"Who Paid the Pipers of Western Marxism?" with Gabriel Rockhill

Philosopher and activist Gabriel Rockhill joined us today to discuss his new book, “Who Paid the Piper in Western Marxism?” where he lays out how US imperial power has waged an “intellectual world war” through universities, foundations, journals, and cultural institutions—shaping what counts as radical thought inside the imperial core.

We talk about Che Guevara’s assassination and the battle over his intellectual legacy, the role of the CIA and major foundations in promoting a safe, anti‑communist “Western Marxism,” and how obscure academic language can function to mystify reality rather than clarify it. Rockhill explains why some prominent left academics have reacted so fiercely to his work, and why he believes their careers are bound up with an intellectual franchise that avoids real opposition to imperialism.

The episode also looks forward: how to reconnect with an internationalist, anti‑imperialist Marxist tradition, how to reach a US working class saturated in anti‑communist propaganda, and why building a broad anti‑war, pro‑peace movement is a crucial step toward any serious socialist project today.

About Gabriel Rockhill

Gabriel Rockhill is a philosopher, cultural critic, and political theorist whose work sits at the intersection of critical theory, intellectual history, and radical politics. He is Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University and the Founding Director of the Critical Theory Workshop, an international research and education project that brings together scholars and militants to examine the relationship between theory and practice.

 

Resources:

Order the book: https://kingsbookstore.com/book/9781685901349

Webpage: https://gabrielrockhill.com/

 

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/

 

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