The ICSS has hosted a number of Marxist intellectuals addressing imperialism and how is it manifest in the Ukraine conflict. There is a broad consensus on the left against weapons for endless war and for diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine – a conflict that risks nuclear conflagration. Progressive groups like the Peace In Ukraine Coalition (https://www.peaceinukraine.org/) oppose spending for militarism and support funds for jobs, healthcare, and housing. InPeace Talks Essential as War Rages on in Ukraine (https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/09/05/peace-talks-essential-war-rages-ukraine), Benjamin and Davies write how the US and its allies sabotaged a possible peace agreement in the early stages of the conflict and argue that one is needed more than ever. 

 The ICSS is honored to host scholar and activist Greg Godels in this continuing discussion. His recent article Imperialism Revisited (https://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/2022/08/imperialism-revisited.html) investigates various historical and contemporary interpretations and applications of Lenin’s theory of imperialism and how it relates to Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict. Greg argues: “The tendency to see Russia as a non-participant in the imperialist game is somewhat understandable, but mistaken.” 

  Our speaker, Greg Godels,  grew up in a working-class family in a rural coalmining community in the United States. He joined the Communist Party in 1975 and served on the Economics Commission CPUSA until Vic Perlo’s death in 1999. He wrote frequently for the Daily World and other Communist Party papers as well as Political Affairs and Nature, Society and Thought. Articles by him have also appeared in numerous publications, including Communist Review (London), People’s Voice (Vancouver) and Socialist Voice (Dublin). He was joint founder of the website Marxism-Leninism Today and writes a highly regarded blog under the pen name Zoltan Zigedy

  Participants may want to prepare by reading Greg’s article, Imperialism Revisited, on his blog at zzs-blg.blgspotat