"Do the Oppressed Have Obligations? On Israel and Palestine" - OaD Ep. 176

A non-fiction book by David Grann, adapted into a film.

In this book, Cedric Robinson critiques Marxism and its reliance on determinism, introducing the theory of racial capitalism and tracing the roots of Black radical thought. The book is divided into three parts: 'The Emergence and Limitations of European Radicalism', 'The Roots of Black Radicalism', and 'Black Radicalism and Marxist Theory'. Robinson argues that all capitalism is structured by racialism, producing inequalities among groups, and he examines the lives and works of key Black radical thinkers such as W. E. B. Du Bois, C. L. R. James, and Richard Wright. The book challenges traditional Marxist and European historiography, highlighting the significance of Black resistance and the Black radical tradition in understanding modernity, nationalism, and capitalism.

In 'Just and Unjust Wars,' Michael Walzer draws on medieval Just War theory to develop a modern, secular approach to the ethics of warfare. The book distinguishes between *jus ad bellum* (the justice of going to war) and *jus in bello* (the justice in the conduct of war), arguing that these are separate and independent judgments. Walzer critiques both amoral realism and pacifism, advocating for a 'War Convention' that includes principles such as non-combatant immunity and the moral equality of soldiers. He uses historical examples, including World War II, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts, to illustrate his arguments and to emphasize the importance of protecting human rights and avoiding harm to civilians. The book has been highly influential in the field of just war theory and continues to be a standard reference in discussions about the ethics of warfare.

Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" is a seminal work of postcolonial theory that explores the psychological and social effects of colonialism on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that colonialism creates a system of oppression that dehumanizes and alienates the colonized, leading to violence and resistance. He analyzes the role of violence in the struggle for liberation, emphasizing its necessity in breaking the cycle of oppression. The book also examines the process of decolonization, highlighting the need for a complete transformation of society and the creation of new forms of social and political organization. Fanon's work remains highly influential in discussions of colonialism, decolonization, and the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice.