Max Ajl

Max Ajl and Patrick Higgins join the podcast to discuss Palestinian resistance against the Zionist project, including the ongoing bombardment on Gaza. Topics covered include the history of Gaza, the development of Palestinian resistance, media manipulation, the consequences of Hamas's attack, and the crisis of legitimacy faced by Israel. They also explore the influence of Marxist movements on the Palestinian resistance. Tune in for crucial information on this critical topic.

Exploring the complexities of the Palestine question in a global context, historical significance of Palestinian insurgency, Iran's impact on national liberation movements, and China's role in aiding Iran's support for Palestine.

It's clear that we need to decarbonize our economy as quickly as possible in order to avoid the worst of climate change — but carbon isn't the only problem we're facing. As the world moves towards renewables and away from fossil fuels as an energy source, we can't forget that the technology and minerals behind this green transition need to come from somewhere — and that somewhere is primarily countries in the Global South. The supply chains which carry the lithium, copper, cobalt, and other minerals essential for renewable technology from the peripheries to the imperial cores — from places like Chile and Bolivia to places like the United States and Europe — are built upon a foundation of colonialism, imperialism, hyper-exploitation, and ecocide: all essential components of our current economic system — capitalism. In part one of this two-part series on the green transition, we're going to explore what happens when we simply paint capitalism green without addressing its fundamental global operating principles and processes. What is the dark side of the energy transition — particularly for the Global South and Indigenous communities? In part two, we dive deeper into some solutions, but in this episode, we start our journey in the Atacama desert of Chile and end all the way in the Arctic Circle, exploring the global extractive machine and the communities that exist on its frontiers. Featured Guests: Max Ajl: Associated researcher with the Tunisian Observatory for Food Sovereignty and the Environment, postdoctoral fellow with the Rural Sociology Group at Wageningen University, author of A People's Green New Deal Ana Julia Aneise: Youth climate activist with Youth for Climate Sergio Chaparro: Colombian human rights activist and researcher Jason Hickel: Economic anthropologist and author of Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World Beaska Niillas: Northern Sámi traditional handicrafter, hunter and gatherer, activist, Sámi school kindergarten teacher, politician, and the host of the SuperSápmi Podcast Thea Riofrancos: Associate professor of political science at Providence College and co-author of A Planet To Win: Why We Need a Green New Deal Matthias Schmelzer: Economic historian at the University of Vienna and co-author of The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World beyond Capitalism Music by Chris Zabriskie, Pele, Do Make Say Think, and Sofia Jannok Thank you to Bethan Mure for the cover art. Upstream theme music was composed by Robert Raymond. Both english and spanish transcriptions are available at: upstreampodcast.org/greentransitionpt1. Thank you to Martina Knittel for the Spanish transcription. This episode of Upstream was made possible with support from listeners like you and the Guerrilla Foundation and Resist Foundation. Upstream is a labor of love — we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support Also, if your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on social media: Facebook.com/upstreampodcast twitter.com/UpstreamPodcast Instagram.com/upstreampodcast You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Max Ajl, an associated researcher focused on food sovereignty and environmental issues, shares insights into the agrarian question's significance in national liberation struggles. He discusses the historical and ongoing impacts of rural politics on movements in Algeria and Palestine, emphasizing land rights and colonial legacies. The conversation dives into the intersection of agriculture with revolutionary theory in Russia and China, and how modern conflicts exacerbate global food security. Ajl's expertise shines through as he explores these vital topics impacting today's socio-political landscape.

Dr. Max Ajl, scholar of Arab intellectual history and longtime Palestinian solidarity activist, joins to map Syria’s shifting role in regional resistance. They discuss Syria’s historical bridging of Arab nationalism, Marxism, and Islamist movements. Conversation touches on 2011 origins, economic warfare and sanctions, and why recent assaults were timed now.