Morpheus

From 1Dime Radio

Marxism vs Elite Theory (Ft. Chris Cutrone)

Published
August 21, 2026
Length
1:27:49
Starts at
36:34

Audio is streamed from the publisher.

Chapters

Read from the show notes

  1. 0:00 The Backroom Preview: Graham Platner and #MeToo
  2. 4:12 1Dime Radio Intro
  3. 5:10 Marxism vs. Elite Theory
  4. 13:42 The 20% vs. the 80%
  5. 18:15 Is the Left Actually Left?
  6. 22:50 Marxism and Liberal Democracy
  7. 30:01 What Elite Theory Explains
  8. 36:34 Theory, Strategy, and Practice
  9. 41:03 The Synthetic Left and Family Abolition
  10. 51:26 Marxism as the Critique of Socialism
  11. 59:20 Intellectuals, Class, and the PMC
  12. 1:06:15 Elite Overproduction and Academia
  13. 1:14:16 What Is Marxism For?
  14. 1:18:28 In What Sense Is Cutrone a Marxist?
  15. 1:25:48 Join Us in The Backroom

Not from the publisher — times may be approximate.

Get access to The Backroom (100+ exclusive episodes) on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/OneDime](https://www.patreon.com/OneDime) In this episode of 1Dime Radio, I am joined by Chris Cutrone, founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society, to debate the professional-managerial class, elite theory, and whether either offers a better explanation of today’s left than Marxism. Taking Cutrone’s essay “Was Lenin PMC?” as our starting point, we clash over the 20% versus 80% framework, liberal democracy, managerialism, the role of intellectuals in socialist politics, and what Marxism is actually for in the absence of a proletarian socialist movement. In the Patreon-exclusive Backroom, we move from history into strategy: whether a viable class coalition must extend beyond the proletariat, why Marxism still matters, whether Cutrone is really as Marxist as he claims, and why most self-described Marxists have no real commitment to communism. We also turn to the Graham Platner fiasco, the culture of #MeToo, and some characteristically hot takes from Cutrone. You can listen to 1Dime Radio on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. Timestamps: 0:00 The Backroom Preview: Graham Platner and #MeToo 4:12 1Dime Radio Intro 5:10 Marxism vs. Elite Theory 13:42 The 20% vs. the 80% 18:15 Is the Left Actually Left? 22:50 Marxism and Liberal Democracy 30:01 What Elite Theory Explains 36:34 Theory, Strategy, and Practice 41:03 The Synthetic Left and Family Abolition 51:26 Marxism as the Critique of Socialism 59:20 Intellectuals, Class, and the PMC 66:15 Elite Overproduction and Academia 74:16 What Is Marxism For? 78:28 In What Sense Is Cutrone a Marxist? 1:25:48 Join Us in The Backroom GUEST: Chris Cutrone | Founder of the Platypus Affiliated Society * Chris Cutrone’s website: [https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/](https://chriscutrone.platypus1917.org/) * Platypus Affiliated Society: [https://platypus1917.org/](https://platypus1917.org/) * “Was Lenin PMC?”: [https://www.sublationmag.com/post/was-lenin-pmc-how-elite-theory-doesn-t-fit-the-movement-for-socialism](https://www.sublationmag.com/post/was-lenin-pmc-how-elite-theory-doesn-t-fit-the-movement-for-socialism) FOLLOW 1Dime: * 1Dime Radio YouTube channel: [https://youtube.com/@1dimeradio](https://youtube.com/@1dimeradio) * Substack: [https://1dimereview.substack.com/](https://1dimereview.substack.com/) * X/Twitter: [https://x.com/1DimeOfficial](https://x.com/1DimeOfficial) * Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime/](https://www.instagram.com/tonyof1dime/) * Main 1Dime YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee](https://www.youtube.com/@1Dimee) Leave a like, comment, and subscribe. Give 1Dime Radio a 5-star rating on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.