What if class struggle met nonviolence? In this bold pairing, Friedrich Engels goes head-to-head with civil rights strategist Bayard Rustin to ask: Can we build a just world without bloodshed?

What is the origin of the state, and can it be peaceful? In this episode of the Wolff Peace series, host Avis Kalfsbeek examines Friedrich Engels’ theory that the state was born from class antagonism and is inherently a tool of oppression. Paired with Engels is the visionary civil rights strategist Bayard Rustin, who dedicated his life to building a nonviolent, inclusive movement for justice in America.

Together, their voices raise deep questions about the foundations of peace—whether it can be forged through revolutionary upheaval, or by building alliances within broken systems.

In this episode:

• Engels’ theory of the state as a tool of inequality
• Bayard Rustin’s model of principled nonviolence and intersectional activism
• Two reflection questions for your personal and political life

Visit aviskalfsbeek.com to learn more about the podcast, books, and upcoming episodes in the Wolff Peace series.

Music: Dalai Lama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez

Listen to more on Bandcamp or Spotify

Robert Paul Wolff’s Political Man and Social Man on Amazo