A.K. 47 - Selections from the Works of Alexandra Kollontai

Kristen R. Ghodsee

Kristen R. Ghodsee reads and discusses 47 selections from the works of Alexandra Kollontai (1872-1952), a socialist women's activist who had radical ideas about the intersections of socialism and women's emancipation. Born into aristocratic privilege, the Russian Kollontai was initially a member of the Mensheviks before she joined Lenin and the Bolsheviks and became an important revolutionary figure during the 1917 Russian Revolution. Kollontai was a socialist theorist of women’s emancipation and a strident proponent of sexual relations freed from all economic considerations. After the October Revolution, Kollontai became the Commissar of Social Welfare and helped to found the Zhenotdel (the women's section of the Party). She oversaw a wide variety of legal reforms and public policies to help liberate working women and to create the basis of a new socialist sexual morality. But Russians were not ready for her vision of emancipation, and she was sent away to Norway to serve as the first Russian female ambassador (and only the third female ambassador in the world).In this podcast, Kristen R. Ghodsee – a professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence (Bold Type Books 2018) – selects excerpts from the essays, speeches, and fiction of Alexandra Kollontai and puts them in context. Each episode provides an introduction to the abridged reading with some relevant background on Kollontai and the historical moment in which she was writing.

  • 18 minutes
    143 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 4

    Kristen Ghodsee reads the fourth section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day.

    This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publishers in the Soviet Union, which claims that the essay was written while Kollontai was in exile in Norway. She sent it to Vladimir Lenin (then in exile in Switzerland) who also edited it before publication. The final pamphlet was first published in 1916. It went into multiple editions and was distributed widely across Europe and Russia.

    [Sorry there was a glitch in the original upload. This is the correct episode now]

    Mentioned in this episode:

    "How to do escapism in the Trump era," The New Republic

    "The Other Great Depression," Le Monde Diplomatique in English, French, Spanish, Farsi, Bulgarian, and Esperanto

    Anachoresis - withdrawal into the desert

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    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    3 December 2024, 6:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 37 seconds
    142 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 3 (and a special message for election eve)

    Kristen Ghodsee reads the third section of Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day.

    This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publishers in the Soviet Union, which claims that the essay was written while Kollontai was in exile in Norway. She sent it to Vladimir Lenin (then in exile in Switzerland) who also edited it before publication. The final pamphlet was first published in 1916. It went into multiple editions and was distributed widely across Europe and Russia.

    Ghodsee also discusses the 2024 presidential election in the United States, and offers a message of hope in the event of a Trump victory.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Kristen Ghodsee discusses utopia and social dreaming on "What Could Go Right?

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    4 November 2024, 11:00 pm
  • 31 minutes
    141 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Is Internationalism possible?

    In this episode, Kristen Ghodsee discusses Alexandra Kollontai, nationalism, internationalism, and supranationalism with her daughter, just home from Ireland for fall break. Trigger warning: lots of Irish history!

    Mentioned in this episode:

    "Imagine"

    by John Lennon (and Yoko Ono)

    "Imagine there's no heaven
    It's easy if you try
    No hell below us
    Above us, only sky

    Imagine all the people
    Livin' for today
    Ah

    Imagine there's no countries
    It isn't hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for
    And no religion, too

    Imagine all the people
    Livin' life in peace
    You

    You may say I'm a dreamer
    But I'm not the only one
    I hope someday you'll join us
    And the world will be as one

    Imagine no possessions
    I wonder if you can
    No need for greed or hunger
    A brotherhood of man

    Imagine all the people
    Sharing all the world
    You

    You may say I'm a dreamer
    But I'm not the only one
    I hope someday you'll join us
    And the world will live as one"



    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    24 October 2024, 11:00 am
  • 21 minutes 46 seconds
    140 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 2

    Kristen Ghodsee reads Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day.

    This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publishers in the Soviet Union, which claims that the essay was written while Kollontai was in exile in Norway. She sent it to Vladimir Lenin (then in exile in Switzerland) who also edited it before publication. The final pamphlet was first published in 2016. It went into multiple editions and was distributed widely across Europe and Russia.

    Ghodsee also discusses the 2024 presidential election in the United States.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Elon Musk reveals cybercabs, robovans, and the Optimus robot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu-eK72ioDk

    If you are an American citizen, especially in a swing state, please register to vote here: https://voterizer.org/

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    13 October 2024, 10:00 am
  • 20 minutes 55 seconds
    139 - A.K. 47 - Who Needs the War? - Part 1

    Kristen Ghodsee reads Alexandra Kollontai's 1915 essay about World War I–"Who Needs the War?"–and looks for lessons applicable to the present day. 

    This translation is from a 1984 collection of Kollontai's writing published by Progress Publishers in the Soviet Union, which claims that the essay was written while Kollontai was in exile in Norway. She sent it to Vladimir Lenin (then in exile in Switzerland) who also edited it before publication. The final pamphlet went into multiple editions and was distributed widely across Europe and Russia. 

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    23 September 2024, 10:00 am
  • 23 minutes 42 seconds
    138 - Bonus Episode – Socialism: A Logical Introduction with Professor Scott Sehon

    Kristen Ghodsee speaks to Scott R. Sehon, a professor of philosophy, about his new book, Socialism: A Logical Introduction, and why we should use arguments to make a case for socialism and against capitalism. 

    The first ten U.S.-based listeners to email [email protected] with a name and address will get a free copy of Professor Sehon's new book. 

    Mentioned in this episode:




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    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    25 March 2024, 10:00 am
  • 22 minutes 1 second
    137 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - Claudia Jones's 8 March 1950 International Women's Day Speech

    For International Women's Day, Kristen Ghodsee reads the Black Trinidadian activist and journalist Claudia Jones's speech for International Women's Day in 1950. This speech, (and the published version which appeared afterwards) led to Jones's arrest and eventual deportation from the United States. Jones was a member of the CPUSA, and believed that women's emancipation and civil rights required a strong stance against imperialism and militarism. She say capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy are deeply intertwined ideologies.

    Read the full text of Claudia Jones's speech here
    Listen to Kristen Ghodsee's IWD guest appearance on the Upstream Podcast
    Watch Kristen Ghodsee's IWD guest appearance on the Total Liberation Podcast
    Read Kristen Ghodsee's 2019 Op-Ed in the New York Times on IWD
    Read an Associated Press article about 8 March 2024

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    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    8 March 2024, 8:00 am
  • 20 minutes
    136 - A.K. 47 - "Diplomat, Novelist, Leader - Versatile Mme. Kollontay"

    Kristen Ghodsee reads a profile of Alexandra Kollontai which appeared in the Washington Post on May 15, 1927 when Kollontai was serving as the Soviet ambassador to Mexico.

    Mentioned in this episode: The hardcover of Everyday Utopia is on sale at Amazon.com for $14.99 (50% off)

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    17 February 2024, 7:00 pm
  • 32 minutes 59 seconds
    135 - A.K. 47 - Bonus Episode - 5th Anniversary Conversation about Parenthood

    Kristen Ghodsee and her daughter share a conversation about Kollontai's pro-natalism and the current discourse about the BirthStrike. Are the relevant moral imperatives about having or not having children? And how does the climate crisis factor into people's decisions? We also discuss the future of the podcast and the newly discovered fact that it is listened to in 100 countries around the world. 

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    8 January 2024, 9:00 am
  • 17 minutes 53 seconds
    134 - A.K. 47 - The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy - Part 3

    Kristen Ghodsee reads the final part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 essay, "The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy" to explore Kollontai's arguments for the socialization of the family and the socialist uses of the maternal instinct. Although Kollontai is openly pro-natalist, and emphasizes that motherhood is a social obligation to help produce new workers for the world's first workers state, she is making these arguments to suspicious men in the Bolshevik government who do not want to expend resources to socialize the domestic labor that Russian women historically did for free. 

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Also, wishing everyone a Happy New Year!


    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    31 December 2023, 9:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 36 seconds
    133 - A.K. 47 - The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy - Part 2

    Kristen Ghodsee reads the second part of Alexandra Kollontai's 1921 essay, "The Labor of Women in the Evolution of the Economy" to explore Kollontai's arguments for the socialization of the family and the socialist uses of the maternal instinct. Although Kollontai is openly pro-natalist, and emphasizes that motherhood is a social obligation to help produce new workers for the world's first workers state, she is making these arguments to suspicious men in the Bolshevik government who do not want to expend resources to socialize the domestic labor that Russian women historically did for free. 

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Send us a text

    Thanks so much for listening. This podcast has no Patreon account and receives no funding. If you would like to support the work being done here, please spread the word and share with your friends and networks, and consider exploring the following links:

    Buy Kristen Ghodsee's new book now: Everyday Utopia

    Subscribe to Kristen Ghodsee's (very occasional) free newsletter.

    Learn more about Kristen Ghodsee's work at: www.kristenghodsee.com

    23 December 2023, 10:00 pm
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