I was one of three panelists. I argue that China’s regime is both fascist and imperialist and that this happened after the coup in the years 1977-1980.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Platypus Affiliated Society – Australia
Ecosocialism and degrowth are great ways to become irrelevant
David McMullen
This essay originally appeared in Platypus Review 167 | June 2024
ECOSOCIALISM IS NOW well entrenched in the “Left,” and is endorsed by many long-established sects. Proponents believe the deteriorating natural environment has created an urgent need to cast off capitalism and adopt this new green and crunchy variety of socialism. We will then be able to cease growing the world economy and start degrowing to a lower, steady state. Only in this way can we remain within “planetary boundaries”; for the present system cannot do this, with capitalist competition dictating both growth through the treadmill of accumulation and an indifference to environmental costs that do not show up on company balance sheets. Their slogan is “system change not climate change.”
Continue readingA response to “The legacy of 1968”
Platypus Review 165 | April 2024
On June 24, 2023 at Trades Hall in Melbourne, Australia, the Platypus Affiliated Society hosted a panel on the legacy of 1968.[1] The speakers included Andy Blunden, Alison Thorne, and Arthur Dent. Barry York provides his response to the panel.
Continue readingThe Legacy of 1968 – panel discussion
A panel discussion on the Legacy of 1968, and how Marxism was transformed by the radical decade of the 1960s.
Continue readingVideo of panel discussion on Marxism and Anarchism
This is the video of the panel discussion of Marxism and Anarchism organised by the Platypus Affiliated Society on 30 July 2022.
Continue readingMelbourne Panel Discussion – Marxism and Anarchism – Saturday 30th July
Saturday July 30th, the Melbourne chapter of the Platypus Affiliated Society will be hosting a Panel Discussion on “Marxism and Anarchism: Radical Ideologies Today”, at Trades hall in Carlton, Melbourne, starting at 1pm AEST.
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It seems that there are still only two radical ideologies: Anarchism and Marxism. They emerged out of the same crucible – the Industrial Revolution, the unsuccessful revolutions of 1848 and 1871, a weak liberalism, the centralization of state power, the rise of the workers movement, and the promise of socialism. They are the revolutionary heritage, and all significant radical upsurges of the last 150 years have returned to mine their meaning for the current situation. In this respect, our moment seems no different.
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C21st Left 