’s history stories about Indigenous resistanceE88-89: Indigenous resistance episode webpage with full show notesAcknowledgementsThank

Following on from his excellent book, 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance, Gord Hill of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation gives us an overview of over three decades of Indigenous resistance in the Americas since 1992. A podcast in two parts.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryThis part covers protests against the 500th anniversary of the European invasion of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, the Zapatista uprising, the Gustafsen Lake stand-off, the Ipperwash Park occupation, Enbridge and Keystone XL pipeline resistance, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and more. More informationGord Hill, 500 Years Of Indigenous Resistance – get hold of Gord’s book here in our online store.WCH timeline of people’s history stories about Indigenous resistanceE88-89: Indigenous

Part 2 of our double-episode podcast about workers' struggles in Palestine during the British Mandate (1920-48). In this episode, we cover the Palestinian labour movement during World War II, new Palestinian workers’ organisations, the split (along national lines) in the Palestine Communist Party, joint struggles by Arab and Jewish workers, war and the Nakba.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.In this episode, we spoke to Palestinian scholar and activist, Leena Dallasheh. Her research focuses on the history of Palestine/Israel, with a particular interest in Palestinians who became citizens of Israel in 1948. For more info on Leena and her research, you can check her website.Be sure to also check out 'Falastin: A Digital Monument' by Collecteurs, of which t

First of a double podcast about workers' struggles in Palestine during the British Mandate (1920-48). In this episode we cover the Balfour Declaration and establishment of the British Mandate, the campaign for 'Hebrew Labour', a number of workers' organisations like the Palestinian Arab Workers' Society (PAWS) and the Palestine Labour League (PLL), as well as the 1936-39 Great Palestinian Revolt.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryIn this episode, we spoke to Palestinian scholar and activist, Leena Dallasheh. Her research focuses on the history of Palestine/Israel, with a particular interest in Palestinians who became citizens of Israel in 1948. For more info on Leena and her research, you can check her website.Be sure to also check out 'Falastin: A Digital

Teaser extract from an episode exclusively for our patreon supporters. Episode produced by Upstream in conversation with John from Working Class History talking about the history of May Day, International Workers’ Day, from its modern origins in Chicago in 1886, to its mediaeval roots, and its relevance today.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryMade exclusively for Upstream’s patreon supporters, we are happy to be able to share it with our patreon supporters as well. Listen to the full episode without adverts here:E85: May Day with Upstream on patreon More informationCheck out Upstream at upstreampodcast.orgSupport Upstream on patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast.Learn more about the history of May Day in this book in our online store: The Incomplete, Tru

Introducing a brand-new daily podcast from the team at WCH. On This Day in Working Class History will be a brief reminder each morning of our collective struggles for a better world which have taken place on this date in history.Launching on 1 February on a trial basis, each episode will be just a couple of minutes long, highlighting one anniversary from our archive each day. It’s designed to fit into your morning schedule, alongside news headlines, and to be shared on social media with your friends, colleagues and families.SubscribeListen and subscribe to this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Links to a few major apps here:Apple podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Podbean | PodcastAddict | RSSAcknowledgementsEdited by Working Class History.Theme music by Ricardo Araya. Check out his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@peptoattackLearn more at https://workingclasshistory.com/blog/new-podcast-coming-soon-on-this-day-in-working-class-history/Our work is only possible because of support from you,

Second in a double podcast about the Angry Brigade, Britain’s first home-grown urban guerrilla group, in the 1960s and 70s, in conversation with John Barker, who was put on trial as part of the group.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryContinuing our recent series of episodes about the UK in the 1970s, this is a re-edited, improved and re-released version of our episodes 2-3. It contains numerous additional audio clips, and written narrative to provide context and more information.More informationGordon Carr, The Angry Brigade: A History Of Britain’s First Urban Guerilla Group (PM Press, 2010) – a detailed history of the Angry Brigade.The Angry Brigade 1967-1984: Documents And Chronology (Active Distribution) – a pamphlet containing a detailed chronology of

Double podcast about the Angry Brigade, Britain’s first home-grown urban guerrilla group, in the 1960s and 70s, in conversation with John Barker, who was put on trial as part of the group.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryContinuing our recent series of episodes about the UK in the 1970s, this is a re-edited, improved and re-released version of our episodes 2-3. It contains numerous additional audio clips, and written narrative to provide context and more information.More informationGordon Carr, The Angry Brigade: A History Of Britain’s First Urban Guerilla Group (PM Press, 2010) – a detailed history of the Angry Brigade.The Angry Brigade 1967-1984: Documents And Chronology (Active Distribution) – a pamphlet containing a detailed chronology of the organis

Podcast episode about the Workmates collective, a rank-and-file initiative on the London Underground using unofficial direct action and workplace assemblies to fight privatisation in the late-1990s/early 2000s.Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Sign up and get access to exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryIn this episode, we speak to Andy Littlechild, a former London Underground worker and activist with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union. He explains how the Labour government introduced privatisation to the Underground, how the Workmates mass meetings began, the start of the Workmates delegate council, the 'Job-and-Knock' dispute, and the eventual demise of the 'Public Private Partnership'.E82.1 bonus episode: Andy discusses the politics of anarcho-syndicalism and their influence on his organising. He also tells us about a

Podcast episode about strikes by miners in Britain in 1972 and 1974, in conversation with Dave Douglass.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Sign up and get access to exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryContinuing our intermittent series of podcast episodes about the great strike of UK miners from 1984-5, we tell the story of what came beforehand. In this episode, we look at the historical background, and learn about the national wildcat strike in 1969, as well as the huge, nationwide official strikes of 1972 and 1974, which both defeated the Conservative government and eventually brought it down.E81.1 bonus episode: more about Dave’s revolutionary politics, day-to-day work in the mines, and discussion of popular images of the 1970s in the UK today. Available exclusively for our patreon

The fourth and final episode of our podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.In this episode, we look at the postwar anti-fascist resistance: from armed partisan rebellions and the so-called ‘Triangle of Death’ to the 1960 anti-Tambroni riots in Genoa, as well as how the resistance is (mis)remembered today.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryGet Italian resistance merchAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Edited by Tyler HillEpisode graphic: public domain.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream i

Part 3 of our four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.In this episode, we look at the question of 'the resistance betrayed': the Togliatti amnesty, what happened to fascists and anti-fascists immediately after the war, and how Italy's fascist movement was allowed to rebuild itself.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryGet Italian resistance merchAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Edited by Tyler HillEpisode graphic: public domain.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.Show not

Part 2 of our four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.In this episode, we discuss the participation of migrant partisans in the resistance, what the resistance looked like in the cities, the raid of the Jewish ghetto in Rome and, finally, liberation and the execution of Mussolini.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryGet Italian resistance merchAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Edited by Tyler HillEpisode graphic: public domain.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.Show note

The first of a four-part podcast series on the Italian resistance to fascism, both during World War Two and immediately after, in conversation with anti-fascist partisans themselves.In this episode, we look at the rise of fascism, the start of the resistance during World War Two, the partisan formations of the mountains and the participation of women in the resistance.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryGet Italian resistance merchAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Edited by Tyler HillEpisode graphic: public domain.Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it h

Second of a double podcast episode about the Trinidad general strike of 1937, in conversation with Ryan Cecil Jobson.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryPart 2 is about the general strike itself, the repression, the aftermath, its consequences and lessons for us today.Get books by CLR JamesAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Episode graphic: public domain.Edited by Jesse FrenchOur theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.More information, sources, full acknowledgements and a transcript on the web page for this episode: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcas

First in a double podcast episode about the Trinidad general strike of 1937, in conversation with Ryan Cecil Jobson.Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at patreon.com/workingclasshistoryPart 1 is about the background of British colonialism on the island, the conditions of the working class and poor, racial divisions, and the beginnings of unemployed and worker agitation in the 1930s.Get books by CLR JamesAcknowledgementsThanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands, Jamison D. Saltsman and Fernando López Ojeda.Episode graphic: public domain.Edited by Jesse FrenchOur theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here or stream it here.More information, sources, full acknowledgements and a