Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
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Discussion and analysis of politics, history, theory and activism from a radical revolutionary socialist perspective.
Welcome to Red Flag Radio
We are a socialist podcast based in Australia. We discuss politics, theory and history from a revolutionary Marxist perspective. We aim to explain socialist ideas in a clear and accessible way and to promote the voices of anti-capitalist activists worldwide.
Episodes
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Monday Oct 25, 2021
On this episode we discuss the hidden class history of the suffragettes and the role of working class mass struggle in winning the vote. Too often the official histories of the suffrage movement brush over the bitter splits and divisions within both the campaign and the Pankhurst family. Roz is joined in discussion by veteran socialist Moira Leahy to uncover these important debates and discuss the politics of challenging sexism and fighting for socialism.
Reading
How working class women won the vote by Judy Cox http://isj.org.uk/how-working-class-women-won-the-vote/
Sylvia Pankhurst - a rebel in the fight for votes by Isabel Ringrose - https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/50653/Sylvia+Pankhurst+++a+rebel+in+the+fight+for+votes
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Monday Oct 11, 2021
On this episode we talk to an education worker, a nurse, and a construction worker about why they are campaigning for health before profits and safer workplaces in Australia. Health before Profits is a national campaign group that includes workers, academics, activists and students who are organising in opposition to Scott Morrison's reckless, unsafe national plan for re-opening and 'living with COVID'.
Find out more and get involved in the campaign here -
https://www.facebook.com/HealthbeforeProfitAus
Public meeting on the school reopening plan in Victoria - Sun 24 October 5pm -
https://www.facebook.com/events/175070548108545/
OzSAGE is a multi-disciplinary network of Australian experts from a broad range of sectors relevant to the well-being of the Australian population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic - https://ozsage.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper https://subscribe.redflag.org.au
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Friday Sep 24, 2021
Friday Sep 24, 2021
The 250 richest people in Australia increased their wealth by $93 billion during the first year of the pandemic while millions of essential workers have seen no increase in their wages. In this episode we talk to activist Shirley Killen about drastic inequality, the political failures of mainstream politics, and what socialists can learn from the drive for profits in a crisis.
Reading
How Australia’s richest have profited in the pandemic by Shirley Killen - https://redflag.org.au/article/how-australias-richest-have-profited-pandemic
Why is nobody in prison over robodebt? by April Holcombe - https://redflag.org.au/node/7483
How the rich are cashing in on pandemic pain by Tyler Ray (Nov 2020) - https://redflag.org.au/node/7470
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper https://subscribe.redflag.org.au
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
The 'Robert Menzies Institute' is set to open at Melbourne University in November. The founders claim the Institute will be a museum dedicated to 'Australia's greatest Prime Minister' but the real project appears to be establishing a conservative think-tank with a board of right wing ideologues including Peta Credlin and Georgina Downer. On this episode we talk to student activists and Graduate Student Association officers Monica Sestito and Brendan Laws about the campaign to stop the Institute and the question of free speech on campus.
Stop the Menzies Institute campaign page - https://stopmenziesinstitute.wordpress.com/
Socialists Debate the Young Liberals - Was Menzies a Great Australian or Right-wing Scumbag? Weds 15 Sept 6pm -https://www.facebook.com/events/1692974661093120
Book your tickets for Socialism 2021 (17-19 September) here http://www.socialismsydney.com/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
The situation unfolding in Afghanistan is a humanitarian disaster resulting from decades of imperialist interventions and war. On this episode we discuss the political history of the invasion in 2001 and how the occupation resulted in the Taliban asserting control over the country today. Our guest Simone White is a socialist activist who was part of the Stop the War Coalition in Australia and has written and presented extensively on the politics and history of the middle east.
Public meeting - Tues 24 August 18:30 (Melb time) - Bloodshed and war crimes: how the west destroyed Afghanistan - https://www.facebook.com/events/370684171388989
Book your tickets for Socialism 2021 here - http://www.socialismsydney.com/
Further Reading
'The US occupation of Afghanistan is over. But the disaster goes on' by Omar Hassan - https://redflag.org.au/article/us-occupation-afghanistan-over-disaster-goes
From 2008 - 'Afghanistan: the case against the “good war”' by Jonathan Neal https://isj.org.uk/afghanistan-the-case-against-the-good-war/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
In this episode we discuss the debates around lockdown and the political response to the pandemic in Australia with Sydney based socialist activists Eleanor Morley and Josh Lees. Lockdowns continue in large parts of the country and the vaccine rollout is the slowest in the OECD. How can we understand the political priorities of the government? What is the significance of the anti-lockdown protests? Is there an alternative to lockdown?
Anti-lockdown lunacy: from the elites to the streets - https://redflag.org.au/index.php/article/anti-lockdown-lunacy-elites-streets
Join Sydney socialists for an online Forum: Fascism and anti-Fascism in 1930s Australia - Sunday 8 August at 3pm - https://www.facebook.com/events/1304459746639353
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Thursday Jul 15, 2021
Thursday Jul 15, 2021
In this episode we reveal the forgotten history of Aboriginal unionists in the 1890s shearers' strikes. The participation of Aboriginal workers, including strike camp leaders like Andrew Stuart Stepney, challenges historical accounts that note the racism of the shearers’ unions and subsequently ignore the role that Aboriginal workers played within the shearers’ unions. We discuss the importance of revealing this history and draw out the lessons for unionists and socialists today.
A quote from an article in the Worker (Brisbane), 16 July 1892, that Roz reads during the episode:
I've yet to learn, don't you know, that the immortal British Empire or any other speck of country owns by sheer right divine all the land it can get its clutches on. There's no more natural sense in a bleary-eyed officer with gold lace and a taste for rum, sticking a few feet of stick, with a few square inches of painted calico attached, into the ground and saying 'I annex this 'ere country,' than there is in you or me taking a trip across to Europe and going through the same pantomime at Brighton or Monte Carlo. You or I've got exactly the same 'right ' as the gold laced gentleman who appreciates rum. The only thing is that he has a title deed in the shape of a few thousand tons of men of war, with guns enough to blow the unfortunate natives to little small bits if they object. Wonderful justice, isn't it?... The aboriginals had more right to be in Australia than we had, looking at things justly.’
Marxist Left Review - https://marxistleftreview.org/
Red Flag Books - https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
On this episode we preview The Fight for Workers’ Power: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in the 20th Century with author Tom Bramble. The book recounts key periods of international class struggle from 1914 to 1956 with the aim of bringing the lessons from these struggles to a new generation of socialists. Tom has studied, written about, and taken part in the labour movement in Australia and internationally. His books include a history of the trade union movement and the Labor Party in Australia, and Introducing Marxism: A Theory for Social Change, published in 2015.
Red Flag Books - https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Read more on Russia here - https://redflag.org.au/russia/
Come to the Melbourne book launch on Thursday 15 July - https://www.facebook.com/events/313896660248031
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Thursday Jun 17, 2021
Thursday Jun 17, 2021
The recent hospitalisation of 4 year old Tharunicaa and the story of her family Priya, Nades, and Kopika is a perfect illustration of the brutality of the Australian government's treatment of refugees. On this episode we discuss the campaign to bring this family back to Biloela with full residency rights and what their experience has revealed about the politics of the Australian refugee torture regime. Aran Mylvaganam, a refugee who was detained as a child when he arrived in Australia in 1997 and who later founded the Tamil Refugee Council, discusses the history of Tamil persecution in Sri Lanka. Liz Walsh, socialist and veteran refugee activist, argues that the campaign for this family should be the basis for building a new movement to fight for all refugees.
Actions Saturday 19th June:
Melbourne:
Join the Perth campaign - https://www.facebook.com/tamilrefugeecounciloz and https://www.facebook.com/curtinuwasar
Aran will be speaking at Socialism in Sydney - http://www.socialismsydney.com/program/2154/
Red Flag coverage of the story of the 'Biloela family' - https://redflag.org.au/article/relief-one-biloela-family-fight-isnt-over
Profile of Kokilapathmapriya (Priya) Nadesalingam by Ben Hillier - https://redflag.org.au/article/freedom-fighter-celebrate-international-womens-day
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday May 30, 2021
Sunday May 30, 2021
What are the differences between a socialist approach to fighting for liberation from oppression and the ideas that dominate what has become known as 'identity politics'? How can we genuinely combat oppression based on attributes of identity? What are the strengths of a politics of solidarity rather than 'allyship'? How important is it to experience oppression in order to understand it? On this episode we're joined by socialist activist Sarah Garnham to answer these questions and more.
Further reading on this topic:
The problem with identity politics by Louise O'Shea - https://redflag.org.au/node/5900
Against reductionism: Marxism and oppression by Sarah Garnham - https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/against-reductionism-marxism-and-oppression/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
For more than 100 years, Palestinians have never given up the fight for their homeland and national independence. Their struggles have inspired international solidarity as a result of their courage and determination in the face of violent occupation and oppression. On this episode we are joined again by Vashti Fox, author of The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance, for a discussion of the history and important political lessons socialists can learn from the Palestinian struggle.
The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance by Vashti Fox (2020) available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/palestine/products/the-story-of-palestine-empire-repression-and-resistance
For protests in Melbourne go to: https://www.facebook.com/FreePalestineMelbourne
Palestine Action Group Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/syd.bmbc
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
Israel's latest offensive against the Palestinians began with evictions in the neighbourhood of Sheik Jarrah and continues with a massive aerial bombardment of Gaza. On this episode, author of The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance Vashti Fox discusses the background to the current wave of aggression and the historical and contemporary importance of Israel to global and regional capitalist powers.
Palestinians are fighting back and they need our solidarity by Vashti Fox https://redflag.org.au/article/palestinians-are-fighting-back-and-they-need-our-solidarity
Why the Australian state supports Israel so stridently by Vashti Fox https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/why-the-australian-state-supports-israel-so-stridently/
Nakba: understanding the Palestinian catastrophe by Kim Bullimore https://redflag.org.au/article/nakba-understanding-palestinian-catastrophe
The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance
by Vashti Fox (2020) available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/palestine/products/the-story-of-palestine-empire-repression-and-resistance
For protests in Melbourne go to: https://www.facebook.com/FreePalestineMelbourne
Palestine Action Group Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/syd.bmbc
Saturday May 08, 2021
Saturday May 08, 2021
Wood for cremation fires is running out across India. While bodies continue to fill the streets the Modi regime has pushed a political agenda of self promotion and ignored a rapidly growing health catastrophe. On this episode we are joined by Sagar Sanyal to discuss how this crisis happened, what the Indian ruling class could have done to prevent it, and why capitalism is responsible for mass murder.
Reading:
Turning a profit from death: on Modi’s pandemic response in neoliberal India by Tithi Bhattacharya
https://redflag.org.au/article/turning-profit-death-modis-pandemic-response-neoliberal-india
India’s government has blood on its hands by Ravibhahini
https://redflag.org.au/article/indias-government-has-blood-its-hands
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Scott Morrison's response to multiple allegations of sexual assault within his party has been an abject failure and a demonstration of the ongoing commitment of the government to oppression and exploitation. In this episode we welcome back Red Flag newspaper editor Louise O'Shea to discuss what has happened since accusations against attorney-general Christian Porter were made public last month, including the The Good Society resources aimed at educating students about consent and respectful relationships.
Previous episode:
https://redflag.podbean.com/e/power-politics-and-sexual-assault-with-louise-oshea/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
Saturday Apr 17, 2021
We have a world to win, but are we too late to avoid the 'tipping points' that trigger irreversible environmental catastrophe? There are still reasons to hope that we can save the planet, but what are the politics that can win the world? In this discussion with socialist teacher and environmental activist Jamiel Deeb, we examine the failures of reformist environmentalism and the crimes of capitalism as well as the possibilities for socialism in a hothouse earth.
Further reading:
'Net zero by 2050' means disaster' by Jack Crawford in Red Flag
'Without a revolution, we'll have climate catastrophe' by James Plested in Red Flag
Marxism and the natural world by Michael Kandelaars in Marxist Left Review
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Special recording of the opening night of Marxism 2021 in Melbourne featuring Aran Mylvaganam, Liz Walsh, and Omar Hassan.
Marxism Conference - www.marxismconference.org
Instagram @marxism_conference
Facebook /MarxismConference
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Rebellion and resistance continues in Myanmar after the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s military) arrested State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and seized government on 1 February. Young workers and students have been at the centre of an uprising that has included mass strikes, street protests, and creative acts of civil disobedience. On this episode Burmese-Australian youth activist Ye Yint Aung and socialist Robert Narai share their perspectives and stories on the eruption of popular anger and the challenges ahead.
Further readings:
Myanmar coup: ‘The people are more united, armed with past lessons’ by Ye Yint Aung
https://amp.theage.com.au/national/myanmar-coup-the-people-are-more-united-armed-with-past-lessons-20210302-p57747.html
Myanmar’s spring revolution by Robert Narai:
https://redflag.org.au/article/myanmars-spring-revolution
Myanmar Workers and Unions on the Front Lines in Fight Against Coup by Kevin Lin:
https://labornotes.org/2021/02/myanmar-workers-and-unions-front-lines-fight-against-coup
If the Military Leaders Win, There Will Be No Unions': Myanmar Garment Workers on the Strikes Against the Coup, interview with Ma Moe Sandar Myint, Ma Ei Ei Phyu, Ma Tin Tin Wai
https://labornotes.org/2021/03/if-military-leaders-win-there-will-be-no-unions-myanmar-garment-workers-strikes-against-coup
Join us for a special panel at Marxism 2021
Follow Victorian Myanmar Youth on Facebook and Instagram for events and updates: facebook.com/vicmmyouth
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Monday Mar 08, 2021
Monday Mar 08, 2021
Allegations of a rape that took place in parliament house made by former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgens have opened up a broader discussion on the vile sexist behaviour of federal politicians and why such a culture thrives at the highest levels of Australian politics. On this episode Red Flag newspaper contributing editor Louise O'Shea argues that these examples of sexual assault, and the inadequate responses they generate, can only be understood as part of a system of class domination, power, and gendered oppression.
Read: Right-wing culture warriors and rape
From the archive: Celebrating International Working Women’s Day with Liz Walsh and Louisa Bassini
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Wednesday Feb 17, 2021
Wednesday Feb 17, 2021
In the second of our two part special, we explore the history and practice of anarchism with socialist activists Emma and Khyl. What was the debate between Marx and Bakunin really about? How did anarchists respond to the Russian revolution? What can we learn about anarchism from the period of the Spanish Civil War? How is the history of anarchism reflected in the current priorities of anarchist activists? Why does any of this matter?
Longer read - Marxism and anarchism
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
In the first of a two part special, we discuss some of the key theoretical differences between Anarchism and Marxism with socialist activists Emma and Khyl. What does it mean to be against all forms of authority? Why does understanding the role and nature of the state matter? How does anarchism view the revolutionary potential of the working class? What is the role of democracy and the party in revolutionary socialist organising compared to anarchism? In part two we will taker look at the history of anarchism in practice.
Deep reading - Marx and the state
Further listening - A history of Anarchism: A marxist critique
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.