The editorial team of Autolexei engages in a conversation with Matthew Quest about social emancipation and the revolutionary anti-colonial discourse, through the work of CLR James. Quest is among the leading scholars of the legacy of the Afro-Caribbean revolutionary and thinker CLR James.

CLR James, from Trinidad, was one of the most influential libertarian revolutionary intellectuals of the pan-African and international labor movement. From ancient times to the post-colonial era, ordinary people, through their self-determined liberatory activity, fought to take the reins of society themselves. James became the pillar for Black people around the world seeking such radical change. His ideas shaped a vision for the African continent, the Caribbean, and the resistance of African Americans in the 20th century.

Initially, he founded the Trotskyist movement globally, while he continued to evolve his thinking towards direct democracy and popular self-government.

In this regard, we explore CLR's relationship with Cornelius Castoriadis, with whom he co-authored the book Facing Reality, and the vision of classical Athens that they both shared.