En Passant

History must judge Castro both as the freedom fighter whose defiance humiliated US imperialism and as the ruler of a repressive, unequal society. It was right to support his resistance to the US attempts at revenge. But he cannot be absolved of abusing the idea of communism to rule over a capitalist society. The socialism he claimed to represent is as important as ever—but making it a reality means workers’ self-activity, not state control from above.

Many (including socialists and those opposed to socialism) see Cuban society as a model for socialism. But a look at its history presents different conclusions, argues Mark Gillespie in socialist magazine Solidarity. Written six years ago Mark outlines the development of state capitalism in Cuba. Another article I will post in the days to come will outline the ongoing shift in Cuba from state capitalism to market capitalism.

The following is a statement by the Victorian branch of the National Tertiary Education Union on La Trobe University’s shocking decision to suspend Roz Ward for a Facebook post that the Australian flag is racist. Roz has been a key person in the Safe Schools anti-bullying campaign for school students. The Murdoch owned Australian newspaper has run a witch hunt against her for her Marxist views, all with the aim of destroying Safe Schools which teaches respect and understanding for LGBTIQ students. McCarthyism is alive and well in Australia and La Trobe University’s decision is yet another example.

Bernie Sanders has shown radical ideas can find a serious audience in the US. Peter Jones in Australian socialist magazine Solidarity looks at what he stands for and where his campaign for president is headed.

Socialism is about more than just voting for one person in one election. But what else? Eric Ruder in Socialist Worker US looks back at the centuries-old socialist tradition to provide some answers.

Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However Sanders is not that alternative because ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’

Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However his support for Clinton in the end means ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’

What is socialism and where will it come from? What we mean by socialism is bound up with the questions of how we think a new society can be achieved–and who can achieve it. Alan Maass explains why in Socialist Worker US.

Aboriginal dispossession served capitalist interests, argues Paddy Gibson in socialist magazine Solidarity, but Aboriginal people have remained a “problem” from the point of view of Australia’s rulers ever since. To read whole article click here.

Thank Russian and German workers for their revolutions that ended the war to end all wars. The fact that imperialist and other wars continue today shows that our task as socialists remains – to fight for socialism to end war. Only democratic socialist revolutions by the mass of workers can end war.

Many of my readers will be hoping for a Jeremy Corbyn in Australia to move the Labor Party here to the left. There is no Corbyn in the Parliamentary Labor Party. The Labor left, such as it is, is thoroughly imbued with the logic of neoliberalism. In the main it is a tribal allegiance rather than an ideological ferment of ideas to challenge capitalism. You never hear the S word from these very models of a modern major general of capital. None of the possible contenders for Corbyn down under have the same track record as Corbyn in opposing austerity or fighting against social and political injustice. Indeed people like Albanese and Plibersek have been Ministers in Labor governments that have implemented neoliberal policies and attacked public services and workers’ rights and conditions. They are part of the very problem Corbyn is fighting against.