Imperialism and illusions related to European Union membership
From this week?s Offensiv, the weekly paper of Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna
A yes to EU membership negotiations with Turkey. That was, as expected, the outcome of the European Union Summit of 17 December. Why does the EU want Turkey to become a member? Why did some of the EU rulers hesitate? What kind of membership is on offer for Turkey? (more…)

Stephen Jolly, SP’s Councillor for Yarra’s Langridge Ward, gives a report of the first three weeks since his election (more…)

“Tell Me No Lies, Investigative Journalism and its Triumphs” is edited by Australian political journalist John Pilger.

When most of the world’s mass media is firmly “embedded” into the thinking of governments and the big business interests that lie behind them, the publication of a collection of some of the greatest pieces of investigative journalism could not come sooner.

Niall Mulholland, CWI (more…)

“IT IS a mess in Iraq”. The UN special envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, was certainly to the point. Elections, he said, would not be possible on the 30 January “if the circumstances stay as they are”. (more…)

What are the plans for the Socialist Councillor for Yarra City Council? How and why did socialists win the seat? Come to this final public meeting of the year, Tuesday 21st December, 7pm, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Phone (03) 96399111 if you want more information or help with child care. End of Year drinks afterwards - come and have a drink with us after a great year!

Last month socialists from around the world (members of the International Executive Committee of the Committee for a Workers International) met in Belgium to discuss world events and building a socialist alternative to capitalism. Australia was represented by SP’s National Treasurer Anthony Main (who is also a shop steward in the metals division of the AMWU). Here is his report back… (more…)

By Greg Bradshaw

“Only the most ideological enemy of Marxism, or uninformed pseudointellectual, could seriously maintain that Marxist theory is obsolete.” - Douglas Kellner

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Empire have led many to proclaim the end of ?communism? as an alternative to the market system. Historian David MacGregor wrote, ?The former Soviet republics have been baptised by blood, and drowned in Pepsi Cola?. (more…)

For the detailed roll up on pdf Click here. For preliminary votes broken down by booth (these are not final figures) Click here