Marxism, Anarchism, and the Power of Communist Imagination: Richard Gilman-Opalsky on Utopia and Revolution

Support Vintagia: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acidhorizon/vintagia-i-ching-oracle-for-psychogeographers-and-creativesWhat if communism isn’t a destination, but something already unfolding in everyday acts of resistance, care, and imagination? In this episode, Richard Gilman-Opalsky joins us to discuss the political force of utopian thinking, the ongoing tension between Marxism and anarchism, and the need to move beyond stale demands for “practical” revolution. Drawing from his two most recent books— Imaginary Power, Real Horizons: The Practicality of Utopianism—as well as Communist Ontologies (with Bruno Gullì) from Minor Compositions, we explore the imagination as a site of material struggle, the persistence of Cold War ideology, and the overlooked revolutionary power of small things. This conversation ranges from the German Ideology to Gaza, from the failures of liberal capitalism to the fragile flame of collective dreaming.Imaginary Power, Real Horizons: The Practicality of Utopianism: https://www.akpress.org/imaginary-power-real-horizons.htmlCommunist Ontologies: https://www.minorcompositions.info/?p=1320Support the showSupport the podcast:AHRCCurrent classes at Acid Horizon Research Commons (AHRC): acidhorizonresearchcommons.comAHRC Course Archive: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/ahrc-course-archivesSubmit your course proposal: [email protected] LinksWebsite: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastBoycott Watkins Media: https://xenogothic.com/2025/03/17/boycott-watkins-statement/Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1512615438LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam’s blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Split Infinities (Craig’s Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/