Social Theory Network

Abandoning Marx’s Asiatic Mode of Mode of Production was a Fatal Mistake of Indian Communism! Introduction  Asiatic Mode of Production (AMP) was conceptualized by Marx mainly in his writings on Asia, more specifically India, during the 1850s. Through AMP, Marx pointed out the incompatibility of European mode of production (social formation) and class analysis in t...

The defining feature of the last decade was that everything, from food to music, was politicized.

All the while, our capacity to act collectively only grew weaker. Anton Jäger’s Hyperpolitics sets out to explain why: jacobin.com/2026/02/hyperpolitics-jager-institutions-media-review

On Late Fascism: Derrida, Toscano and the Return of Absolute Hostility - Ross Abbinnett, 2026 The article examines the question of the return of fascism to the political mainstream in European liberal democracies. This is done through a reading of Albert...

In Escape From Capitalism, economist Clara Mattei offers an uncompromising defense of a Marxist account of society and makes the case for democratic control of the economy: jacobin.com/2026/02/capitalism-democracy-economy-politics-socialism

Mark the Calendar to join the session
Sunday, 7PM!!

Join us Today.
Zoom Link- https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96876332286

Summary of the talk: A Legacy of Humanism and Political Commitment: Reassessing the Political Philosophy of Sardar Fazlul Karim

On the occasion of the centenary of Professor Sardar Fazlul Karim—renowned Bangladeshi philosopher, National Professor, and humanist intellectual—the “Social Theory Network” organized a special commemorative discussion titled “Rethinking the Political Philosophy of Sardar Fazlul Karim.” The event aimed to critically reassess Professor Karim’s political thought and examine its relevance to the contemporary sociopolitical condition of Bangladesh.

The discussion was moderated by Shamsul Arefin, a faculty member in Sociology at Gopalganj Science and Technology University and a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Khurshed Alam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR) Trust and a distinguished sociologist. Among the other discussants were Professor Dr. Shahadat Hossain from the Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka; Dr. Anisur Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at GSTU; Md. Ohijuzzaman from Independent University, Bangladesh; and Saiful Alam from the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), alongside other scholars and academics.

In his keynote address, Dr. Khurshed Alam identified three key pillars of Sardar Fazlul Karim’s political philosophy: a socialist society, the ideal state, and democracy. He argued that Karim’s thought embodied a radical moral and political commitment rooted in Marxist visions of social transformation and Socratic traditions of ethical inquiry. Dr. Alam emphasized that Karim resigned from his position at the Department of Philosophy, University of Dhaka, in protest against state repression and authoritarianism under the Pakistani regime, for which he endured nearly eleven years of imprisonment. Even after independence, despite serving as a faculty member at Dhaka University and being affiliated with Bangla Academy, he remained deeply engaged with the masses and committed to the pursuit of a humane society.
The discussants widely agreed that Professor Karim was simultaneously a Socratic seeker of truth and a Marxian analyst of social injustice. For him, ethical human existence and social responsibility were inseparable. He believed that human greatness is best expressed through a deep sense of obligation and compassion toward society.

Professor Shahadat Hossain remarked that Karim's political vision was fundamentally directed toward establishing a just and democratic state. He noted that Karim remained unwavering in this commitment until his death. In the context of contemporary Bangladesh—marked by neoliberal capitalism and oligarchic power structures—Professor Hossain urged that we must revisit Karim’s life and thought to find ethical-political guidance for a progressive transformation.

The session also included a lively exchange of reflections and questions from other participants. The event concluded with closing remarks by moderator Shamsul Arefin.

This commemoration was not merely a memorial gathering—it was an act of engaged and morally grounded reflection, where history, philosophy, and the struggle for a just future converged in meaningful dialogue.

Session 4 Rethinking Political Philosophy of Professor Sardar Fazlul Karim by Dr. Khurshid Alam The purpose of this channel is to build a community of researchers, theorists, and educators to continue constant dialogue and discussions about various soci...

SOCIAL THEORY NETWORK – WEBINAR SERIES (SESSION 04)

🗓 Topic:
“Rethinking the Political Philosophy of Sardar Fazlul Karim”
(In honor of his 100th birth anniversary)

We warmly invite you to a special online session to reflect on the ideas and legacy of Professor Sardar Fazlul Karim, one of Bangladesh’s most respected philosophers. The discussion will explore how his thoughts on politics, justice, and society remain important today.

🎤 Speaker:
Dr. M. Khurshed Alam
Chairman, Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR) Trust
PhD in Sociology (India)
📧 [email protected] | [email protected]

🎙 Moderator:
Shamsul Arefin
Faculty, GSTU, Bangladesh
PhD Student in Sociology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA

🗓 Date: June 28, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM (Bangladesh time) | 9:00 AM (US time)
🔗 Zoom Link:
Click here to join
💻 Meeting ID: 978 7894 7740

Let’s come together to learn, remember, and rethink!
Everyone is welcome. Please share with friends and colleagues.

Our blog – LSE Inequalities – features views and opinions about the economic, social, political and cultural inequalities shaping the world today, as well as the dividing lines of class, race and gender.

We just published our 100th post 🎉🥳 and it’s well worth a read: Prof Nora Waitkus on wealth inequality from a class perspective, drawing on the likes of Marx, Weber and Bourdieu…

Read the post here: https://buff.ly/08nFuOw