Socialism 2026: Full Schedule

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10:00am CDT

Russian Neofascism: Imperialism Abroad & Repression at Home

Sunday September 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

Vladimir Putin responded to democratic uprising in Russia’s former empire by repressing domestic dissent and launching an imperialist war on Ukraine. In a discussion of their new book, Russia’s New Imperialism, Ilya Budraitskis and Ilya Matveev will be joined by Robert Brenner and Daria Saburova to examine Putin’s neofascist project, Ukraine’s struggle for self-determination, and today’s inter-imperial rivalries.

Speakers

Robert Brenner

Robert Brenner, professor Emeritus UCLA, editor at New Left Review, author of Economics of Global Turbulence

Ilya Budraitskis

Ilya Budraitskis, co-author of Russia’s New Imperialism

Ilya Matveev

Ilya Matveev, co-author of Russia’s New Imperialism

Daria Saburova

Daria Saburova, researcher at Central European University, editorial board member of Commons

Sponsors

Boris Kagarlitsky International Solidarity Campaign

Sunday September 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA

International Politics

10:00am CDT

The Old Being Reborn: The Revival of Socialist Organizations in US and Belgium

Sunday September 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

TBA

What is the throughline between the Belgian Worker’s party and the Democratic Socialists of America? British socialist, Joe Todd and DSA member David Duhalde will examine the new DSA and Belgian Workers Party's structures over the past decade, their developments and differences. This panel will reflect on the historical labor, electoral, and factional dynamics, of the Socialist party that have led us to today.

Speakers

David Duhalde

David Duhalde is a lifelong democratic socialist organizer who has held positions in both the Democratic Socialist of America and its sister nonprofit the DSA Fund at the staff and volunteer leadership levels. He is an author on numerous topics including DSA history, which have appeared... Read More →

Joe Todd

Joe Todd is a researcher, organiser and political strategist. He writes on left parties for the Guardian, Novara Media and his Substack, and co-hosts the top 50 UK podcast Life of the Party. He is the author of "Between Autonomy and Control," a comparative study of the Belgian Workers... Read More →

Sponsors

RLS

Sunday September 6, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
TBA

International Politics

12:00pm CDT

Cuba Under Siege: A Round Table Discussion

Sunday September 6, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT

TBA

During the 1990s, Cuba survived an economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Now, after 67 years of US economic/trade sanctions and a fuel blockade, the nation faces far greater challenges. What lessons can be drawn from the past? How will Cuba survive? What can Cuba solidarity activists do?

Speakers

TBD

Justine Medina

Justine Medina, participant in Nuestra América international convoy to Cuba, Cuban Americans for Cuba, former VP Amazon Labor Union

Helen Yaffe

Helen Yaffe, Latin American and Political Economy, Univ. of Glasgow; Author, We Are Cuba, How a Revolutionary People Have Survived in a post- Soviet World;

Sponsors

Chicago Cuba Coalition

Sunday September 6, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
TBA

International Politics

3:00pm CDT

Inquilab Zindabad: Bhagat Singh and the Revolutionary Left during South Asian Independence

Sunday September 6, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT

TBA

Mainstream narratives of the South Asian independence movement often erase radical figures like Bhagat Singh, who articulated critiques of colonialism, capitalism, and religion, and was unafraid to embrace a diversity of tactics - including “violent” struggle. This session will shine light on his underappreciated history, and why it still matters today.

Speakers

Viral Mistry

Sunday September 6, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
TBA

International Politics

3:00pm CDT

Our International Struggles Cannot be Confined to the Capitalists’ National Elections

Sunday September 6, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT

TBA

Under heightened imperialist rivalries, with global climate catastrophe and war destroying our world, the international issues we face cannot be solved within national borders. We are told that the elections are necessary to fight these issues and to counter the growing far right. But our everyday problems, like rising costs of living, can only be solved through collective class struggle. How do socialists trying to address these problems approach bourgeois elections knowing that our resistance must be international? How do we avoid the pitfalls of nationalism in a time of heightened nationalist rivalries?

Speakers

Socialism 2026

10:00am CDT

Robert Brenner

Ilya Budraitskis

Ilya Matveev

Daria Saburova

Boris Kagarlitsky International Solidarity Campaign

10:00am CDT

David Duhalde

Joe Todd

RLS

12:00pm CDT

TBD

Justine Medina

Helen Yaffe

Chicago Cuba Coalition

3:00pm CDT

Viral Mistry

3:00pm CDT

Laura R

Jolene S

Tom T

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