In the subcontinent, "Liberal" is a word much maligned, for its associations with Westernisation and anti-religious attitudes. However, it is important to gain a firm understanding of the historical conditions in which the philosophy of liberalism came about, and how it fares in today's world, especially in economic analyses and solutions. For all its soft, glowing appeal, does liberalism present an adequate opposition to dogmatic religion and conservatism? In this episode, Shehzor talks about the history and present of liberalism. They contrast its obsession with the "Right to Property" with communist revolutions and experiments across the world, like in USSR, China, and Telangana, which tried to collectivise land and means of production, and were significantly more successful in reducing suffering. We also discuss the question of cultural progress, and how the liberal and communist approaches to questions of queer rights are so different, taking examples of Indian lawyer Arundhati Katju's work and the Stonewall Riots in New York.

The example of land reforms and redressal apparatuses in China and India was taken from an Instagram story on the account of @az.dmanish.admi, who goes by the name of Malek. Follow him for great insights and readings on communist theory, its applications in India, and the convergence of left political thought and Islam.

Follow me on Instagram: @hemlockhating_goth

Outro Music (USSR ANTHEM TRAP REMIX by Yung Aylo):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmerksTdcuU

Taimur Rahman lecture on liberalism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl2tWootv6U

Podcast on Stonewall Riots by Working Class History (two parts):

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0TGBmcgwfHW4vfxZceAT26?si=uvcrVUOJQYmrlnb52Y1XLw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xM6G41N5HZEyD7nAyEjCd?si=xf893HURSKyHHwHHL112Xg