Issue 27 — Autumn 2024

Omar Hassan reviews the international movement in solidarity with Palestine and discusses some of the political debates it has generated.

Joel Geier revisits the inspiring revolution that took place in Portugal 50 years ago, toppling a fascist regime, but ultimately missing an opportunity to progress to workers’ power and socialism. His eye-witness account provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the revolutionary movement.

Omar Hassan critically assesses the Palestinian organisation Hamas, arguing that its politics and strategy offer no possibility of achieving Palestinian liberation.

Jordan Humphreys builds on his earlier work in critiquing settler colonial theory, this time as applied to arguably its strongest possible case.

Liz Ross examines the horrifying impact and ongoing legacy of nuclear weapons, and argues that their unceasing proliferation, supported by Australia’s Labor government, increases the likelihood of nuclear war.

Eleanor Morley documents the attacks that have produced the biggest fall in working-class living standards in half a century – supported and implemented by Labor and Liberal governments, with only rhetorical resistance from the Greens and the unions – and argues for the urgent need to rebuild a genuine fighting left.

Liam Kruger examines the history and politics of degrowth theory and critiques attempts to synthesise degrowth and Marxism, arguing that they are fundamentally incompatible. He discusses science and labour under capitalism, and contends that a Marxist vision for a communist future is one motivated by freedom, not degrowth.

Rowan Cahill reviews an important new book on the 1848 revolutions. Along with providing a detailed and meticulously researched account of each uprising, the author argues that, far from being total failures, the combined effect of the revolutions was historically transformative.

Luca Tavan reviews a book assessing the record of “the Squad” – the supposedly left-wing faction of the resistance US Democratic Party. Despite the author’s attempt to put a positive spin on the Squad, his book provides abundant evidence that they are nothing more than moderate liberals who offer no real challenge to the Democrat leadership.