The fifth annual Marx conference devoted to “Left Perspectives on the International Crisis of Capitalism” took place in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beer-Sheva on May 2011, under the auspices of Hagada Ha’smalit (Left Bank) Alternative Cultural Center. In addition to 25 panelists, approximately three hundred people participated in the meetings and discussion. Summaries of lectures were published in the Hebrew website, Hagada Ha’smalit and a video film on the conference was produced by “Social TV” collective.
The next edition of the Marx conference will be held next weekend in Tel-Aviv (Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2 at Minshar College, David Khachmi 18), Haifa (Thursady, May 31 at Emil Touma Institute, Lochamei Ha’Guetaot 27) and Beer-Sheva (Monday, June 4 at Multaka-Mifgash, Shlomo Hamelech 7). Among the participants in the several panels: Prof. Ramzi Suleiman (Haifa University), Karin Zennig (Social activist, Germany), Christina Kaindl (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation), Dr. Mousa Budeiri (Bir Zeit University), Dr. Yussri Jisran (Van-Leer Institute), Raj’a Oumari (Researcher), Issam Makhoul (Former MK, director of the Emil Touma Institute), Reuven Aberg’il (Social activist, Jerusalem), Rosinne Bisharat (Social activist, Jaffa), Alon-Lee Green (Social activist, Tel-Aviv), MK Dr. Dov Khenin, Angelika Timm (Rosa Luxemburg Foundation), Dr. Shimshom Bichler (Kinneret College), Dr. Iftach Goldman (Betzalel College), Prof. Gideon Freudenthal (Tel-Aviv University), Amira Hess (Journalist, “Haaretz”, Ramallah), HIsham Nafa’h (Journalist, “Al Ittihad”, Haifa), Prof. Gadi Algazi (Tel-Aviv University), Muhammad J’bali (Social activist, Jaffa), Prof. Lev Grinberg (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Tamar Gozansky (Former MK, journalist and activist), Shy Gorsky (Student, Tel-Aviv University), Micha Rachman (Social and peace activist, Jerusalem), Yoav Goldring (Member of the Tel-Aviv – Jaffa City Council), Raj’a Zaatry (Social activist and journalist, “Al Ittihad”, Haifa), Prof. Dani Filc (Head of the Political Science Dept., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Sapir Slutzker (Social activist, Rosh Hay’in) and Adar Stern (Social activist, Beer-Sheva)
It is not every day that a sizable group of academicians and social activists meet to develop a dialog, to debate and to cooperate in furthering their common aim of maintaining and developing the intellectual and political status of Marxism in Israel.
Among the subjects to be discus: the never ended capitalist crisis, the popular revolutions in the Middle East and class strategies, the danger of fascism in Israel. An also: social and workers’ struggles in Israel during the last year, the Israeli capitalism and a session devoted to the new edition of Marx’s “Das Kapital” in Hebrew. The large participation of many young people and students is noteworthy as their special interest in the practical side of social activism and labor struggles, especially the movement for the establishment of worker committees as part of a new drive for unionization.
The agenda is far too ambitious for the framework. Despite these difficulties, there is a sense that the annual Marx conference is becoming a valuable asset to the work of the left in Israel. The organizers have received addition requests for the analysis of different subjects, and there are additional people in academia who can be part of the future Marx annual conferences.
The work of the forum is based on a group of activists from academia and the Left Bank College. Hagada Ha’smalit (Left Bank) is an alternative cultural space which has been active for a decade in Tel Aviv and is supported the Communist Party of Israel and Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality). The Left Bank also maintains the leading alternative Hebrew language site of the militant left in Israel.
For contact and further details: Marx2012@hagada.org.il
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Next Week in Tel-Aviv, Haifa and Beer-Sheva: Marx Forum 2011
