unAustralian Marxism: history and theory

This talk was delivered at the annual KeepLeft conference, hosted by Solidarity, in April 2026. It outlines the history of the involvement of the Waterside Workers' Federation (WWF) in struggles for Aboriginal rights in the 20th Century, with a particular focus on the role of the Aboriginal Waterfront Committee in the 1960s. There is also some theoretical discussion of the role of the working-clas...

This talk was given at a Solidarity meeting in Sydney on March 26, 2026 titled "Violent, racist, sexist: Why socialists oppose the police". It outlines a Marxist analysis of the historical formation of the police to control the emerging industrial working-class. There is discussion of the settler-colonial context in Australia where police forces were also created as part of a genocidal war against...

In September 1931, the Communist Party of Australia printed an extraordinary program for Aboriginal liberation. Written by CPA leader Herbert Moxon, the program condemned continuing genocide in Australia and called for the abolition of the Protection regime controlling Aboriginal lives, respect for self-determination and return of stolen lands. In this talk, Paddy explains how the party moved beyo...

In the classical Marxist tradition, anti-racist and anti-colonial struggles are of central importance for the revolutionary working-class movement. This talk explores the the roots of these ideas in Marx and Engels' foundational analysis of race and empire, that developed in profound ways from the 1850s through to Marx’s death in 1883. This development came in response to resistance movements of c...

This talk explores the contradictory nature of the Australian Labor Party. While founded by the trade unions, the ALP is committed to running Australian capitalism, leading to vicious attacks on its working-class base throughout it's history. The talk argues that socialists need to adopt a non-sectarian attitude to Labor supporters, while agitating for struggle against Labor governments that is ev...

This talk provides and analysis of the Northern Territory Intervention, a racist policy aimed at controlling Aboriginal people and their land that was launched in 2007. It was given at a Solidarity meeting in June 2022 marking 15 years since the policy was announced and explores the dynamics driving the Intervention, its impact and political legacy. 

This talk outlines the anti-colonial politics of the early years of the Communist International (Comintern), formed in the wake of the Russian Revolution in 1919. Paddy explores the way the Comintern theorised the relationship between workers' revolution in imperialist countries and anti-colonial revolts shaking the world, particularly the importance of anti-racism and commitment to the defeat of...

This talk outlines the importance of anti-Aboriginal racism to the ruling class in Australia. Paddy explores the ways that the so-called "Aboriginal problem" has posed challenges for Australian capitalism and the way Aboriginal resistance continues to threaten the system. Recorded at a Solidarity meeting in April 2016, this podcast is dedicated to the memory of Arrente and Alyawarr Elder Rosalie K...

This talk provides an historical account of the invasion by British imperialism of Eora and Darug Country, what is now known as Sydney, Australia. Paddy discusses the dynamics driving the invasion and the war of resistance waged by Aboriginal people defending their homelands. Recorded at a Solidarity meeting in January 2015. Since this talk, historian Stephen Gapps has published a major book The S...

An introduction to Karl Marx's theory of historical materialism. Basic explanations of the concept of alienation, surplus value, the centralisation and concentration of capital and what we mean by workers' power and socialist revolution. Talk to a Solidarity student club meeting at Sydney University in August 2014.

This talk provides an introduction to the classical Marxist theory of imperialism and uses this framework to analyse contemporary geopolitical crises. Comments cover a range of topics including the rise of ISIS and the civil war in Syria, conflict in Ukraine and growing tensions with China. Recorded at Solidarity's annual KeepLeft conference in August 2014

This talk explores how the expansionist imperatives of capitalism drove genocidal war across the colonial frontier, with a particular focus on Northern Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There is also discussion of the challenge posed to Australian nationalism by Indigenous resistance and why ruling class figures such as John Howard have tried so hard to bury the truth about fron...

An introduction to Karl Marx's analysis of how capitalism causes ecological destruction and why a socialist revolution is needed to heal the planet. There are concluding comments reflecting on horrific floods that were happening in the Philippines at the time of this talk and the way that imperialism and class divisions shape disaster response. Talk recorded at a Solidarity meeting November 2013.

In this talk, Paddy applies the Marxist theory of imperialism to explore the founding of Australia and development of Australian imperialism in the Asia-Pacific region. There is a specific focus on Australian colonial rule in PNG and how this domination operates today, with some concluding comments on the refugee detention regime. Recorded at a Solidarity meeting in August 2013.

This talk reflects on the enduring power of Lenin's analysis in the pamphlet What is to be Done, first published in 1902. A main theme of the pamphlet is the relationship between workers' action for better wages and conditions, and broader political struggles and the development of socialist consciousness. Central to this is the question of how socialists should organise. Recorded at a Solidarity...