Grid of posts 2×3

  • Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will: Gramsci’s relevance today

    by Ian Anderson, Fightback. In Aotearoa/NZ in 2013, revolutionary socialism seems impossible. Many believe that exploitation, ecological destruction, and greed are inevitable; as Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek puts it, “it is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” Capitalism is ‘hegemonic,’ dominant throughout society, even in the ideas of Read more

  • Fighting Rape Culture in Aotearoa: A Survivor’s Perspective

    Marika Pratley is a Wellington member of Fightback. She also volunteers for Wellington Rape Crisis, and is a survivor of rape and sexual assault. This article is based on a speech Marika presented as a survivor at the Stop Rape Now Wellington demonstration on Saturday 16th of November 2013. Note: The original speech was improvised, Read more

  • Pseudoscience and the left: Imaginary solutions to real problems

    by Daphne Lawless and Byron Clark Anyone familiar with the political Left will be familiar with well-meaning activists insisting that scientists and experts are “lying to us” about important features of our daily life, and only a dedicated band of outsiders know the truth. Activists in Aotearoa/NZ have been giving dire warnings about the fluoridation Read more

  • Video: Relevance of Socialism in Seattle, Kshama Sawant

    Presentation by Kshama Sawant, Socialist Alternative Candidate for Seattle City Council. See also: USA: “Socialist Kshama Sawant will be on the next Seattle City Council,” Socialist World USA: Socialist Alternative election campaigns create shock waves, Socialist World Read more

  • USA: Election breakthrough for a Seattle socialist

    Chris Mobley reports from Seattle where a revolutionary socialist challenger for a seat on the City Council has surged into a narrow lead. Reprinted from SocialistWorker.org SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE candidate Kshama Sawant had a narrow lead over four-term incumbent Democrat Richard Conlin in an election for a seat on the Seattle City Council, as of November Read more

  • Some questions regarding rape culture in Aotearoa/NZ

    This article was sent to Fightback by Bevan Morgan. This week has not been a particularly pleasant time to live in Aotearoa.  The revelation by TV3 that there has been a youth gang working at intoxicating and raping young girls and then bragging about it on the internet obviously sent some major shock waves through Read more