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Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber

Catalyst, Jacobin
Capitalism
Neoliberalism
Social Democracy
Working Class
Democratic Party
Socialism
Trump Administration
Labor Movement
Political Economy
Iran
United States
Professional Managerial Class
Trade Unions
Iraq
Wokeness
Trump’s Tariffs
Republican Party
Vietnam War
American Labor Movement
Welfare State

Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber cuts through the chaos to provide a conceptual and historical framework for understanding how capitalism functions across the globe. Conversations span political economy, history, and strategy. Every other week, Vivek provides essential insights for effective socialist politics today. Produced by Catalyst and published by Jacobin.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes39Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsHistoryPolitics

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Artwork for Confronting Capitalism

Latest Episodes

Throughout the 20th century, socialism came to be associated with both central planning and shortages. But could democratic ownership of the economy work alongside market competition?

On the latest episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber e... more

How effective has the Left’s political strategy been since the first Bernie Sanders campaign? And how has our relationship to the Democratic Party changed?

On this special episode of Confronting Capitalism, recorded live at Littlefield in Brooklyn ... more

Our modern economy is now dominated by massive mega-companies like Amazon and Walmart, with operations spanning many different sectors and employment types. With the US labor movement at historically low levels of unionization, bold strategies are ne... more

The US-Israeli war against Iran may have been initiated without any coherently stated goals or popular support, but we can already see that it’s a horrific quagmire. It also doesn’t look like Trump and Israel will get the swift Iranian regime change ... more

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Recent Guests

Krystal Ball
Author and co-host
Independent / Breaking Points
Episode: Which Way Forward for the Left?
Vivek Chibber
Author and Professor of Sociology
New York University / Catalyst
Episode: Which Way Forward for the Left?
Matt Karp
Author and Historian
Princeton University / Jacobin
Episode: Which Way Forward for the Left?
Benjamin Fong
Associate Director of the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University; co-editor of Rustin's Challenge
Arizona State University / Rustin's Challenge
Episode: This Century’s Biggest Labor Battle
Jason Brownlee
Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Trump’s Historic Blunder in Iran
Gabriel Hetland
Associate professor at SUNY Albany and author of 'Democracy on the Ground'
SUNY Albany
Episode: The Coup in Venezuela
Matt Huber
Professor of Geography and the Environment at Syracuse University and scholar of environmental policy.
Syracuse University
Episode: Abundance Needs Socialism
Phillip Rocco
Associate professor of political science at Marquette University and author of a Catalyst essay
Marquette University
Episode: Why the Democrats Can’t Fight for Anything
Neal Meyer
Finishing his PhD in sociology at NYU and frequent contributor to Jacobin.
Jacobin
Episode: How the Democrats Abandoned Workers

Hosts

Vivek Chibber
Professor of Sociology at NYU; Editor of Catalyst, Journal of Theory and Strategy; frequent public intellectual on capitalism, labor, and socialist politics
Melissa Naschek
Co-host and presenter; engages with listeners on labor, capitalism, and socialist politics; contributes rigorous analysis and accessible explanation

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 248 ratings
  • Always something new to learn from these knowledgeable people!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    callmebymyworkname
    17 days ago
  • Excellent show

    Excellent show which tackles interesting and relevant political, economic, and social questions and topics. Professor Chibber is extremely clear, articulate, learned and insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SG@818
    United States2 months ago
  • Fantastic show - Vivek is a generational voice

    Vivek is fantastic to listen to, great show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CapnSolo86
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent format for introducing important concepts that make up the structure of capitalism. Vivek Chibber does an excellent job of walking us through these ideas by responding to questions and providing examples.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    seamuspuebla
    5 months ago
  • Chibber the best!!

    If you're a leftist that sees dysfunction in identity politics and dysfunction in the modern American left and want to bring it all back to basics: materialism. This is for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bachelor Tom
    Canada5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Clear, accessible analysis of complex political economy topics.
Thoughtful critique of mainstream economic ideas with a class-focused lens.
Strong host-co-host dynamic and rigorous intellectual grounding.
Engaging, well-argued discussions that connect theory to real-world organizing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#215
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#208
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#190
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#213
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
Mexico/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#92
Netherlands/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Which Way Forward for the Left?
Q: How would you describe what the left's electoral strategy has been since Bernie's defeat in 2016?
The consensus is that DSA-backed candidates in Democratic primaries have been the most promising tactic, but there is caution about whether those wins translate into durable power and real policy shifts without broader organizing.
Is AI Coming for Our Jobs?
Q: Why is there so much anxiety about AI and job loss?
Anxiety stems from historical fears around technology and job displacement, compounded by a lack of strong labor power to mitigate the effects of such changes.
Is AI Coming for Our Jobs?
Q: What are the potential impacts of AI on the labor market?
AI is likely to lead to the displacement of some jobs but may also create new opportunities in different sectors as the economy adapts to changes in productivity.
Reform and Revolution
Q: What was the relationship like between social democracy and Marxism? Were these social democratic parties Marxist parties?
While some were explicitly Marxist, many social democratic parties employed Marxist ideas as their common political language but were not strictly Marxist parties.
Reform and Revolution
Q: When did social democracy start to really diverge from a revolutionary model, and what was the significance of that shift?
By the 1920s, the possibility of revolution receded, leading social democracies to focus on gradual reforms instead of outright revolution changes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Confronting Capitalism

What is Confronting Capitalism about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, historically informed discussion about political economy, labor, and strategy under capitalism. The show consistently tackles how class power, organizational work, and state policy intersect with global economic trends, frequently returning to themes like worker empowerment, democratic planning, and socialist politics. Episodes balance theoretical frameworks with practical implications for activists, unions, and policymakers, often featuring prominent scholars and seasoned organizers. A notable strength is its willingness to challenge mainstream orthodoxies while connecting historical debates to contemporary issues like automation, AI, and international politics, all through a clear, accessible, and policy-forward lens.

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Which podcasts are similar to Confronting Capitalism?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Confronting Capitalism:

1. Jacobin Radio
2. Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella
3. What's Left of Philosophy
4. Behind the News with Doug Henwood
5. Bungacast

How many episodes of Confronting Capitalism are there?

Confronting Capitalism launched a year ago and published 39 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Confronting Capitalism?

Recent guests on Confronting Capitalism include:

1. Krystal Ball
2. Vivek Chibber
3. Matt Karp
4. Benjamin Fong
5. Jason Brownlee
6. Gabriel Hetland
7. Matt Huber
8. Phillip Rocco

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