En Passant

Dennis Kosuth tells the story of the revolt that shook China’s rulers. Reprinted from Socialist Worker, written ten years ago, still relevant. THE CHINESE national anthem, like for most countries, is militaristic, jingoistic and–unless one is a fan of marching–difficult to listen to. Unlike most others, however, it begins with the line “Arise, all who refuse […]

In an article written for Red Flag, and republished in Socialist Worker US, Tom Bramble looks at the crisis in China’s economy.

The action of governments of both persuasions in Australia in joining the US-led China containment program is more of a worry to the Chinese ruling class than the caterwauling of a few PUPs.

Tiananmen Square was a dress rehearsal for the future. The Chinese working class has a material interest in democracy. It has the strength to overthrow the corrupt and bankrupt butchers in Beijing and their sons and daughters. Having done that the Chinese working class will be forced to take the revolution beyond bourgeois political demands and threaten capitalism in China itself. Then and only then can we talk about genuine socialism, the self-emancipation of the working class through its own democratic organs to organise production to satisfy human need, not to make a profit.

During Obama’s trip, writes Ashley Smith in Socialist Worker US, you’ll read a lot about something you may not have heard much about: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is a trade agreement-and-much-more–the economic component to U.S. imperialism’s response to China, meant to draw together other Asian countries in a U.S.-led economic bloc that excludes China. As much as aircraft carriers and military bases, the TPP is a weapon of U.S. imperialism.

So you haven’t heard about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement? This is not surprising since it is being negotiated in secret. So afraid is the Australian government of its citizens knowing details about what is being negotiated that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade banned journalists from a public briefing on the TPP.

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Tiananmen Square was a dress rehearsal for the future. The Chinese working class has a material interest in democracy. It has the strength to overthrow the corrupt and bankrupt butchers in Beijing.

Having done that the Chinese working class will be forced to take the revolution beyond bourgeois political demands and threaten capitalism in China itself. Then and only then can we talk about genuine socialism, the self-emancipation of the working class through its own democratic organs of societal control.

Tiananmen Square was a dress rehearsal for the future. The Chinese working class has a material interest in democracy. It has the strength to overthrow the corrupt and bankrupt butchers in Beijing.

During 2010 the third phase of the global financial crisis – making workers pay – began to play itself out. Capital in Europe has used and is using its parliamentary dominance – it doesn’t matter whether reformists or conservatives are in power – to attack their working classes. While there have been magnificent strikes and demonstrations involving masses […]