MODULE 5

What Is to be done?

Module 5 Reading Packet

Back to Home Page

Class 1: A system for the people, by the people

Tuesday, August 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET

Panel discussion:

What might socialism look like in the U.S. - not as an abstract idea, but as part of our everyday lives? In this panel, we’ll hear directly from scientists, labor leaders, and organizers to explore how workers across sectors are envisioning how democracy, labor and science would function in a socialist society. What future can we build when we imagine new ways of organizing society from the ground up?

Class Recording

Class 2: Building socialism: our next steps

Thursday, August 21 | 6:30–8:30 PM ET

Instructor: Manolo De Los Santos

Over the past 6 weeks, we have explored socialism’s vision and proposals for the future and the real possibilities for revolutionary change in the U.S. Now, we ask: what comes next? This final session is a collective call to action - how will we take the lessons from this course and put them into action? We will reflect on key lessons from the course and history and map out concrete next steps for building socialist and working-class consciousness, power and organization in our communities.

Class Recording

Module 5 questions

The module reflection questions are an opportunity to synthesize the lessons from the previous module and prepare for upcoming classes. The reflection questions will be the main way to confirm participation and earn a course certificate at the end. You can submit them individually, or gather as a group to discuss and submit them collectively. If you are submitting as a group, please indicate the names of group members.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

1. We began the course with a simple definition of socialism: a system where the working class holds political power, and the economy is planned to meet the needs of the people and the planet. Reflect on your understanding of socialism now, six weeks later. Has your understanding of socialism changed, and how? How would you define socialism in your own words?

2. This course calls for all of us to not only study socialism, but participate in building socialist consciousness and a socialist system. To do so, we all must become promoters of socialism, or in other words, people who can describe socialism as a real possibility in a compelling, relatable, and exciting way. Imagine you are discussing socialism with someone in your life-- a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor. How would you describe socialism to them? What questions might they ask, and how would you answer? Practice this out loud or with a friend!

3. Help us learn from this course and make the next one better. Share your reflections on content, organization. Consider here the methodology used to teach - from specifics to the big picture. During classes, what helped you understand and engage with the material and what didn’t, from teaching styles to discussions. On the larger scale, think about your development of thought throughout the course and what helped you grow. What worked well in your experience? What might be improved?

4. The true evaluation of any political education is how you use it. What are your next steps in the struggle for socialism?

What Is to be done?

Class 1: A system for the people, by the people

Class 2: Building socialism: our next steps

Module 5 questions

The People’s Forum