{"id":3284,"date":"2023-04-24T15:26:48","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T19:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/?page_id=3284"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T20:08:33","slug":"study-guides","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/?page_id=3284","title":{"rendered":"Study Guides"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Powerpoints<\/strong>, <\/em>Syllabus, and Course Outlines<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLOCK AND BUILD: Left Strategy in the MAGA Era<\/strong>.<\/a> This is a syllabus for an in-depth study of the Block & Build strategy. Convergence Magazine<\/em>, along with many other social justice groups, believes this strategy best addresses the challenges of the current moment…Discussion groups and classes based on this syllabus would ideally hold seven 90-minute sessions. Each session is focused on a major component of the Block and Build strategy, with three to four key points identified ahead of time…<\/p>\n\n\n

Reading List: Eleven Books on the Muslim Brotherhood<\/strong><\/a>, with supplemental primary sources, to help understand the Iram War and its regional reach. Compiled by Alex Thurston and his Sawahil Substack<\/p>\n\n\n

COMRADES EDUCATION<\/strong><\/a>. Formerly known as ‘White Awake,’ we offer online courses for people from all of walks of life who care about their communities and worry about the state of the world. Whether you\u2019re already active in community organizing or standing up for your values is new to you, our courses have something to offer you. If you\u2019ve felt isolated, overwhelmed, or helpless, attending our programming can create a deep sense of relief and help you feel empowered to take action for a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEMOCRACY IN CHAINS<\/a>.<\/strong> Chapter by chapter PowerPoint for studying the book by Nancy MacLean, connecting resistance to integration, neoliberalism, and the Kochs to roots in John C Calhoun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origins of Race, Settlers and Nationalities.<\/a><\/strong> 30-minute Lecture by Bill Fletcher, Jr. critical to understanding white supremacy and how to fight it. Great to open a study group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 4-PART STUDY OF THE SHAPING OF THE RUST BELT WORKING CLASS<\/a><\/strong>. From the settlers to the present, and how its consciousness is conflicted. Prepared by Carl Davidson, with considerable help from the DSA Rust Belt group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READING BLACK RECONSTRUCTION<\/a><\/strong>.  Throughout six ONE-HOUR sessions, the Center for Political Education will lead a study on DuBois\u2019 Black Reconstruction and its relevance for organizing today. This study group will include presentations from guest presenters who will help participants draw lessons from the book. Essential for US Radicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THESE THREE FOLLOWING SLIDESHOWS, AND A READING OF EACH OF THE BOOKS FEATURED, TAKEN TOGETHER, OFFER A FULL VIEW OF HOW US CAPITALISM IS BEST DESCRIBED AS \u2018RACIALIZED CAPITALISM.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5-PART SLIDESHOW for studying \u2018The Half Has Never Been Told\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF EVERY AFRICAN AMERICAN, OR EVEN EVERY WORKER, READ THIS BOOK, CAPITALISM WOULD BE SHAKEN TO THE CORE. This remarkable book on US slavery and the American economy, \u2018The Half Has Never Been Told,\u2019 by Edward E. Baptist, tells the story of how we became who we are, and how capitalism here is shaped the way it is. Click HERE<\/a><\/strong> for a 60min video lecture by the author. Edward Baptist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3-PART-SLIDESHOW for studying \u2018Slavery by Another Name\u2019 <\/a><\/strong>  Picks up after the Civil War\u2019 where Baptist\u2019s book leaves off, and continues to 1950. Douglas A, Blackmon\u2019s book exposes how slavery\u2013convict slaves and others\u2013built the coal, rail and steel companies of the \u2018New South\u2019 under Jim Crow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>3-Part Slide Show for studying \u2018The New Jim Crow\u2019<\/strong><\/a> Picks up after the 1950s, and especially after the Nixon and Reagan \u2018Southern Strategies\u2019 and the War on drugs. \u2018Mass incarceration\u2019 is the New Jim Crow, according to author Michelle Alexander, who skillfully describes its workings up to the present day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/a><\/a>GRAMSCI AND STRATEGY<\/a><\/strong>.<\/a> Starter paper for Gramsci study groups. This 40-PAGE article presents an excellent summary and overview of the history of Marxist strategy as applied to the advanced capitalist countries since the time of the Second International, including, in addition to the Second International\u2019s strategic conception, that of the Bolsheviks and the Third International, Gramsci\u2019s prison writings, Euro-Communism, and the new strategic orientation which has recently developed on Euro-Communism\u2019s left wing, called by some Neo-Gramscianism. Written in 1981 by Paul Saba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Frankfurt School\u2019s Theory of Fascism: A Syllabus for Deep Study<\/a><\/strong>
Featuring the works of Polloch, Postone, Neummann, Kirchheimer, Recich, Freud, Fromm, Adorno, and Benjamin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STUDY GUIDES, ARTICLES, AND A VIDEO FOR 2016 ELECTION ORGANIZERS
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These are designed for training and education the broad left on how best to defeat Trump and strengthen grassroots democracy in the current electoral arena. Each Module comes with a Facilitator\u2019s Guide, and there is a Supplementary Resource Guide listing additional materials. These can be downloaded here: If you have any questions about these, or want to offer feedback or engage in a dialogue about them, please contact us at electioncurriculum@earthlink.net<\/a>. For peace with justice, Linda Burnham, Max Elbaum, Harmony Goldberg, Jason Negron-Gonzales, Tarso Ramos, Bob Wing. Additional materials are added by Carl Davidson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategy and the US Electoral System<\/a><\/strong> guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Right and the Rise of Trump<\/a> <\/a><\/strong>guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Books and Articles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updating Our Strategy: Revisiting the U.S. \u2018Six Party System\u2019 Hypothesis: 5.0 Carl Davidson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video: What the Left Must Know: Electoral and Community Organizing at the Local Base: Carl Davidson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Trump, the Border and Rightwing Populism: Carl Davidson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CCDS YOUTH SCHOOL<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Study Materials for preparing for the sessions leading up to the convention and at the Pittsburgh July 18-21 sessions themselves. Video on the Communist Manifesto<\/a><\/strong> and Video on Civil Rights Trade Unionism<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marta Harnecker\u2019s \u2018Origins of Capitalist Exploitation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this Booklet, Marta Harnecker studies the fundamental mechanism that explains why, under capitalism, you have a small group of people who possess a lot of wealth and enjoy an easy life, while a significant portion of workers find themselves in a very difficult situation. In was written in Chine during the Allende period, and now updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booklets from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related to Die Linke, Germany\u2019s Left Party, with a center in New York City, there are dozens of pamplets here on a wide range of topics about the US, many of which are excellent for starting off discussion groups. They also have many videos, including this one<\/a><\/strong> on Rosa Luxemburg by Nancy Fraser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Social History Project<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

A site with a variety of multimedia resources\u2013films, slideshow, photos, text\u2013for teaching American history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide Show: Study Guide <\/a><\/strong> ‘After Capitalism\u2019 by David Schweickart<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Goes through the new 2nd Edition Chapter by Chapter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(the 2nd Edition of \u2018After Capitalism\u2019 can now be downloaded HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> for free!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEMAND EVERYTHING: Lessons of the Transformative Organizing Model<\/strong><\/a>  A 24-page pamphlet by Steve Williams for study groups on organization building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing the Communist Manifesto in Multimedia<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Combines popular folk songs, videos and great narrative by Zach Robinson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide Show: 11 Talking Points on 21st-Century Socialism<\/a><\/strong> Designed for study groups on Carl Davidson\u2019s essay on the topic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Reading Guide on Women and Feminism<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LibCom\u2019s comprehensive gathering of articles, videos, books and other course materials.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study Materials: Revolutionary Strategy by Mike MacNair<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A debate has been raging in the UK for some years now over a fascinating book by a leader of the Communist Party Great Britain, which calls for, among other things, a re-examination of Kautsky, the \u2018Bolshevik Model\u2019, and the splits creating the Third and Fourth Internationals. Some accuse him of rightism and reformism in accepting some of Kautsky\u2019s \u2018strategy of patience\u2019 majoritarian ideas. In contrast, others think him too \u2018left\u2019 for opposing notions of coalitions and the popular front. In any case, it\u2019s a useful survey of all these ideas.  The link above is to a 75-minute lecture by MacNair introducing the main ideas in his book. A pdf file of the entire book itself is included HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide Show: The Left and Elections<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Designed to start discussions on how grassroots groups should approach voting\u2013A PowerPoint by Carl Davidson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Slide Show: The U.S. Constitution, Then and Now<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Carl Davidson\u2019s 4-session PowerPoint for a class on the evolution of government and the U.S. Constitution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide Show: Introduction to Mondragon<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Carl Davidson\u2019s PowerPoint, in pdf format, gives an in-depth analysis of the MCC Coops and their history in Spain\u2019s Basque Country.


Shiftchange: Trailer for Workplace Democracy Film<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Syllabus: American Revolution<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Covers the period 1765-1800<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent Books on African-American History<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

A good listing compiled by the Teamster Union<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study Guides for Selected Works of Marx and Engels<\/a><\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Treats each work or book separately, with study questions for groups, From the CPUSA\u2019s Political Affairs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syllabus: Other Courses on American History<\/strong><\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Nine courses from the Revolution to the Civil War with a Marxist Critique<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish Civil War: Course Outlines<\/strong><\/a>
<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Course outlines, video links and other teaching resources on the topic<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syllabus and Materials: Political Economy of Capital Accumulation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 11-lecture course explores the accumulation of capital from three interrelated perspectives: conceptual, historical and empirical. PDFs and outline provided. By Jonathan Nitzen, York University, Toronto<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Powerpoints, Syllabus, and Course Outlines BLOCK AND BUILD: Left Strategy in the MAGA Era. This is a syllabus for an in-depth study of the Block & Build strategy. Convergence Magazine, along with many other social justice groups, believes this strategy best addresses the challenges of the current moment…Discussion groups and classes based on this syllabus […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3227,"menu_order":-1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3284","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3284"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5109,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3284\/revisions\/5109"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ouleft.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}