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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 Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
The Brereton report exposed the horrific war crimes of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. Less is known about the activities of the Australian military in the Pacific region. On this episode we explore the bloody history of Australia as an imperialist power and how socialists today understand the dynamics of imperialism in the region with Vinil Kumar.
Owning up to Australia’s slave labour past by Hersha Kadkol
Backyard bully: Australia's imperialism in the Pacific by Vinil Kumar
The forging of Australian imperialism by Tom O'Lincoln
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
The Labor government in Victoria announced that it will spend $5.3 billion as part of the 'Big Housing Build' over the next four years. The initiative has been described as the 'largest ever investment' by a state government in housing but the spin covers the fact that the majority of the money will not be spent on public housing. In this episode we explore the privatisation of social housing in Australia and investigate the reality of the housing crisis with activists Louisa Bassini and Steph Price.
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Celebrating our first year of podcasting from Melbourne, Australia. Roz and Liam discuss reasons to be a revolutionary socialist in 2020 and reflect on our favourite episodes with special guests Louise O'Shea, Jerome Small, Emma Norton, and Sagar Sanyal.
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Victorian Socialists member and friend of Red Flag Radio Jorge Jorquera has just won a seat on Maribyrnong Council in the west of Melbourne. Jorge talks to Roz and Liam about why he decided to run as a candidate for council and how the Victorian Socialists organised a campaign during a pandemic. We explore the challenge of connecting local issues with global politics and what it might mean to be a revolutionary socialist and councillor.
Follow Jorge on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jorgevicsoc
Find out more about the Victorian Socialists - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
Wednesday Oct 21, 2020
Staff and students across Australia are facing the challenge of organising during a pandemic to respond a massive crisis in higher education. Vice Chancellors are claiming that universities need to cut jobs in order to save money that has been wiped from their projected profits. The Liberal government has taken the opportunity to push through a ‘Job-ready Graduates Package’ - a major restructure that aims to make staff and students pay for the crisis. NTEU Fightback activists Katie Wood (Melbourne University) and Jack Hynes (Victoria University) join student activist Grace Hill (ANU) in discussion with Liam and Roz.
NTEU Fightback - https://www.facebook.com/NTEUfightback
Resources - https://nteufightback.site/resources
Student Fightback - https://www.facebook.com/StudentFightback
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Monday Oct 05, 2020
Monday Oct 05, 2020
The police crackdown on protests in New South Wales is a serious attempt to erode democratic rights and curtail political expression under the cover of the pandemic. On this episode we discuss why democracy should be defended at the same time as serious health measures are put in place to deal with the health crisis. Our guests Vinil Kumar and Eleanor Morely are founding members of the campaign 'Democracy is Essential - Restore the right to protest in NSW'.
Campaign Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/DemocracyNSW
Sign up to the campaign - here
Donate to help pay the fines - here
Civil rights, profits and the lockdown by Louise O'Shea
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday Sep 20, 2020
Sunday Sep 20, 2020
Twenty years ago, the 11-13 September blockade of the World Economic Forum’s Asia-Pacific Economic Summit, held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino complex, was disrupted by an estimated 20,000 protesters. James Plested and James Vigus are revolutionary socialists who were active participants at S11. On this episode we discuss the political context, debates, actions, and legacy of S11 and the 'battle of Melbourne'.
20 years on from S11: looking back at the battle of Melbourne by James Plested
S11 on the barricades video
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Sunday Sep 06, 2020
Sunday Sep 06, 2020
In 2014, the Hazelwood mine fire burned out of control for 45 days causing one of Australia's biggest environmental and health disasters. Millions of square metres of exposed, highly flammable brown coal sent toxic ash and smoke billowing through the Latrobe Valley. The corporate owners of the mine dodged responsibility and focused on keeping the power station operating. The government covered up the health impacts and offered slow and grossly inadequate support measures. In the face of indifference for their lives and health, local residents got organised and fought back.
Published on 23 February 2014, Naomi Farmer's article on the crisis, Disaster in the Valley crashed the Red Flag website and triggered the beginning of serious resistance from local communities. Veteran socialist Diane Fieldes joins Naomi for discussion of a disaster that captures both the inhumanity of capitalism and the potential for a different world.
Tom Doig's new book Hazelwood is reviewed by Diane in the next issue of Red Flag.
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
A two part special edition with Sagar Sanyal on how Marxists understand economic crisis. In part two we discuss how the legacy of the GFC and underlying structural weakness in the economy form the context of the current crisis. Sagar offers a critique of non-Marxist theoretical and practical responses to the economic challenges of 2020. This episode is suitable for listeners who are new to thinking about economics or those looking to develop their understanding of Marxist economics.
If the neoliberal order is over, what comes next? -https://redflag.org.au/node/7184
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
Wednesday Sep 02, 2020
A two part special edition with Sagar Sanyal on how Marxists understand economic crisis. In part one we discuss how mainstream interpretations of the causes of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 fail to take account of the inherent instability of capitalist competition and production. Why do crises happen and what is the legacy of 2008 for today? This episode is suitable for listeners who are new to thinking about economics or those looking to develop their understanding of Marxist economics.
Recommended reading: Chris Harman (2009) Zombie Capitalism: Global Crisis and the Relevance of Marx (Bookmarks) - available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Led by students and young people, a new wave of pro-democracy protest has broken out in Thailand. Liam is joined by Giles Ji Ungpakorn, an exiled socialist and Thai dissident living in the United Kingdom, to discuss what has been happening to re-energise the movement.
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
The logic of neoliberalism has defined the response to COVID-19 internationally. In Australia, decades of privatisation have degraded health services and made sub-contracting endemic in employment. This means that political decisions continue to be made on all sides that put profit and business before health and life. In this episode we discuss how neoliberalism has shaped the pandemic with Red Flag contributing editor Louise O'Shea.
Neoliberalism's pandemic - https://redflag.org.au/node/7303
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the structural weakness and lack of resources in Australia's hospitals. On this special episode we speak to healthcare workers Cecilia and Eric about their experiences during the current crisis, how the neoliberal priorities of hospital management are impacting workers and patients, and explore the possibilities for resistance and change.
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show:
Wednesday Aug 05, 2020
Wednesday Aug 05, 2020
For socialists, the Russian Revolution of 1917 is the most important event in history. For a century since the October uprising, debates have taken place about what happened in the aftermath of the revolution. What shaped the events that led ultimately to the defeat of the revolution? Could the outcome have been different? What role did the Bolsheviks play at this time? Understanding this history is critical to understanding revolutionary socialist politics in opposition to Stalinism and contemporary capitalism. Sandra Bloodworth is a veteran socialist activist, historian, writer, and an editor of the Marxist Left Review.
Russia 1917 when the people rose by Sandra Bloodworth - https://redflag.org.au/russia/
New edition of Marxist Left Review now available - https://marxistleftreview.org/
Sandra's book on Russia is available here.
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Malcolm X is a legend of Black liberation movements in the US. His unique force and uncompromising approach in denouncing racial segregation and inequality built a historic movement. A fierce critic of US imperialism, he tried to build links with anti-colonial movements and struggles the world over and offered a critique of capitalism. Today, millions in the United States and across the world are asking how we can fight for racial justice and confront the violence of the state. Anti-racist and socialist activist Kerri Parke discusses what we we can learn about the struggle against racism and capitalism from Malcolm X's life and work.
The revolutionary legacy of Malcom X https://redflag.org.au/article/revolutionary-legacy-malcolm-x
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward. Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/ Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Monday Jul 20, 2020
Monday Jul 20, 2020
The Anti Nazi League was launched in Britain in 1977 after 5,000 local people united with 5,000 trade unionists, Black and Asian activist and community groups and Labour Party members, led by the revolutionary left, to stop the fascist thugs of the National Front from marching through Lewisham in London. This new wave of anti-fascist politics offered hope and unity in the face of division and bitter racism. The success of the ANL in building a mass movement against racism has given confidence to subsequent movements against fascism in Britain and around the world. On this episode veteran socialist and anti-racist activist Moira Leahy discusses the important history and lessons of the ANL.
British Anti-Nazi League: how fascists can be beaten - https://redflag.org.au/node/6669
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
Saturday Jun 27, 2020
The recent investigation into the Victorian branches of the Australian Labour Party (ALP) revealed branch stacking and corruption at an 'industrial scale'. In this episode we discuss the history of the ALP and analyse what has changed, and what has remained the same. Why is it that the ALP are so decrepit? Rick Kuhn is a Marxist economist, political analyst and honorary associate professor at the Australian National University in Canberra. Rick is also the co-author of Labor’s Conflict: Big Business, Workers and the Politics of Class (2010). Kath is a rail worker and activist in the Rail Tram and Bus Union and has just been preselected as the Victorian Socialists' candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
Labor's leaders don't deserve true believers https://redflag.org.au/node/7235
The ALP: What class of party? https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/the-alp-what-class-of-party/
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
You can also make a one-off donation at https://donorbox.org/support-the-red-flag-radio-podcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
The police were never meant to protect and serve ordinary people. In this episode we discuss the history of the police and their development alongside the establishment of capitalist relations. Why are the police so racist? What is their real role in society? Can we abolish the police? Roz is joined in discussions to address these questions and more by socialist activists Emma Norton and Luca Tavan.
Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
You can also make a one-off donation at
https://donorbox.org/support-the-red-flag-radio-podcast
Defunding, disarming, defeating and abolishing the police -https://redflag.org.au/node/7233
Follow our coverage of the uprising in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Friday Jun 05, 2020
Friday Jun 05, 2020
The popular rebellion against racism and police violence continues to unfold on a mass scale in the United States. Uprisings have emerged in every major city making this the most significant event of its kind since the urban revolts of the 1960s. Indigenous socialist activist Gavin Stanbrook and NUS Anti-Racist Officer Vinil Kumar join the discussion on these incredible events, the political and international response, and how solidarity is the only way to build resistance to capitalism and oppression.
Join the protests in Australia this weekend
Saturday 6 June
Sydney (3PM 20 Lee Street, Sydney CBD)
https://www.facebook.com/events/246881229969044/
Melbourne (2PM Parliament House)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2523873747926996/
Brisbane (1PM King George Square)
https://www.facebook.com/events/648549595874359/
Adelaide (12PM Tarndanyangga)
https://www.facebook.com/events/252815505938946/
Newcastle (2PM Civic Park)
https://www.facebook.com/events/249335203063836/
Sunday 7 June
Wollongong (2PM Crown St Mall Amphitheatre)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2651315805127698/
Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
You can also make a one-off donation at
https://donorbox.org/support-the-red-flag-radio-podcast
Follow our coverage of the uprising in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Saturday May 16, 2020
Saturday May 16, 2020
Marx was to develop his major ecological critique in the volumes of Capital. In Volume 3 he wrote that there was an “irreparable rift in the interdependent process of social metabolism, a metabolism prescribed by the natural laws of life itself”. This has become known as the theory of the 'metabolic rift'. The current interconnected health and global ecological crises are now increasingly understood in relation to industrialisation, production, and the human-metabolic relation to nature at the expense of the world’s ecosystems. So what does the metabolic rift help to explain about the crisis today? Can the metabolic rift be repaired by technical solutions within capitalism? Friend of the podcast, Sagar Sanyal joins Roz and Liam for discussion.
Please support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
You can also make a one-off donation at
https://donorbox.org/support-the-red-flag-radio-podcast
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com