“Revolutions are the locomotives of history,” wrote Marx 175 years ago in The Class Struggles in France, where the working and peasant classes were struggling against the capitalist system. Today, not only have the conditions of human beings failed to improve, but the rise of neo-capitalism and its imperial power has led to the rebirth of slavery in countries such as Congo and Libya, the complete destruction of third-world nations like Palasteine and Haiti by neocolonialism, and the further isolation of the working class across the globe. In a time of capitalist destruction and imperial violence, leftist movements across the world have either leaned toward academic pessimism or lost their values by becoming pro-imperialist Western leftists, or aligning with antiglobalist right wing movements. This revisionism makes it even harder to organize and unite the masses against the common enemy.

Locomotive is a quarterly magazine dedicated to exploring the intricate contradictions inherent in the crisis of monopoly capitalism—a system perpetuated and advanced through the insidious tools of neo-colonialism, and neoliberal policies. This crisis is deeply structural, rooted in the historical and practical foundations of capitalism, and leads to the relentless polarization of society. From its origins, spanning nearly ten centuries, capitalism has embedded itself into all aspects of society by deepening societal divides, fostering conflict between central and peripheral nations, and antagonizing any seed of resistance that struggles to disentangle itself from capitalism’s web.

Colonial capitalism, distinct from ancient forms of colonial domination, intertwines intimately with the methods of capitalist production and the stringent, deadly demands of imperialist countries. Often sparked in the Global South, twentieth-century movements such as the Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cuban revolutions, followed by national liberation movements in India, Indonesia, and many Arab and African countries, marked significant milestones in the worldwide liberation movement. These movements have shown us that without struggle and resistance against the barbaric acts of capitalism, it would swallow our world and disgorge its bones.

The primary aim of Locomotive is to dissect and illuminate structural contradictions within imperialism. This system infiltrates every societal structure—from religion, culture, and education to race, gender, and class—resisting any substantive change. With our inaugural issue, we aspire to ignite a transformative leap among the masses. Since the Industrial Revolution, the global populace has repeatedly risen against this oppressive system, only to be met with brutal suppression each time but they have raised again in different forms. Locomotive seeks to harness the collective power of conscious artists, poets, writers, students, and workers to drive this change. Through this magazine, we aim to forge a path toward liberation and justice, ensuring that the cry for freedom resonates far and wide.

 Call For Papers/Creative Works

In recent months, the world has witnessed the stark brutality of colonial capitalism, culminating in the tragic massacre of more than 38,000 innocents and counting in occupied Palestine. This violence, steeped in a long and harrowing colonial history, has reached a devastating apex. Amidst this turmoil, organized protests have erupted globally, led by workers, and students, all striving to be heard despite the relentless efforts of capitalist and colonial lobbies to silence them. Remarkably, for the first time in decades, students from universities across the United States have risen in unified defiance.

For the debut edition of Locomotive, we extend an invitation to students, workers, writers, artists, and scholars to contribute their voices and visions. We seek a diverse array of content, including articles, translations, poems, photojournals, installation art, and paintings. 

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

Colonialism and Ecology (The Destruction of City, Farm and Nature) 

Colonialism and Gender Issues

Colonialism’s Impacts on Children 

Nativism and Colonialism

The Role of Literature in Modern Colonialism

Anti-Colonialism as Art

Zionist Colonialism and Political Economy

Palestine as a World Liberation Movement

Militarization of Universities and the Reactionary Role of Scholars

Militarization of Universities and the Progressive Role of Scholars

The Encampment as a Symbol of Endurance

Generation Z and the Quest for Freedom from Colonialism

Antisemitism vs. Zionism

Western Islamophobia 

Content:

Provide a proper critique or analysis of a recent or current event.

Submit original articles that have not been previously published online.

Length:

Articles should be 2,000 words or less. We encourage non-academic or semi-academic papers. 

For photojournals max 2 images including a 500 background analysis for the images. 

For painting, installation art, and cartoon one high-quality picture of the artwork following 500 critiques and analysis of the background of the work. 

Translations should be 2,000 words or less. 

Poems should be 1,500 words or less. 

Interviews should be 2,500 or less. 

References:

Include references or hyperlinks where necessary to support your arguments. 

All submissions must be sent to https://forms.gle/cHTAX5Lwi3Mr1tkD6

Deadline: September 15, 2024

Contact adress: locomotivemagazine@gmail.com