/547/ What Are the Politics of Stagnation? ft. Dylan Riley

/547/ What Are the Politics of Stagnation? ft. Dylan Riley

From Bungacast by Bungacast

April 28, 2026 · 1h 21m · Episode 562

About this episode

Dylan Riley discusses the implications of political capitalism and economic stagnation with hosts Alex and Lee.

On political capitalism and divided workers. Sociology professor at UC Berkeley, Dylan Riley, talks to Alex and Lee about economic stagnation, the state propping up capitalism, and class politics. What is "political capitalism"? And is it true that plunder and predation matter more now than exploitation? Why hasn't the ruling class purged the system through mass bankruptcies and unemployment? How does Chinese state capitalism fit into the story of stagnation and excess capacity? What is the difference between economic interests and class interests? How is the working class divided today? Is there a way out of the impasse? What possibility is there of a pro-growth politics? –> For more like this, subscribe: patreon.com/bungacast <– Links: Relevant Episodes /312/ Consolation-Prize Marxism & the Bunga-Bunga State ft. Dylan Riley /515/ State Capitalism Is Now ft. Ilias Alami Riley & Brenner Seven Theses on American Politics, New Left Review, 2022 The Long Downturn and Its Political Results, New Left Review, 2025 Some Key Responses Reflections on Political Capitalism, Lola Seaton, New Left Review, 2023 Notes on ‘Political Capitalism’, John Ganz Seven Theses on Brenner…

People in this episode

Hosts: Alex, Lee

Guest: Dylan Riley

Topics covered

  • political capitalism
  • economic stagnation
  • class politics
  • working class division
  • state capitalism
  • pro-growth politics

Keywords

  • political capitalism
  • economic stagnation
  • class interests
  • working class
  • state capitalism
  • mass bankruptcies
  • predation
  • exploitation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Berkeley, New Left Review, Jacobin, Damage

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