In this part of the recording, Bensaïd commences with self-criticism of the FI concerning Latin America. He then talks aboutthe Tenth World Congress, which produced a redefinition of perspectives, especially the European resolution which implied a synthesis of these corrections concerning the united front question, etc. Bensaïd then introduces the perspectives for transforming the FI at the Eleventh World Congress: the prognosis of the war and the expected global reorganisation of the workers movement after the war did not happen, there were big splits in the CPs and in global change of international vanguard through the war, the perspective of fusion of the FI with a new mass vanguard after 68, and a central breakthrough in Bolivia. He concludes with remarks and discussions on these perspectives.

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Duration: 31:07

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In this part of the recording, Bensaïd starts with a discussion of the reunification process. He discusses the break with entryism,  leaving the international, without any project, line or general framework. Through his experiences in CP and then the expulsion, he provides a concrete historical analysis of breaking with entryism. After a break, Bensaïd talks on Latin America with a criticism of the Ninth World Congress. He gives a detailed context of the political conditions in Latin America and a detailed analysis of political positions as well as debates, mainly concerning armed struggle.

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Duration: 54:46

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In this part of the recording, Bensaïd tackles the debates surrounding the tactics of entryism. He then talks about the split in the FI in 1953, and the years leading to the reunification, with a special focus on the concrete workings of committees and sections.

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Duration: 46:08

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In this lecture, Bensaïd covers the history of Fourth International from the post-WWII to the split, the reunification process, the Ninth World Congress and finally the Eleventh World Congress. In this part of the lecture, Bensaïd starts with a discussion of the line of argument which contends that the project of building the FI was based on a prognosis of the Second World War and its outcomes. Trotsky believed that, just like WWI, WWII would trigger a strong set of revolutions.

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Duration: 47:05

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In this final part of his lecture, Bensaïd discusses the question of entryism and draws conclusions from the building of Fourth International and Trotsky's politics in that historical background for the present.

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Duration: 48:20

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In this second part of his lecture, Bensaïd focuses on the concrete facts and phases of building the FI. He underlines Trotksy's efforts of bringing together different currents. Bensaïd analyses the first gatherings, participants, and different currents and organisations against a historical background. In his analyses, he always keeps in sight their meaning for the present.

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Duration: 46:18

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In this lecture, Bensaïd focuses on the history of the Fourth International in its founding years, which means 1933 and 1938. First of all, he introduces a historical motivation to understand what battles we come from, and what is the problematic heritage we have. Secondly, he points to present interest in the problems that were tackled by the FI in its founding years. He organises the lecture around three points: when did a new international become necessary; on what basis was the new international built; and lastly, how was it built? He discusses the problems of entryism and fusion with a focus on Trotsky's writings on these issues.

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Duration: 43:10

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In this sixth session of the lecture, Bensaïd starts with a discussion of the system of management and planning which was launched in 1975 and was based on 'objective' economic information. After an analysis of this plan and its outcomes, Bensaïd connects the Cuban Revolution with the present, and draws some lessons from the experience.

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Duration: 17:34

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In this fifth session of the lecture, Bensaïd discusses the transitional economy in Cuba, comparing it to Nicaraguan Revolution. He identifies several problems that followed from the very sharp shift in the Cuban economy such as new dependencies, bureaucratic incoherence and chaos, and limiting of sugar exportations without substitution, which lead to a sudden growth of the budget deficit, eventually bringing bankruptcy in 1963. He discusses the Four Year Plan, which prioritised the increase of sugar production as a solution to the deficit. There were tensions between the CPs of Cuba, Russia and Venezuela, regarding the internal and international politics. The end of the 60s is usually characterised as ultra left, but all of that is linked to rapid and quick revolutionary extension in Latin America. It will change with economic failure and political defeats in Bolivia, Dominican Republic, and Brazil. In this context, economic difficulties in inside and military defeats in outside will provoke a new change in 1970s Cuba. He concludes with several remarks from Fidel's self-criticism speech.

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Duration: 46:15

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