Trump Is Using the AUKUS Deal to Extort Australia
Doubts about the colossal AUKUS military deal are growing. But Donald Trump’s protection-racket tactics and a subservient Australian political class mean it will probably survive.
44 Article(s) by: Chris Dite
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Chris Dite is a teacher and union member.
What Is Xi Jinping Thought?
China has changed under Xi Jinping, with implications for the entire world. But few outsiders understand much about Xi’s ideas or the policies that seem to flow from them.
The Labor Careerists Wrecking Australia’s Construction Union
When Labor PM Anthony Albanese seized control of Australia’s construction union, he claimed to be acting in union members’ interests. But leaked documents show that Labor’s handpicked administrators are paying themselves a fortune — with union members’ money.
Trumpism Is a Small Business Owner’s Revolt
The MAGA movement changed its strategy after January 6, attempting to seize control of the Republican Party from the bottom up. Finish What We Started follows the Right’s long march through America’s political institutions.
Third Way Love for Public-Private Partnerships Turns Deadly
Since Labor PM Paul Keating’s early ’90s privatization spree, Australian governments have been obsessed with public-private partnerships. It’s a model that spends public money to subsidize private profits — often with disastrous outcomes.
How a Young Communist Won and Lost Power in Postwar Japan
Today marks a decade since the death of Japanese communist Toshiko Karasawa. Her courageous life is a testament to the revolutionary potential of anti-imperialism, but also the difficult choices faced by the Left in US client states.
A Green Transition Won’t Be Led by Billionaires
Australian billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has been hailed as a climate messiah for his pursuit of green energy. But his vision has nothing to do with improving human lives and shows why the green transition can’t be handled by the elite.
The White House Is Blaming China for America’s Opioid Problem
The opioid crisis in the US is ravaging the country, leaving an enormous human toll in its wake. But rather than dealing with the root causes, the US establishment is using the crisis as a weapon in its conflict with China.
Australia’s Insecure Work Framework Is Designed and Maintained by the Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is introducing legislation it claims will help end endemic insecure work. But if the party’s track record is anything to go by, casual workers shouldn’t hold their breath.
AI Is Being Used to Attack the Working Poor
In Australia, automated decision-making technologies have extorted half a million welfare recipients. Despite government recriminations, the use of artificial intelligence to harass workers is only gaining ground.
Understanding North Korea, Beyond Its Palace Intrigue
Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, looks destined for power in North Korea. But political dynamics in the country are far more complex than Western observers often appreciate.
Raising Interest Rates Won’t Stop Inflation
The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates again, ostensibly to keep inflation in check. But the reality is that the move will only enrich banks and rich property investors — at the expense of renters and struggling mortgage holders.
An Elite Soldier’s Downfall Has Created a Dilemma for Australian Politicians
Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has failed in his bid to sue journalists for exposing his war crimes in Afghanistan. His downfall is set to embarrass the political elites who championed him.
Charlotte Robespierre Fought the Forces of Reaction
Leader of the French Revolution Maximilien Robespierre is often portrayed as a crazed fanatic. It’s thanks to the work of his equally revolutionary sister Charlotte Robespierre that the egalitarian basis of his legacy survived.
How an Indigenous Struggle in Australia Pitted Sovereignty Against Profit
Australian politicians blame Aboriginal people for social problems. Alexis Wright’s Grog War shows that when First Nations communities fight to improve society, they are attacked at every turn.
The Australian Government Is Selling War Under the Guise of Peace
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong claims she wants peace in the Asia-Pacific. At the same time, she is doubling down on Australia’s role in maintaining the global dominance of US capitalism — and threatening war in the region.
Big Business and the Far Right May Soon Rule Finland
The far right won big in Finland’s parliamentary elections over the weekend. They’re now likely to join a ruling coalition led by the country’s main party of big business.
Working People Can Help Stop the Drive to War
The specter of war in the Asia-Pacific is leading to a gloomy cynicism. But the Australian working class has influenced debates on war before — and won peaceful outcomes.
Right-Wing Provocateurs Are Trying to Drag Australia Into War With China
Paul Keating’s fiery attacks on the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal last week drew attention to Australia’s uncritical support for the US in its China containment policy. This drive for war has been years in the making.
A Parliament of Landlords Will Not Solve Australia’s Housing Crisis
The overwhelming majority of Australian Labor Party federal MPs are landlords. Maybe that’s why they can’t solve the housing crisis.