Communes—productive activities controlled by a convergence of community assemblies—are a fascinating example of socialist forces experimenting with the creation of new social forms. Venezuela's communes are an attempt to address some of the shortcomings of cooperatives and worker councils in state-owned factories by addressing not just economic production but productive social relationships like parenting and gender relations at the grassroots level. Chris Gilbert, author of the forthcoming "Commune or Nothing" and co-author of "Venezuela, the Present as Struggle" joins us from Caracas to explain the theoretical basis for communes. --- Mentioned in this episode: -- Five Factories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8uUJPPST7s Communard Union https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/04/08/a-milestone-venezuelas-communard-union-stages-its-foundational-congress/ István Mészáros https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istv%C3%A1n_M%C3%A9sz%C3%A1ros_(philosopher) Venezuela: The present as struggle (book) https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/15045 Commune or Nothing! (book) https://monthlyreview.org/product/commune-or-nothing-venezuelas-communal-movement-and-its-socialist-project/