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Subscriptions to Fightback are avail- able for $20 a year, this covers the costs Contents of printing and postage. At present the writing, proof reading, layout, and 3 Editorial distribution is all done on a volun- 4 The Labour Party and popular teer basis. To make this publication participation sustainable long term we are asking for people to consider becoming ‘Sustain- 6 The 2014 elections and the ing subscribers’ by pledging a monthly future of MANA amount to Fightback (suggested $10). 7 Interview: Sue Bolton, Socialist Sustaining subscribers will be send a Councillor for Moreland free copy of each of our pamphlets to (Australia) thank them for their extra support. To start your sustaining subscription set 11 Why socialists need feminism up an automatic payment to 38-9002- and why feminists need 0817250-00 with your name in the socialism particulars and ‘Sustain’ in the code and email your name and address to 16 “Blurred Lines”: Representation [email protected] versus Social Commentary. 18 Anti-racists outnumber white supremacists in Otautahi 19 Stop the TPPA: protest report 20 Revolution vs counter- Get Fightback revolution: Can the people on each month the streets be wrong?

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2 Fightback April 2014 Editorial

Welcome to the April 2014 issue of ing John Banks. While we might Fightback (Aotearoa/NZ). Fight- have unity with Dotcom around About back stands for struggle, solidarity some policy areas, Fightback does and socialism. not support any close ties between Fightback In the last issue, Fightback covered the Internet Party and the MANA the formation of the Internet Party. Movement. Under our current system, democracy This party appears to be mainly Fightback also opposes MANA consists of a vote every 3 years. Most the plaything of millionaire Kim entering a coalition government of our lives are lived under dictator- Dotcom, who has faced repression with pro-capitalist parties (p6-7). ship, the dictatorship of bosses and for breaching copyright law with If MANA can hold firm to its WINZ case managers. Fightback his online service Megaupload. principles, while also building a stands for a system in which our Fightback concluded that “while base for the party vote and Maori workplaces, our schools, our universi- progressives may share some seats, it can play an important ties are run democratically, for social common ground with the Internet oppositional role both inside need rather than private profit. Party, there is no sign that it repre- and outside of parliament. This Fightback participates in the MANA sents a progressive force.” oppositional role is necessary to Movement, whose stated mission is Since that article went to print, forming a long-term movement to bring “rangatiratanga to the poor, Editorial MANA entered talks with Kim that can imagine and build a new the powerless and the dispossessed.” Dotcom of the Internet Party. society, based on principles of self- Capitalism was imposed in Aotearoa Commentators in mainstream and determination. through colonisation, and the fight social media quickly portrayed a for indigenous self-determination is potential alliance between MANA intimately connected with the fight and the Internet Party as a done for an egalitarian society. We also deal. However, MANA leadership maintain an independent Marxist made no definitive statements, in- organisation outside of parliament, to stead saying any deal would have to offer a vision of a world beyond the be approved by the membership. parliamentary capitalist system. Fightback participates in the Fightback stands against all forms of , as a move- oppression. We believe working-class ment seeking rangatiratanga for power, the struggle of the majority the poor, the powerless and dispos- for self-determination, is the basis sessed. Dotcom does not have for ending all forms of oppression. these interests at heart, and simply However, we also recognise that daily seeks to advance his own interests; inequities such as sexism must be in the past this has meant support- addressed here and now, not just after ing right-wing politicians includ- the revolution. Fightback is embedded in a range of struggles on the ground; including building a fighting trade union move- ment, movements for gender and sexual liberation, and anti-racism. Fightback also publishes a monthly magazine, and a website, to offer Coordinating Editors Assisting Editors a socialist perspective on ongoing Daphne Lawless, Ian Wei Sun, Kelly Pope, struggles. Anderson Grant Brookes, Byron Monthly magazine published Fightback stands for struggle, soli- Proofing/Content Clark, Jared Phillips, by: Fightback darity and socialism. Bronwen Beechey Thomas Roud Fightback April 2014, Layout: Vol.2, No 3, Issue No 12 Joel Cosgrove

Fightback April 2014 3 Labour party

The Labour Party and popular participation

By Ian Anderson, Fightback (Wellington). poor people, and recent migrants are the voting,” “makes no difference”), while least likely to vote (and have landlines). 30% of non-voters cited perceived prac- This effectively means that low turnout tical barriers (“overseas,” “couldn’t get to Mainstream media coverage in the is bad for the electoral “left.” a polling both”). The largest proportion lead-up to the General Election tends The 2011 General Election saw the low- were simply “not interested.” to focus on fluctuations in polling, most est voter turnout (by percentage) since For those of us who want to see a truly recently an apparent growth in support 1893, when women first won the right democratic society, one based on popu- for National. Left-wing critics of main- to vote in this country. Voter turnout in lar participation and self-determination, stream electoral polling sometimes note general has declined over the last half- this all raises a question of strategy. that polling relies on landlines, while century. Should we “rebuild” the Labour Party? many poor and disenfranchised people Should we weave together new or- do not have landlines. Statistics New Zealand have surveyed non-voters’ stated reasons for not voting. ganisations? Should we ignore elections That said, many of the same people least In 2011, 43% of non-voters felt dis- entirely? likely to have landlines are also least engaged from the whole process (“not In 2013, during the contest for the likely to participate in elections. Broadly interested,” “didn’t think it was worth Labour leadership, pro-Labour com- speaking tangata whenua, young people,

4 Fightback April 2014 Labour party

the minimum wage, end youth rates (a tactically so that the entire Left are reform since snatched back), and mili- united in fighting the Govern- tantly organise the growing number of ment come election day… If you casualised workers that the established are a MANA voter, vote MANA union movement had neglected. tactically. If you are a Green voter, Party leader Cunliffe’s record is less vote Green tactically and if you flash. Cunliffe was a vocal advocate are a Labour voter, vote Labour of public-private partnerships in the tactically.” fifth Labour government. As Minister Fightback will back the MANA of Immigration, he oversaw the unjust Movement in the upcoming General detention of several Iranian men, fought Elections. With a stated mission of through a hunger strike and protest bringing rangatiratanga to the poor and campaign. Cunliffe did not oppose powerless, MANA represents the most sending troops to Iraq or Afghanistan. progressive section of the working and So what does this pairing of Cunliffe oppressed majority. MANA maintains and McCarten mean for the party? Is the link between indigenous sovereignty Cunliffe radicalising? Is McCarten and the wider struggle for an egalitarian moving right? What could it mean for a society. future government? and oth- MANA has not ruled out entering a ers described McCarten’s appointment government with the Labour Party. as a lurch to the “far-left.” As with accu- There is a spectrum of opinion within sations that Obama is a socialist, radical MANA on entering a government, socialists can only respond “if only.” whether through a coalition or confi- Pro-Labour commentator Chris Trotter dence-and-supply agreement. has noted that as Chief of Staff, Mc- McCarten for a long time has advo- Carten will not be mainly involved in cated a strategy of pushing Labour formulating policy. Rather, McCarten leftwards. Whether this meant building will act as a “direct and unequivocal organisations outside the Labour Party, promoter of the party’s already agreed or directly entering a Labour Party goals.” government, the orientation was always Pro-Labour commentators argue towards pressuring Labour, with no McCarten’s strength lies partly in his horizons beyond the two-party system. potential to forge unity behind a future Taking a job as Chief of Staff within Labour-led coalition government. Trot- the Labour Party is a continuation of ter notes: this strategy. This begs the question of whether pushing Labour left, from mentator Martyn Bradbury described “McCarten’s history with the inside a government, is a viable strategy. the three major candidates as “to the Greens (once part of his old party, The Labour Party remains a pro- right of Marx – just.” Winner David the Alliance), the Maori Party capitalist party. They have some mild Cunliffe was particularly touted as and MANA will be of enormous differences with National over how to representing a “true red” Labour Party. value to Labour should they find manage capitalism; more socially liberal, Now some see Cunliffe’s appointment themselves in a position to forge a more experienced with the public sector, of Matt McCarten, former Unite Union governing coalition.” former union bureaucrats rather than General Secretary, as a confirmation of former currency traders. However, big this move leftwards. Martyn Bradbury also suggests Mc- business remains the largest donor to Carten could extend an olive branch to Matt McCarten has a formidable record. Labour; cut the head off the hydra, and potential supporters of a Labour-led As well as playing key roles in the Alli- another will spring up in its place. ance, the Maori Party and the MANA coalition: Both Labour and National governments Movement, McCarten also helped build presided over a three-decade decline in Unite Union into a fighting force that “What Matt can do is reach across real wages. The Labour Party initiated has waged successful campaigns to raise to other progressive parties and seriously discuss using MMP this project of robbing the working

Fightback April 2014 5 Labour party/Mana

majority; neoliberalism, or “Rogernom- living wage of $18.80/hour. coalition with pro-capitalists. ics.” It’s no wonder that poor, young and Now, five years after Unite’s campaign Sue Bradford, of MANA and formerly marginal people are simply not inter- for a $15 minimum wage, the demand the Greens, holds the record for most ested in voting. is a lot more conservative. With the successful Private Members’ Bills while Chris Trotter argues that “radical consti- minimum wage recently raised to outside a coalition government. Many tutional reforms” in the Labour Party $14.25/hour by the National govern- of these necessary reforms, such as over 2012 and 2013 will keep the party ment, a wage raise of 75 cents (without raising the minimum wage and abolish- leadership honest. These reforms require any tie to the average wage) would do ing youth rates, were backed by com- new policies to fit with the party’s long- nothing to reverse the trend of declining munity movements. Workers can win established “Policy Platform.” real wages. Politicians are often accused the reforms we need, without entering However, signs at the Labour Party of over-promising and under-delivering, government and sacrificing our inde- conference in November 2013 were but even this promise is woefully inad- pendence. not promising. Moves for transpar- equate. We need transformative strategies, not ency on the Trans Pacific Partnership A popular meme says that “if voting strategies that simply reproduce the Agreement (TPPA) were defeated. The changed anything, they would make it system that got us here. We need to Labour Party also maintains the policy illegal.” This is a half-truth. Democracy weave together new organisations that of a $15/hr minimum wage, as a major is a product of struggle; including, for can move beyond the existing political flagship policy. example, women’s struggle for suffrage. structure, from the scraps we currently In 2009, Unite Union campaigned for a When electoral work, combined with have. $15/hour minimum wage immediately. popular struggle, has challenged capital- The Council of Trade Unions remains In 2009, a $15 minimum wage would ism and imperialism, “they” have done the largest formally democratic or- have been a step forward for working their best to make it illegal (Chile’s ganisation in the country. Although the people. However, inflation quickly wipes coup in 1973, Venezuela’s attempted CTU is currently unwilling to take risks, out short-term rises in wages. Real coup in 2002). Elections can work as unions of workers are a necessary part wages (wages adjusted for prices and important sites of class struggle, but of forging the new movement we need. most of the time, the ruling class is inflation) have declined over the past 30 Organisations of the people cannot rely winning. years. on big business, or parliament. We need Unite also demanded that the minimum Fightback has no illusions that so- our own finances, our own democracy, wage be set to two-thirds of the average cialism can simply be voted in. Our our own structures organised in opposi- wage in future. Labour has not taken up participation in capitalist elections tion to the capitalist system. Support the policy of tying the minimum wage is oppositional. Even when radicals for the Labour Party undermines the to the average wage. The Campaign for such as MANA’s win possibility of liberation for the working a Living Wage, backed by the Service seats, their role is to support the wider and oppressed majority. and Food Workers’ Union, argues for a community movement, not to go into The 2014 elections and the future of MANA

The following is excerpted from a docu- Maori Party, led by MP Hone Harawira. while MANA has had a consistent and ment called “Socialist Perspectives for The split finally took place after the strong presence on issues such as child New Zealand” that was part-written by a Maori Party, in government with the poverty (with actions and events around Fightback member, for CWI Aotearoa/NZ. ruling National Party, supported an Harawira’s Feed the Kids Bill), asset Fightback broadly endorses the perspec- increase of the general services taxes sales and housing. MANA has been tives in the document. which disproportionately impacts on very visible in key industrial disputes, workers and the poor. particularly in the meat industry dis- Since then the Maori Party has shifted putes. The MANA Movement provides an to the right and in many respects has Harawira has said “MANA is what the important opportunity for reframing become a circus. Most of the media at- Maori Party was supposed to be – the a pro-worker and pro-Maori political tention about the Maori Party has been independent voice for Maori, the fighter agenda. MANA was formed in 2011 as about its leadership disputes. Mean- for te pani me te rawakore (the poor a Maori radical and leftist split from the

6 Fightback April 2014 Mana/International

and the dispossessed).” MANA plays a rau, Waiariki, and Ikaroa-Rawhiti. Work the interests of the ruling class. They good role in local communities and in in these areas will be become increas- would be forced to vote for budgets the parliament. The development of the ingly important in the coming period. that include cuts and other attacks MANA Party can be seen as an impor- However, the key issue in the long-term against the people they are supposed to tant step in the process of building a for MANA is two-fold. Firstly, it needs represent. As was seen with the Alliance mass working class party in the future. to maintain itself as a party of struggle a decade ago wrong decisions in regards At the moment MANA has democratic over the long term and not succumb to coalitions with capitalist parties can space for socialist participation and to an electoral focus. The maintenance destroy small fledging parties. while its leadership is not socialist it of a struggle-based approach is always Some prominent left populists within is comprised of many respected class a question for any organisation of the or aligned with MANA, who do have fighters. Its base is almost exclusively oppressed. It is a question which has to some influence, are aggressively pushing working class and there is scope for be taken seriously and consciously. Sec- for a Labour-Greens-MANA govern- socialist ideas to take root both inside ondly, it needs to be clear that it will not ment. Some people in other socialist and outside the party. enter capitalist government coalitions. groups who also participate in MANA Hone Harawira has won the last two It is possible that an opportunity arises have similarly encouraged this position elections for the seat for MANA to participate in a Labour by creating illusions in Labour. for MANA. It will be important to put and Green led government after the In our view it would be a mistake and other people alongside him in the next next election. The character of this gov- a distraction from the work of building parliament as well as developing the ernment would be pro-capitalist from movements from below for MANA to party’s structures and its ability to inter- the outset. Neither of those two parties participate in a capitalist government. vene in struggles. MANA came close to have an economic or political alternative Real support and growth will not be winning Waiariki in the 2011 general to capitalism. While their style may dif- built from inside parliament house but elections. Its candidate also made a fer to National they too will be forced to from leading campaigns. If MANA strong showing in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti adhere to the demands of big business avoids entering the traps of government by-election in mid-2013, gaining 26% and the finance markets. At the end of or supporting supply agreements then it of the vote. They lost out to Labour but the day they will also implement poli- is possible that it can play an important beat the Maori Party. cies that make working people pay the role in pushing back assaults on our As the Maori Party diminishes and price for the crisis. rights and living standards. MANA develops there is a possibility In our view if MANA entered into Socialists must warn that MANA is fac- of MANA establishing a base real base government with those parties it would ing the possibility of a real turning point, across four North Island Maori elector- become trapped or absorbed into a and that decisions in 2014 can be the ates of Te Tai Tokerau, Tamaki-Makau- regime that fundamentally represents key to the party’s future.

Interview: Sue Bolton, Socialist Councillor for Moreland (Australia)

Sue Bolton is a long-time socialist cialists should participate in “bourgeois” issues but there few campaigns around activist and the Victorian convenor of elections. Obviously you think they economic issues. Elections give an op- Socialist Alliance. She was elected to should, why do you think it’s a good portunity to socialists to put an alterna- the Moreland Council, which covers the idea? tive to neoliberalism. inner northern suburbs of Melbourne, in Elections are also a good discipline for 2012. She will be a featured speaker at socialists because you have to translate the Fightback conference in Wellington SB: I think it is important for socialists your general socialist slogans into con- in May. She was interviewed for Fight- to stand for election for several rea- crete policies. back by Bronwen Beechey. sons: it gives you a forum for putting a socialist viewpoint on a wide range of It is a good way of building the party issues, not just issues where there are and also a socialist or socialist-leaning Fightback: There is a debate in the campaigns. In Australia at the moment, milieu or base in an area. socialist movement about whether so- campaigns tend to focus on moral issues such as human rights or environmental

Fightback April 2014 7 International

We campaigned for expanded bike paths, solar power and against gas-fired power generation. We campaigned for a council that helps its residents with cost of living pressures, including that residents not be pushed out of their home because they can’t afford rates and that rates shouldn’t be increased above the level of inflation. This is because rates are not an equitable means of funding local government services. A pensioner or an unemployed person could be living in a house which has risen in value because of gentrifica- tion, but they can’t afford massive rates even though their house has risen in value. We also campaigned for regular ward accountability meetings.

Fightback: What has been your experi- ence working in the council? Is it a hostile environment, or do you have supporters there? Have you any formal or informal links with other socialist or left councillors?

SB: The council is very conserva- tive with a Liberal Party councillor, a Democratic Labor Party councillor, two Greens councillors, six ALP councillors and me. Then there is the council bu- reaucracy which is also very conservative. The council meetings aren’t necessar- Moreland City Councillor, Sue Bolton speaking at a public rally. ily hostile. It’s more that the council bureaucracy and the other councillors Fightback: Do you think that your are trying to take you on the same path as them, which is a neoliberal path. The election was due to the issues that you Fightback: What were the issues you problem is more one of co-option rather campaigned around, or your profile as a campaigned around? long-time activist in the area, or both? than direct hostility, although that exists as well. SB: We took up a mix of local and Due to the pressure of campaigns, we SB: I think it was both. There are people broader issues. A central issue we cam- haven’t been collaborating as closely who know me from the union move- paigned on was opposition to developer as we would like to. I get more op- ment, including picket lines, the refugee greed, for developers to bear the cost portunities to collaborate with Sam rights movement, the Middle East Soli- of providing amenities, for mandatory Wainwright [from the Fremantle, WA darity group and the climate movement. height limits and more green spaces. Council] because he is also a member Some of the residents who didn’t know We called for a campaigning council of Socialist Alliance. I am also involved me or Socialist Alliance voted for me that would campaign for more public in a campaign that involves a number because we campaigned to put commu- transport, against the sell-off of public of members of [Socialist Party member nity need first, not developer greed. housing and for ethical investment. and Yarra Council councillor] Steve

8 Fightback April 2014 International

Jolly’s party, the campaign against the East West Link [a proposed 18- kilo- Why you should get metre tolled freeway system including two 12-metre tunnels, running through involved in Fightback Melbourne’s inner suburbs .]

Fightback: How has the Abbott gov- We are revolutionary socialists ernment affected Australian politics at a We all live in a capitalist society, which current system. However, the current national and a local level, particularly its means that the working-class major- economic crisis shows more clearly impact on working people, the poor and ity experience exploitation and pov- than ever that society must be radical- oppressed groups? erty in order to guarantee profits and ly reorganised if it is to serve the in- luxury for the ruling-class minority. terests of the working-class majority. The capitalists have many weapons To challenge the entrenched power of SB: The worst aspect is the Abbott at their disposal – not just the army, the ruling class, workers cannot rely government’s use of sharp racism, in police, courts and prisons, but a sys- on parliament or parties like Labour, particular against refugees, to hide its tem of ideas, developed over centu- which support the existing system. attacks on working class living stand- ries, that shape people’s beliefs about We need to build a movement which ards. The government is appealing to the what is normal, natural, and possible. can develop alternative, anti-capitalist more conservative section of the work- These prevailing ideas tell us that we ideas to create a revolution. ing class in order to rule. can do no more than tinker with the At the same time, it is attacking unions by attacking corruption in unions. Un- fortunately, a couple of real examples of We support workers’ resistance corruption have been uncovered. These The fundamental basis of our politics tion – as these are the basic forms of have undermined workers’ confidence in is class struggle. For us, socialism – a resistance to capitalist rule. As work- unions, which in turn has made the un- society in which the means of pro- ers start running their workplaces ions more scared about responding with ducing wealth are owned collectively and industries on their own, they will industrial action. Most industrial action and run democratically for the benefit start to ask, “Why can’t we run the is illegal, so the only way of responding of everyone – can only come about whole country – and more?” We take to the attacks is with “illegal” industrial when we, the people who produce the inspiration from historical examples action. It is necessary to take industrial wealth, liberate ourselves from capi- of workers’ control such as the Paris action regardless of whether it is legal talist exploitation. Fightback does ev- Commune and the Russian Revolu- or not, but most unions are avoiding erything it can to support all workers’ tion, and study their successes and taking any industrial action that might struggles – from the smallest work failures. be deemed “illegal.” It’s also the case stoppage to a full-on factory occupa- that if unionists or unions refuse to pay fines for taking industrial action, the law allows the government to sequester the fine from individual’s or union’s bank Contact accounts. Auckland Christchurch The government has succeeded in de- moralising people because people can’t Daphne Thomas see a fightback coming yet. 027 220-9552 021 155-3896 [email protected] [email protected] Fightback: Do you think the recent “Marches in March” against the Abbott Wellington Hamilton government represent a new phase of opposition to neoliberal policies? Joel Jared 022 384-1917 029 494-9863 SB: The marches were fantastic, espe- [email protected] [email protected] cially given that the union movement

Fightback April 2014 9 hasn’t mobilised its members against to be explored before unity could have Fightback: Some left-wing councillors the Abbott government yet. The size been possible, but there was never an and former councillors have commented and number of marches undercuts the opportunity to do that before the unity that the relatively privileged role of a government’s argument that it has a talks broke down. councillor (getting free passes to events, mandate for its cuts. Around 100,000 However, there’s always another struggle socialising with business people, etc) people marched against the government and another day. There will be oppor- can influence progressive councillors at March in March. The dominant issue tunities in the future for left unity but and distance them from their constitu- that people brought homemade placards these opportunities will probably arise ents. How do you stay accountable to about was the government’s inhumane as a result of new political developments. the community? treatment of asylum seekers, followed by climate/environment issues, then many SB: That can certainly happen. You have other issues. Fightback: As a long-time feminist, do you think that there are still difficulties to be very conscious about what you’re for women participating in mainstream on the council for. Unlike state and fed- Fightback: Some on the left argue that political bodies such as councils? Have eral government, councils are portrayed the best strategy to beat right-wing you experienced sexism from other as being a “team” where party politics governments is to vote for labour parties council members, or from the commu- and an oppositional approach don’t as the “lesser evil,” or that they can be nity? apply. This is all part of trying to recruit transformed from within. What is your all councillors to “respectable” neoliberal response to those arguments? politics. SB: There have definitely been sexist It’s important to be aware of the fact attitudes exhibited by a couple of male that many of the councillors and council SB: The left has tried to reform Labor councillors. On Moreland council six officers regard residents as pests, and use from within ever since the ALP was of the eleven councillors are women. I language to cover up the pro-business formed. It’s never worked. The only might have experienced more sexist atti- outlook such as talking about all the times that Labor governments have ever tudes if the numbers were different. The “stakeholders” as having equal interests. carried out any progressive reforms are problem is more that the council and This is a way of legitimising giving more when there has been a strong com- councillors are good on women’s rights say to businesses and developers than to munist/left movement outside the ALP. issues on paper but in practice they only residents. In fact, I would argue that the ALP pay lip-service. doesn’t just play a reactionary role when The accountability is mainly via report- The real issues of sexism come about at in government; it also has a damaging backs on council activities on Facebook a much earlier stage and are more to do effect on unions. The ALP is always and the blog site (http://www.suesmore- with women’s ability to participate in influencing unions to not put forward landreport.org). In addition to this, I re- society because they face family violence, their interests strongly; it is influenc- port back to Socialist Alliance meetings are living in poverty on single parents ing unions not to take industrial action. and we initiated Moreland Socialists for pension or a low paid job as a single Unions’ affiliation with the ALP is a -ve anyone who is left-wing and wants to parent, don’t have the money to access hicle for the capitalists to influence the support our council position. We have expensive childcare or other services, or unions. Unions have very little ability to organised some ward meetings, but we have low self-esteem. influence the ALP to adopt pro-worker want to get more regular with these. policies, despite their affiliation. You can also see a certain sexist ap- proach with the murder of a local Brunswick woman by a male stranger Fightback: As a member of Social- on the street towards the end of 2012, ist Alliance, what is your perception which resulted in a big Reclaim the of the recent breakdown of unity talks Night march of several thousand people. between SA and Socialist Alternative? The council turned this issue into a law Do you think there are still possibilities and order issue, rather than dealing with for greater unity on the Left? it as an issue of violence against women. The biggest source of violence against SB: I think there were different concep- women is from intimate partners in the tions of what sort of organisation we home. each wanted to build. There were some differences which would have needed

10 Fightback April 2014 Feminism

Why socialists need feminism and why feminists need socialism

A Socialist Feminist 101 talk given by ourselves needing to work long hours have a passion, right? Each Croc you Kassie Hartendorp, member of Fightback in jobs we often don’t really like, to pay put into the world costs about say, $10 (Te Whanganui-a-Tara) on International for food, rent, bills, the list goes on. For to make including the use of equipment Women’s Day, March 8th, 2014. those who aren’t able to work, due to and shipping, and costs $40 down at the sickness, disability or a lack of jobs, we Warehouse or wherever. So in one hour, rely on a substandard allowance from you’ve technically created $600 worth This talk was originally given as the first the government, known as the benefit, of Croc profit in your 20 shoes. If every part of a Socialist Feminist Day School social welfare, the dole. Even if we can’t one of those shoes were bought (heaven held by Fightback in Wellington/Te work, cannot find work, or don’t want forbid), your factory owner might have Whanganui-a-Tara on International to work, there is a constant pressure to earned a few hundred dollars. But what Women’s Day, March 8th, 2014. be in paid work, whether socially or to you’ve taken home is $14.25. The day began with everyone discuss- make ends meet. The gap between the costs spent and ing what they thought of socialism and The logic of capitalism, is to make a the price it has been sold for is known feminism as concepts, and whether they profit, is to continue reproducing capital. as “surplus value.” It’s the value that you identified as socialists or feminists. This We can see how this works at a very have created, but the profit from it goes talk followed: basic level. Say you make shoes for a to a boss, or owner of a company, rather Often we can’t use the term socialism, living. Every day, you go to the local than back to those who have spent the without explaining the term capitalism. factory and make designer Crocs. It’s a time in the factory, doing the work. So- Capitalism is generally understood as hard life cause everyone hates what you cialists argue that this makes capitalism a system that is based on the growth do, yet you know there’s a core group of an exploitative system, as it is making of private profit. Under capitalism, the gardeners and chefs in the world who profit for private owners (known as the means of creating goods and services probably have a lot of respect for your capitalist class) from the workers, or the are owned by a small minority of people, work. working class. and sold to make a profit. In simplistic Now in one hour, you can make 20 pairs It’s worth spending some time thinking terms, those who do not own a business of crocs and get the minimum wage of about the jobs you have worked, what or company must work for someone else $14.25 an hour. It’s not much, but you wealth has been created, and how much to earn money in order to live. We find Fightback April 2014 11 Feminism

how we see and understand ourselves. It relies on a mass amount of work- ers who need to sell their labour, their time, yet makes sure the job market is always tight, which increases competi- tion. People who have low wages and poor conditions are less likely to speak up about their workplace if there are no other jobs to go to. The capitalist class has a lot to benefit from us remaining silent and divided as workers, as stu- dents, as migrants, as beneficiaries and blaming each other rather than looking at the roots of the cause. While oppression such as racism and sexism have existed in class society before Western capitalism, as we know it now, our current system has shaped it into new forms, deepening social divi- sions and allowing for power structures to remain in place that fail people of colour, women, older people, LGBTIQ folk, those with disabilities, as well as in general, the sick, the poor and people with mental health experiences. The only people that capitalism really benefits are the elite 1% who are able to access and be in control of vast amounts of capital. A system that is built on selling things, constantly, hugely informs the way we live, and the things we prioritise. We end up relying on public funds from our taxes to take care of basic social welfare and support as well as building infra- structure, law and policy and deciding of that wealth you really see in your pay the poverty line, but also internation- on national goals. But we ourselves cheque at the end of the week. Other ally with the rise of wealthy nations have very little input into what is done jobs are more obscure, such as service, over super exploited countries. When with the money, and it’s pretty normal community and public sector work and the capitalist class needs more capital, it for politicians to lie and go back on some work for themselves rather than simply keeps moving on to nations that promises. big companies, but the logic of capital- it can exploit even more. This process is As well as this, research funds are ism still rules everything around us. known as imperialism, and still con- usually only available in areas where Capitalism isn’t just about the world tinues today in the search for cheaper there can be a viable market. The media of economics, but should be seen as a workers, to pump up profits. The logic is owned by gatekeepers that often social relation. The ability to accumulate of capitalism, and white capitalism, says reinforce and perpetuate myths and vast amounts of wealth off the majority that any place in the world is there negative stereotypes. The revitalisation of people for private profit has led to to colonise, regardless of the nations, of trampled or colonised cultures and great social inequality. The gap between cultures and communities that already language is less of a priority, yet those the rich and the poor grows ever wider, inhabit those countries. cultures are fine to be turned into a and this can be noted here in Aotearoa Capitalism also affects how we see commodity if a Government decides with one in four children living below and understand each other, as well as that it can be used to base a tourist

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campaign on, for example. formation of our economic, political and attempting to construct communism. At a basic level, how do we negotiate social system through a social revolution. Communism, while having a pretty our own sense of self when we don’t There is no exact plan or script for how bad rep, is understood by Marxists have the resources to be able to do this? a revolution would take place or what as the aim of a classless and stateless There are industries based on making a socialist world would look like, as it society, operating on the principles of money from our “self-improvement.” would depend largely on the people, “from each according to ability, to each Would the cosmetics or diet industry communities and societies creating it. according to need.” Under communism, still be making massive profits every But there would be basic priorities the need for a government wilts away as year if we were told from birth that under socialism, such as establishing people govern themselves through more how we looked was actually pretty great, a more democratic decision making effective mechanisms. Some people use and we don’t need to rely on purchas- structure involving the voices of workers the terms socialism and communism in- ing items that would gain us the social and communities. For example, after terchangeably, as both refer to a process status we need to excel in a competitive the Cuban revolution, they established of collective ownership. environment? people’s committees, trade unions, Now feminism is not, in essence, mutu- Phew, it all looks pretty fucked, right? women’s and student organisations to ally exclusive to the ideas of socialism. At its core, capitalism’s priorities are to help govern the country. Workplaces A feminist is generally understood as create more capital, free up markets, and put together proposals on national someone who recognises that women allow for more wealth to be able to flow plans and had a say in their own laws or face oppression based on their status as into private hands. But this creation of policies affecting them. Education and a woman, and works to fight against this. wealth is based on exploitation. healthcare were made completely free Feminists use the term patriarchy, which and available to everyone. The future of often refers to the overarching system Socialism however, is a system based Cuba was put in the hands of the people. and social mechanisms which allow on fulfilling human need. It is a system for the dominance of men over women. where individuals and communities While profit is the main motive as it is From a socialist feminist perspective, have the means to really be able to now, we create waste. We waste time Heidi Hartmann has defined patri- control their own lives. And not in a making products or creating services archy as men’s control over women’s way that is based on individual freedom that aim to make money rather than labour (which is largely unpaid, such as like ideas put forward by libertarians, working for a real social need. Imagine housework, childcare and so on), and is but collective freedom that works in the how many less products we would need, maintained through the sexual control interest of the majority. if everything was made to last as long as it said it would on an infomercial? If big of women’s bodies. Socialism means putting the control of companies weren’t relying on us to buy Intersectional feminism acknowledges the means of production, our factories, the new edition of the new thing every that people can experience oppression our workplaces back into the workers’ few months? If we planned our market on many levels, and how these oppres- hands through the process of socialisa- and our economy wisely, rather than just sions interact. For example, how a white, tion. The wealth that is created goes leaving it to creepy, invisible hands? able-bodied cis woman’s experiences back to the workers and to society, of sexism may differ to how an older rather than all of the surplus value Socialism would create the conditions queer woman of colour, or transwoman going straight into the owner’s pockets where we could begin to use that spare with a physical disability, experiences or offshore bank accounts. The power time and wealth to address issues such sexism, and what that means in terms of to decide how the wealth is distributed as poverty, meaning more people would how we orientate and organise against would lie in the hands of workers and be able to survive and have meaningful oppression. Sharon Smith claims that communities, and would be planned and enjoyable lives. It’s about imagining the first real talk of intersectionality on a national basis, and coordinated what we would have the time and re- was by Sojourner Truth in 1851 with internationally. In a system that is based sources to create when we don’t need to her speech, “Ain’t I a Woman”, which on human need, and has control of the work 40+ hours a week making money refuted the claim that all women’s expe- wealth and resources, we can begin to for someone else. More people would be rience of sexism was the same, particu- seriously address issues such as poverty, able to focus on activities and areas that larly when it came to the oppression of unemployment, homelessness and social don’t create wealth, such as arts, litera- black women. inequality. ture, music, research and working on projects that genuinely benefit people Kimblere Crenshaw writes in her key Socialists believe that it’s not possible to and the environment around us. piece on intersectionality, Mapping the just tinker with and improve capitalism, Margins, that when one discourse fails but there needs to be a complete trans- I will note here that Marxists see socialism as the transitional period in to acknowledge the significance of the Fightback April 2014 13 Feminism

other, the power relations that each the struggle for power. social relations.” Marxism and feminism attempt to challenge are strengthened. The October Revolution in Russia made have not always been mutually exclusive Here she is talking specifically about the conditions to be able to drastically ideologies, and key feminist ideas have anti-racist and feminist ideas, but it can change the social situation, not just on in fact been discussed and developed by be related to many other discourses, and an economic basis. Under Lenin’s rule, Marxists over the centuries. I think is true when it comes to social- free abortion was available on demand; Marxism and socialism need to remain ism and feminism, homosexuality was decriminalised, din- living, moving and evolving ideas. They ing halls, laundries and day-care centres need to take the lead from the input of Why socialists need were established, and the new regime all women, of all people, to be able to feminism sought to ensure equality of economic determine priorities, tactics and strate- opportunity in the civil service, in gies forward. This means, as Teresia There is a rich history of socialists and industry, in the party and in the armed [Teaiwa, speaker at event] actually put feminists bringing their ideas together, forces. A lot of these changes were far it in a conversation last week, that we either by working as socialist feminists ahead of the “advanced” capitalist coun- need to be having conversations and which is known as a strand of political tries at the time, and many still to this bouncing ideas off each other in order thought in itself, or working in joint day, despite Stalin going on to change to illuminate the blind spots of our campaigns and actions. many of these laws back. ideas or practices. Engels theorised extensively on women’s Socialism is about the liberation of all oppression, linking it up with the rise humankind, and has recognised the Why feminists need of class society and the nuclear fam- particular ways that capitalism oppress- socialism ily as an individual unit that relies on es women. However, I’m not claiming monogamy and the passing down of that socialism has always been perfect Feminists also need socialism because land and property through the males of in terms of their theory and practice. the liberation of women is so deeply in- the family. He discussed issues such as Founding Marxist texts are still a prod- tertwined with the struggle against capi- sexual and domestic violence and how uct of their time, and have used anti- talism. According to UN gender reports they were built into this conception quated terms and sometimes backwards women perform 66% of the world’s of the family. Around the same time, ideas around sex, gender, race and eth- work, produce 50% of its food and earn German thinkers such as Clara Zetkin nicity. There has been a lot of critique only 10% of its income. They own just 1 and August Bebel were writing about of “bourgeois feminism” which has often percent of the world’s property. Mod- women’s oppression and its relationship led to the dismissal of key feminist ideas, ern capitalism has shaped, defined and with capitalism. Their work is still very or to relegating racism and sexism as strengthened women’s oppression. It has relevant today. secondary to the class struggle. Many relied on the domestic labour of women Inessa Armand, the first leader of the Western socialist groups have remained having children, bringing them up, tak- women’s department of the 1917 Rus- dominated by white, straight men, and ing care of the household and looking sian Revolution, once said “If women’s perpetuated the same power structures after the sick and elderly, and who often liberation is unthinkable without com- that we aim to fight against. Some have have the double burden of this unpaid munism, then communism is unthink- directly perpetrated sexual violence work, as well as holding paid jobs at the able without women’s liberation.” against women and worked with others same time. The social inequality and to cover this up and shut down debate. poverty often hits women the hardest, The Third International, an organisation particularly in over-exploited countries. of communists initiated in 1919 rec- Socialism needs feminism, and an ognised the importance of struggles by intersectional feminism at that, because Popular feminist theory such as inter- women around every question ranging any way that we theorise or organise, sectionality theory provides a nuanced from the right to divorce, to equal pay, needs to be based on the liberation of framework that describes different to abortion, to communal kitchens and all, not just through a narrow lens, that experiences of oppression and how they laundry services socialising domestic la- keeps on producing damaging power overlap and conflict. But depending on bour. They made it mandatory that every structures. One socialist feminist writer how you use it, it doesn’t explain how section of the International develop a says that while Marx didn’t write about this occurs or provide us with the means program of demands and an orienta- intersectionality as we know it today, he to fight this oppression. Class isn’t just tion toward winning the leadership of did speak in similar terms when saying: another form of oppression, (such as mass struggles by working women, and “But the human essence is no abstrac- when people use the term classism) but integrated this into their work towards tion inherent in each single individual. the underlying way our society is organ- In its reality it is the ensemble of the ised and exploited. Class analysis begins

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to give us the tools to be able to affect think, the way this can oppress women to wield our power and hit the owners change. It’s not about leaving behind or create gendered work divides, then of the production where it hurts the our feminist demands, but ground- coming together to work out a solution most. We are able to make real gains, ing them in ideas that acknowledge which at the end of the day, has created and with enough buy-in and momen- how capitalism works against women, an event focused on women’s oppression, tum, we can make decisive action that and that we can fight oppression and but not leaving all the responsibility up echoes across society. Imagine if we exploitation at the same time. We have to women, who then feel too tired and had an intersectional union movement seen that we can make small changes to drained to hold the next meeting. that was mobilised to wield that power the current system that may allow for A class analysis or socialist perspective in solidarity with oppressed groups at wealthy, white, straight women to access is not just about theory. It provides any point. We need to be applying our power, resources and better lives but extra tools to be able to make change. feminist frameworks to our modes of there will always be people being left Socialists recognise the power that the dissent and action, but as feminists we behind while capitalism remains. working class holds - yes, the bosses also need to be thinking collectively. Back on intersectionality theory, I think may hold the authority, but the workers Where can we work together, and build the way it is often used begins from the hold the real power. When we choose alliances? What women are we directly premise of the individual, and can end to stop working as a group, as a work- benefiting when we prioritise struggles? with individual answers or action. We place, as an industry, or better yet, as an What power can we tap into, to allow can very easily fragment into our own entire section of society - we are able for the greater liberation of all? specific oppressions, and for very good reason. Time needs to be spent on ad- dressing the intersections of oppression, queer women of colour need to come together, same as transwomen with experiences of disability, as examples. But the answers can’t always end up fragmented and individualised. It’s inef- fective, and actually, it just contributes to us personally bearing the weight of systemic oppression. Socialism is based on collective struggle. It acknowledges that the problems are structural and collective, and that the answers are structural and collective. As a mini example, when I agreed to do this talk, I mentioned that as a woman, I often feel like I have to hold a room, to pay attention to peoples’ feelings, to mediate and respond and so on. I feel the pressure to accommodate people, make them welcome, look after them; make sure they’re fed and happy. I believe this is something I have been taught from a young age, and that I feel as a social pressure. So I asked that the dudes in the group take the responsibil- ity of preparing and sharing the food, and checking in on people, so that I could focus on the work of delivering political content. I believe this is one way of how an intersectional group can work collectively. Acknowledging the way women may be socialised to act or

Fightback April 2014 15 Feminism “Blurred Lines”: Representation versus Social Commentary.

Article submitted to Fightback by Sion- sity of Canterbury, I often find myself ize everything I see – I am an English ainn Byrnes, University of Canterbury wondering whether I am completely student, after all – and thus take critical Feminist Society (UC Femsoc). out of touch with reality. Whether years issue with it accordingly. However, the of socialization within the Ivory Tower absolute, and might I say absolutely have caused me to unreasonably textual- justified, furore that has emerged in the As a sixth-year student at the Univer-

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wake of the University of Canterbury (obviously amongst other unfortunately sexual abuse? Does it represent adult Students Association’s most recent neoliberal things) the political dynam- students? Does it represent the $40, attempt to do justice to the student ics and power structures that underline 000+ student loans of those individuals, services levy (which has now risen to normative social discourse, that it is who, like me, are attempting to democ- $725.00!) has led me to believe other- actually not allowed to be associated ratise the luxury of education in order wise – has, in fact, bolstered my belief with the official events organised by to create new spaces for creative and that the “student mass” is not only more these universities. And yet the UCSA, radical dialogue and action – or to at discerning, but more “cultured” than which we may as well call the UC given least trying to make that luxury work would be implied by countless articles its lack of financial independence and in tangible terms for our wider com- about burning couches. thus spine, sees fit to use this imagery munities. Does it represent the 200+ Though I have never attended a Toga and these ideas in order to promote an members of UC FemSoc who, despite Party, I am socially aware enough to event that, for many first-years, heralds paying their student services levies, know that said Toga Party is effectively the beginning, and overall tone, of what were made to jump through hoops in a keystone within the annual debauch- it means to be a student. How’s that for the process of obtaining affiliation as ery that is O-Week. I have no issue world-class, Rodd. a society? Similarly, does it represent with this event occurring – I’ll admit Putting aside the very grave fact that, the students whose entire degrees have that I love to don a poorly-constructed within a week of this advertising being had to be restructured as a result of ever costume – and yet this year I, and many made public, two men were jailed for more draconian (and disproportionately others, have been left red-faced, not by a sexual assault that occurred within arts-based) budget cuts? (You’ll have the Toga Party itself, but by the manner the UC halls – in itself something that to excuse my repetition here). Does it in which our student representative should have immediately compelled represent the lecturers who are often body – the UCSA– has chosen to frame the UCSA to pause for thought – there picketing outside Council Chambers? and promote this event. are essentially two fundamental points And does it represent those potential students that the UC so eagerly wants The poster for the 2014 UC Toga Party of contention that underscore this to engage? The answer is no, because in features an almighty Zeus, appropriately whole issue: 1) that the kind of culture the UCSA’s own words, this poster is phallic lightning bolt in hand, grinding reflected and engendered by this poster not representation – it is “social com- against a twerking Medusa – tongue out, was deemed appropriate under the mentary”. And that is the other blurred foam-fingered, Miley-style. It is a de- UCSA’s self-imposed standard of “re- line we should be worried about. cidedly blatant reference to the “twerk- sponsible and ethical decision-making”, ing incident” that occurred at the 2013 and 2) that because the UCSA has been You’ll notice that I mentioned UC Fem- VMA awards, no less to the soundtrack rendered impotent – in effect if not in Soc above. For me this is one of those of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. Now, actual practice – by a neoliberal rhetoric gleaming silver linings. UC FemSoc is I am of a feminist persuasion wherein I that ensures it functions according to an inclusive, intersectional feminist soci- would like to refrain from commenting the values of investment and gain, it is ety that aims to create a forum for femi- on the so-called moral implications of actually incapable of representing the nist discussion and activism. I am proud Miley Cyrus’ overt sexualisation – Dog interests of students where they breach to say that as a group we host public forbid a woman should appear to be a those of a standard business model: it lectures, screen documentaries, and have sexual creature! (Random sarcastic aside: would appear that sex (even the non- launched a killer zine entitled What Because we all know that one woman’s consensual type) sells. She Said which brings together articles, actions invariably speak for all women!) This inability to adequately represent artwork, poetry, and resource reviews What I would like to focus on, however, diversity and/or anything that exists all aimed at promoting and expressing are the implications of a poster that outside of the dictates of legitimate top- the creative and diverse experiences and appears to make light of, and exploit for down, bottom-line discourse is nothing voices of women, non-binary individu- capital gain, a song that glamourizes new, of course. The sustained erosion of als, and those who generally oppose the and condones non-consensual – even local democracy within Christchurch limiting social constructs of male and violent – sexual activity. has become a constant bane to those female and all that that entails. With the support of academic staff, students, “Blurred Lines” has been banned from who are struggling to reclaim some sort and local communities, UC FemSoc is over 20 universities in the UK alone. of narrative identity; to those commit- actively part of a larger movement, one Hear that! Its deeply misogynistic lyrics ted to envisioning and enacting a more that is attempting to reinstate the role have sufficiently turned off that many egalitarian society. Which brings me of representation within our universi- “learned institutions”, whose purported back to representation. ties - because social commentary just goal it is to educate citizens about Does this poster represent survivors of isn’t enough.

Fightback April 2014 17 Protest report

Anti-racists outnumber white supremacists in Otautahi

By Fightback reporters. the chants of the anti-racism protestors, “Obviously racism still exists, so it’s a number of whom had come from good that we stood up and shut them , Wellington and Auckland to down today, however chasing the white Over a hundred anti-racism protestors show solidarity with Christchurch anti- supremacists out of town doesn’t end clashed with white supremacists led racist activists. racism, it’s much deeper than that in our by Kyle Chapman in Christchurch on Counter-demonstrators chanted “immi- society, we need to keep fighting to root March 22. grants are welcome here, racists are not.” it out,” said Fightback member Wei Sun. Despite an attempt at tricking the coun- “The fact the racists need to hide their Over the course of the rally, organisers ter-protesters by changing at two hours’ rally is a victory for us, and that they held a collection to raise money for the notice the advertised location of the were stopped from preaching their hate” Refugee Council of Canterbury. white-pride rally from New Brighton said Fightback member Ben Peterson. to Cathedral Square, over a hundred counter-protestors surrounded and out- Eventually the police had to escort the numbered the 50 or so white suprema- outnumbered white supremacists out of cists, who were quickly drowned out by the square for their own safety.

18 Fightback April 2014 Protest report Stop the TPPA: Wellington protest report

By Joe McClure, Fightback (Wellington). Why do we oppose the TPPA?

On the afternoon of Saturday March The TPPA affects both trade entitle US drugs corporations to 29, protests took place around New between countries, and the opera- override Pharmac regulating the Zealand against the Trans-Pacific Part- tions of multinational companies sale of pharmaceuticals in New nership Agreement (TPPA) currently within countries. It overrides Zealand, and enable parties to the going through Parliament. internal legislation if a signatory agreement to protect intellectual In Wellington, this consisted of a march introduces legislation that hurts property violations in other coun- from Cuba Street to the steps of Parlia- the economic interests of an- tries party to the agreement. ment. Around 200 people gathered at other country. For example, plain Such measure will benefit mul- the Bucket Fountain, listening to rep- packaging of cigarettes could be tinational corporations (such as resentatives from the Council of Trade overturned as it undermines the Fonterra in NZ), but will hurt Unions, Victoria University economics profits of tobacco companies, or working class people in signatory department, and the MANA party, who environmental legislation an- states. It will make it harder for discussed what the agreement is about nulled if it adversely affects an people to fight and win legislative and who it favours. oil corporation (thus making it changes that protect working- Protestors marched from Cuba Street to harder to stop projects like deep class communities, and instead Parliament, chanting slogans including sea oil drilling). The agreement strengthen the hand of corpora- “TPPA? No way! We’re gonna fight it involves reducing trade tariffs by tions in their drive for greater all the way!” and “Whose streets? Our 90% by 2009, and completely re- profit. streets!” moving tariffs by 2015. It would Outside parliament, security staff blocked access to the designated assem- bly area, where the CTU had arranged for a PA system to be set up, so march- ers gathered in the grassy area next to that section instead. MANA leader Hone Harawira ad- dressed those present, emphasizing the unequal advantage the TPPA provides to member states and punitive effects on non-members, and reminding voters to take a stand for fair treatment of all trading partners, rather than supporting the secret negotiations that have charac- terised TPPA planning stages. Protestors from Parihaka in Taranaki also attended, encouraging marchers to reject the intended agreement, before switching to Maori protest songs as the crowd gradually dispersed.

Protest MC James Nokise addresses the crowd.

Fightback April 2014 19 International

Revolution vs counter-revolution: Can the people on the streets be wrong?

Senator John McCain (AZ) shares the stage with Ukrainian neo-Nazi leader Oleh Tyahnybok in Kiev.

By Daphne Lawless (Fightback, Auck- Class versus class the economy, and thus have the same land). interests in how the economy is run, Populism is a term used to describe who gets how much to do what, and political action taken in the name of who owns things. While there are many “the people” – vaguely defined as anyone In the words of British journalist Paul different classes in a modern economy, who’s not in power at the moment. The Mason, it seems that “it’s all kicking off the two most vital are the capitalist thing is, “the people” don’t have many everywhere”. Across the world, sus- class – those who own big corporations things in common with each other, tained mass protests and occupations and farms and employ people – and the except for not liking whoever’s in power of public space are shaking and even working class – who can only live by right now. It includes the upper-middle toppling governments. Most famously, getting a job from the capitalist class. class as well as the very poor, people months of protests and occupations Generally, the other classes line up with with racist and sexist beliefs as well as of the public square in Kiev, capital of the capitalist class, except in times of women and ethnic minorities, homo- Ukraine, forced President Viktor Ya- crisis. nukovych to resign and flee the country. phobes as well as queers. Crucially, while individual capital- Surely “the people” rising up against the This becomes a problem since the issue ists have big power on their own – for government is a good thing… right? with protests and uprisings is not so example, a supermarket owner might be Like the Occupy protests of a couple of much getting rid of the current govern- able to lock out dozens of staff and put years ago? ment, but what you’re going to replace them at threat of poverty – workers only it with. And that question is based on Actually, from a socialist point of view, have power when they band together, in which social force – or class – is most there’s a universe of difference between trade unions, their own political parties, powerful when the old government the protests and uprisings which we’ve and other forms of co-operation. all heard about on the news – Ukraine, collapses. So the question that you have to look Egypt, Venezuela, Bosnia, Thailand Marxists uses “class” to mean a set of at with a popular uprising is – which and others. It’s never as simple as “the people who have a certain function in class does it represent? This means: people” versus “the government”. 20 Fightback April 2014 International

what kind of people are actually on the white people in the rich countries think at the “Yellow Shirt” movement in street, protesting? What class does the they’re seeing a real mass uprising. Thailand, which has recently forced spokespeople and the policy-makers of But the crowds we see in the streets their government to call a snap elec- the movement come from? And what are overwhelmingly made up of rich, tion. The Yellow Shirts’ official name power – apart from the power of physi- privileged people, and leaders of far- is the People’s Alliance for Democracy. cal bodies in space – does that class have right parties, who shout about inflation But they don’t even want right-wing to get its own way? and violent crime (admittedly serious capitalist democracy. What they want is problems) but are really outraged that an unelected council of business people Venezuela: the privileged they don’t “own” the country any more. and academics to take over, because they don’t think the Thai masses can be protesters There is massive disruption and damage in rich places like the eastern suburbs of trusted with power – since they keep For example, people who have a shallow Caracas. If you go to the barrios of west electing the populist party of exiled view of politics look at mass anti-gov- Caracas, on the other hand, they hardly millionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, whose ernment protests in the Ukraine and in even know that anything’s going on. current leader and Prime Minister is his Venezuela, and think they’re the same sister Yingluck. thing. Nothing could be further from Democrats against In Egypt, a real mass uprising of the ur- ban and rural middle and lower classes the truth. The problem in Venezuela is democracy that the United Socialist Party (PSUV) drove out the dictatorship of Hosni government has brought in more and Socialists don’t necessarily define Mubarak in February 2011. But the lib- more democracy and “people power” – democracy as “one person, one vote”. eral middle classes were disgusted when and the capitalist and upper-middle Democracy for socialists means political Mohammed Morsi – the candidate classes in Venezuela don’t like this. power in the hands of the broad masses, aligned to the Ikhwan (Muslim Broth- Since 1998, socialist Presidents in not in the hands of the people who own erhood), supported by the rural poor Venezuela have been diverting more and businesses, land and media outlets. So, – won the following election. Screaming more of the country’s oil wealth away no matter whether free speech or free about “dictatorship”, they appealed to from the traditional ruling classes to the elections exist in a country, if inequality Western Islamophobia by smearing the millions of impoverished who live in the means that the wishes of a billionaire or moderately Islamist Ikhwan as terrorists. barrios (slums) of the big cities. There’s the prejudices of a TV network out- The middle classes in Cairo – again, the already been one coup by the right wing weigh the wishes of a million working people who spoke English or French in Venezuela – which was reversed people, that’s not democracy. and had good media skills – took to when the people from the barrios moved The classic example of this in English the streets as the Tamarod (Rebellion) into action to demand their elected speaking countries is the American “Tea movement. This movement man- President back. Party”. This “astroturf ” (fake grassroots) aged to paralyse the country until the The current set of protests in Venezuela movement was originally funded by military staged a coup in June 2013, ar- broke out in opposition to a rape on a right-wing millionaires to provide an rested President Morsi and took power university campus in the city of Tachida. appearance of a “mass uprising” against themselves. Sadly, many socialists and Unfortunately, students at the private the very weak healthcare reforms of Ba- democrats – even in Egypt – supported universities in Venezuela are extremely rack Obama, and swing public opinion the coup because they didn’t approve right-wing and anti-government. So away from them. Tapping into the deep of Morsi’s conservative programme. what could have been a supportable racism in the South and other parts of Now they seem increasingly likely to be protest was quickly taken over by an the USA, the Tea Party has brought stuck with military strongman General agenda to overthrow the democratically thousands of older, white Americans Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi as the leader of a elected President, Nicolas Maduro. onto the streets to scream about the dictatorship which stays friendly with Israel and the West. Meet the new The funny thing is that the people in “fascist”, “socialist” or even “Satanic” Mubarak, same as the old one. the barrios are barely aware that any of agenda of the centre-right Obama these “mass protests” are going on. The administration. It’s so successful that it’s When it comes to right-wing move- ruling classes in Venezuela are not only become a real mass movement among ments based on the capitalist class and traditionally lighter-skinned, but tend the traditional middle classes of the the upper-middle classes, when they to speak good English, have media skills white USA, and is threatening to take say “democracy” they mean the opposite. and know how to operate Facebook and control of the Republican Party itself. They want their own class to have all Twitter. So they’re very good at making Things get even wilder when you look the power, and for rights and economic privileges to be taken away from the

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mass of people. These kinds of move- able Auckland are the powerful them- the working majority as “sheeple” and ment often end up supporting pro-mar- selves – Pakeha employers and property- construct pseudo-scientific explanations ket dictatorships like that of Pinochet in owners – while Bright’s supporters are for the enlightened few, in contrast to Chile – or worse, fascist or Nazi regimes. a rag-tag group of people who’re angry politics of collective liberation. Pretend populists about the current system. No prizes for In such a situation, socialists have to guessing who would take the power, if It is so important for us to tell the dif- stay with the masses. If the movement they managed to make Mayor Brown ference between a revolution – a mass continues to have real mass support, give it up. uprising seeking more democracy – and they have to stay in and fight the a counter-revolution – which can also But the other danger is that right-wing intellectual and political battle for the be a mass uprising, but is in support of populists might invade a real mass leadership with right-wing forces. But if putting an old régime back in power, or uprising and – through being better the masses leave, there’s no point fight- taking power away from the people. organised, or by brute force – might ing over a corpse. shift it to their agenda. A good foreign There are two dangers. One is that so- Whether revolutionary or counter- example of this is the fascist Svoboda cialists might get duped by a right-wing revolutionary, though, there is one good and Right Sector parties, who entered populist movement into thinking it’s a thing about all these mass protests. They the “Euromaidan” protests in Ukraine real mass uprising, and try to become thoroughly prove wrong the common and put themselves at the head of it by part of it. Some of the more foolish seg- saying that “protests can’t change any- violently physically ejecting socialists ments of the American Left tried mak- thing”. The Australian state of Victoria and anarchists who were against the ing common cause with the Tea Party in – which has recently made it a crime Yanukovych administration. its early days, as the Egyptian Revolu- to stay on a protest if a cop tells you to tionary Socialists originally welcomed The Occupy movements were another leave – knows this very well, as did the the coup against Morsi. great example of a populist project, New York cops at Zucotti Park or the with their rhetoric of the 99% against Chinese army at Tienanmen Square Back home, in Auckland the populist the 1%. Despite its clear anti-capitalist when they violently closed down protest anti-corruption protester Penny Bright message to begin with, though, it wasn’t occupations. Protests backed with the has ended up in alliance with the clear enough to put forward a political real power of an economic class which extreme-right Affordable Auckland project. Without a clear political orien- won’t be dictated to any more can coalition in an attempt to make the tation, many occupations saw a growth change the world. In fact, they’re the current centre-left Mayor Len Brown in conspiracy theories which deride only thing that ever has. resign. But the people behind Afford-

We need to be more critical than just accepting that people marching on the street is a progressive act.

22 Fightback April 2014 Capitalism: Not Our Future A conference on struggle, solidarity and socialism. Queen’s Birthday Weekend (30th May-1st June) 19 Tory Street, Wellington | Koha entry

Agenda:

Friday 30th of May

5:30pm -7pm – Elections and commu- nity struggle (featuring Hone Harawira and international guests)

Saturday 31st of May

10am- What is Capitalism? What is Socialism? 11am- Marxist economics: Crisis theory (featuring Mike Treen) 1pm- Tino rangatiratanga 3pm - Disability and capitalism 5pm- International situation: Crisis, imperialism, fightback

Sunday 1st of June

11am- Education and capitalism 1pm- Workers from the margins: Key issues in contemporary workers’ strug- gles 3pm- Gender and women’s liberation 5pm- Anti-capitalist organising in Australia & Aotearoa/NZ 6:30pm- Closing and thanks

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