Season 2
5 episodes · 2022
Socialism's singular idea: that mankind would truly thrive only if property were shared by all.
1You Say You Want A Revolution...
Karl Marx said a workers' revolution was inevitable but by the end of the 19th century, it had failed to materialize. In response, some of his followers began developing an important strain of Marxist thought that would deeply affect America and the West.
2California Dreaming
Italian communist Antonio Gramsci concludes that to succeed, Marxists must overthrow not just capitalism but Western civilization. Scholars of the Frankfurt School take refuge in Los Angeles - ground zero for the American culture they hope to destroy.
3Long March
In the 1960s, the 'long march through the institutions' begins: a systematic effort to control higher education and other key institutions. Herbert Marcuse emerges as 'the Godfather of the New Left,' inspiring a new generation of American socialists.
4Red and Green
In the 1970s, socialists took aim at environmental issues. From overpopulation to global warming, they provide in every case the same prescription: more centralized control and less personal freedom.
5Situation Criticalfinale
Today's socialists substitute conflict over race, gender, and identity for the original Marxist schism between owners and workers. The goal remains the same, however: destroy American institutions, disrupt society, and bring about revolutionary change.