New Books Network Jasper Bernes, "The Future of Revolution: Communist Prospects from the Paris Commune to the George Floyd Uprising" (Verso Books, 2025)
Apr 12, 2026
Jasper Bernes, a UC Berkeley lecturer and author who writes on Marxism and revolutionary history, discusses revolutionary forms from the Paris Commune to the George Floyd uprising. He traces workers’ councils, the limits of parties and unions, and the idea of immediate communization. He explores rethinking councils for neighborhoods, transparent technical inquiry, and conditions for revolutionary success.
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Paris Commune As A Durable Communist Form
- The Paris Commune introduced a durable communist prospect by modeling inclusive, revocable delegation and grassroots supervision from below.
- Marx saw the commune as a plenary form where mandated, revocable delegates simplify administration so any workman can perform civic tasks.
Workers Councils Prevent Delegate Entrenchment
- Workers' councils refine the commune by rooting inclusion in workplaces and requiring revocable, mandated, rotating delegates to avoid new hierarchies.
- Councils insisted delegates be easily replaceable and duties simplified so expertise is advisory not monopolistic.
Three Preconditions For Revolutionary Success
- Successful revolutions require suspension or collapse of the state's armed power, mass inclusion of the vast majority, and immediate steps toward communist social relations.
- Without dissolving policing/army power, expropriation and common production cannot be implemented despite council structures.
