In and Against the State

Recorded at The World Transformed (#TWT2018), a 4-day politics, arts and music festival running alongside the Labour Party Conference, working to build left power both inside and outside of Parliament.

Moderated by Dan Hind. Presentations by:

• Hilary Wainwright – Sociologist, political activist and author, fellow of the Transnational Institute and editor of Red Pepper magazine.
• Mark Serwotka – General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union
• Francesca Bria – Chief Technology and Digital Innovation Officer for the City of Barcelona. Founder of the Decode Project.
• John McDonnell MP – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington

In recent decades the British state has been transformed, with the private sector taking over many of its key functions. Can what remains be radically changed? Or are we confronted by institutions designed to maintain the status quo? Politicians and activists bring their experiences of working in and against the state, as we seek to understand its nature, whether it can be democratized and how workers and communities can participate in organizing the services they depend on.

Recorded in Liverpool, 25 September 2018.