Red Flag Radio

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Discussion and analysis of politics, history, theory and activism from a revolutionary socialist perspective.

Episodes

Friday Oct 24, 2025

Why mutual aid can't challenge capitalism

Friday Oct 24, 2025

Emma and Chloe critique mutual aid from a socialist perspective and discuss Dean Spade's 2020 book Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And the Next). While mutual aid might feel good, we argue that it can't meet the needs of working class people, can't challenge the capitalist state or the bosses, and won't help us build the socialist party we need.

Further Reading:

"Mutual aid is nice but it doesn't challenge capitalism" by Erin Russell in Red Flag

Comments (2)

Man Number Two

4 months ago

Also consumerism, substitutionism, paternalism. Kalle Lasn, the anarchist founder of Adbusters who literally inspired Occupy, believed in decentralised sabotage of advertising and PR, not permanent community service providers.

Man Number Two

4 months ago

Thanks for the detailed history of mutual aid societies. The road to is paved with logistical good intentions.