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.
64 Article(s) by: Chris Dite
Chris Dite is a teacher and union member.
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.
Industrial Workers in Australia Are Leading the Fight Against War
Workers in an industrial trading port in Australia are now at the forefront of the fight against war with China, demanding that jobs and environmental protections take precedence over militarism.
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.
Gandhi’s Assassin Helped Build the Forces Ruling India Today
Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948 shocked the newly independent India. Seventy-five years later, the assassin’s associates are now in power and dismantling secular democracy.
The Saudi Royal Family Is Using K-Pop to Distract From Its Domestic Problems
K-pop sensation Blackpink is set to play to a sold-out stadium in Riyadh tomorrow. The concert marks 60 years of Saudi–South Korean diplomatic ties — and a long history of brutal collaboration.
Australia’s New Workplace Laws Will Not Improve Wages
The Australian Labor government’s new industrial relations bill promises to boost wage growth. But the legislation’s key components work to undermine that goal.
Black Women Were at the Heart of the Struggle to Build American Communism
Throughout the early to mid-20th century, black communist women led mass campaigns to build collective power, joining the fight for black liberation with the struggle for economic equality. Their goal: the overthrow of capitalism.
The Philosopher Who Helped Kill the King
The 17th-century philosopher Lucy Hutchinson was among the regicides who sent Charles I to his execution, ushering in an English republic in 1649. The divine right of kings, Hutchinson knew, could indeed be ended.
Australia’s Industrial Relations System Is Designed to Enrich Capital at Workers’ Expense
Since the 1980s, workplace law in Australia has crippled the union movement. Today, it’s a finely tuned machine that exacerbates inequality in order to enrich a small minority of bosses.
Nigeria’s Underdevelopment Has Made It a Ripe Target for Capitalist Exploitation
Rich in resources that it exports to the West, Nigeria today is blighted by shocking rates of inequality. With an elite working in the service of foreign capital, Nigerian workers and raw materials are a key site of exploitation for global capitalists.
In Australia, Workers Are Facing Another Decade of Wage Suppression
A jobs and skills summit brought together union, business, and government leaders to address stagnant wages in Australia this week. While some seemingly progressive proposals got much attention, the outcome is set to further undermine pay and conditions.
It’s Time to Demand the Dissolution of Australia’s Border Force
Since its launch in 2015, Australia’s Border Force has been mired in controversy and corruption scandals. Its dissolution is imperative to ending the punitive and pernicious approach at the heart of Australian immigration policy.