The Dark Origins of Communism

Episode 2

The Reign of Terror

The communist system first gained ground during the French Revolution and was carried on through various systems by François-Noël “Gracchus” Babeuf, who is considered the first revolutionary communist. We look into Babeuf’s “Conspiracy of Equals,” and the environment from which his beliefs emerged.

Episode 3

The Burning of Paris

The Paris Commune of 1871 is regarded as the first time communism seized power. This violent revolution led to the destruction of a large portion of the arts and architecture of Paris, saw the killing and persecution of priests, and laid the foundations for future revolutions.

Episode 4

Rise of Global Tyranny

Nazism and fascism are often framed as far-right ideologies. Yet, both systems are rooted in communism, and their policies are strikingly close to modern-day socialist movements. How did these systems emerge? And what are their policies? We unravel the misunderstandings around the political dichotomies of a “right” and a “left.”

Episode 5

Destroying the Soul

The defining trait of all communist movements has been a belief in social struggle and movements against traditional religious belief. We unpack the Marxist idea of dialectical materialism, and explore how the deeper beliefs behind the communist movement have waged a war against religion, culture, and social harmony.