The Marxism Education Series at Socialism 2026 is a cluster of courses on Marxist theory designed to introduce and deepen the understanding of Marxism for activists and organizers. The four classes (Class, State, Crisis, Socialism) present key concepts of Marxist theory in a capacious way, and build on each other throughout the full MES program. Participants are expected to do the readings (included in a reader to be sent to those registered for the MES) and participate in all four courses starting in the
morning on September 4.
Classes will have
limited capacity and require registration through a special form (
available here).
You will still need to register for Socialism 2026 in order to access the conference. Schedule
9:30am - 10:45am: Classwith
Michael A. McCarthyThis course will present the basics of what capitalism is and how class works. Topics we will cover include capitalist competition and exploitation, as well as how racial, gender, and migrant status shape the labor market and class position. 11am - 12:15pm: Statewith
Amna AkbarThis course aims to explore the role that the state plays in reproducing capitalism and class exploitation. We will explore the ways that capitalists directly shape the state and the ways that capitalism itself indirectly constrains democratic politics, as well as the role of states in imperialism and colonialism. 1pm - 2:15pm: Crisiswith
Michael A. McCarthyIn this course we will explore the ways that capitalism drives crises. First, we will examine the ways economic crisis are products of capitalism. Then we will examine the ways that environmental, social, and political crises are also created by capitalist dynamics. 2:30pm - 4pm: Socialismwith
Eman AbdelhadiThis course aims to understand what Marxists are fighting for. We will explore different experiments in socialism and the anti-capitalist principles, such as freedom, democracy, and equality, that they aim to produce. Readings will be sent out a few weeks before the conference.
