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SA is mainly composed of ]s active in their ]s, with emphasis on ]-based political campaigns. SA is mainly composed of ]s active in their ]s, with emphasis on ]-based political campaigns.


SA have held regular meetings to discuss current events and ] theory and usually employ an energetic ]ing campaign to advertise them, particularly on inner-city campuses and in the surrounding suburbs. Their regular discussions focus on the relationship between political ideas and every day life, such as ] and living in a consumerist society. These discussions double as recruitment opportunities for new members. SA hold a national educational conference called ''Marxism Today''each year. Marxism Today has now been renamed Marxism 2008 and will be held in Melbourne at Easter next year. SA have held regular meetings to discuss current events and ] theory and usually employ an energetic ]ing campaign to advertise them, particularly on inner-city campuses and in the surrounding suburbs. Their regular discussions focus on the relationship between political ideas and every day life, such as ] and living in a consumerist society. These discussions double as recruitment opportunities for new members. SA hold a national educational conference called ''Marxism Today'' in April each year.


Socialist Alternative was heavily involved in protests against ]i attacks against ], which occurred in ] during July and August 2006. Over the last three years they have been prominent in the ] campaign against the ].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} They have previously been involved in campaigns for the rights of ]s, in ] and ] demonstrations and against the operation of the ] ] ]. They are currently mobilising in support of the protest in September against the APEC conference which US President George Bush will be attending. Socialist Alternative was heavily involved in protests against ]i attacks against ], which occurred in ] during July and August 2006. Over the last three years they have been prominent in the ] campaign against the ].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} They have previously been involved in campaigns for the rights of ]s, in ] and ] demonstrations and against the operation of the ] ] ]. They are currently mobilising in support of the protest in September against the APEC conference which US President George Bush will be attending.
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==History== ==History==
] ], made by the VCA Student Union. The building in the background is ] which was occupied during an education demonstration.]] ] ], made by the VCA Student Union. The building in the background is ] which was occupied during an education demonstration.]]
Socialist Alternative began amongst a number of ] ex-members of the ] (ISO), after they were expelled from the ISO in 1995, following a lengthy debate about perspectives for building its membership. This was part of a broader debate in the ] (IST) about the nature of the political situation and how ] should respond, which resulted in splits in a number of countries, including ], ], Germany, Canada, ] and ], and the expulsion of the ] ] from the IST.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Socialist Alternative began amongst a number of ] ex-members of the ] (ISO), after they were expelled from the ISO in 1995, following a lengthy debate about perspectives for building its membership. This was part of a broader debate in the ] (IST) about the nature of the political situation and how ] should respond, which resulted in splits in a number of countries, including ], ], ] and ], and the expulsion of the ] ] from the IST.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}


SA briefly joined the ], which grouped together the ] {DSP), the ISO, and some smaller left groups and individuals. However SA dropped out, apparently because Socialist Alliance was not attracting new forces and appeared to be increasingly dominated by the DSP.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} SA also opposed the strong emphasis the Socialist Alliance put on running in parliamentary elections which they saw as counterposed to building activism on the ground.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} SA briefly joined the ], which grouped together the ] {DSP), the ISO, and some smaller left groups and individuals. However SA dropped out, apparently because Socialist Alliance was not attracting new forces and appeared to be increasingly dominated by the DSP.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} SA also opposed the strong emphasis the Socialist Alliance put on running in parliamentary elections which they saw as counterposed to building activism on the ground.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In ] and ] Socialist Alternative made a number of approaches to the ISO for unity but the ISO was not interested.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}


Socialist Alternative was a primarily Melbourne-based group up until around ], when it experienced a considerable growth in membership across Australia. SA is still stronger in Melbourne than any other city but has also grown considerably in Sydney. In Sydney, Marc Newman, an experienced member from Melbourne who had been transferred to Sydney to grow SA there, led the split. The tiny group of ex-Socialist Alternative members in Sydney joined a small socialist group named ], which was started by former members of the ISO. Marc Newman, however, soon abandoned revolutionary politics to join the Greens. Socialist Alternative was a primarily Melbourne-based group up until around ], when it experienced in membership across Australia. In August 2004 Socialist Alternative experienced the loss of a number of members in ] and most of their ] branch.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In Sydney, Marc Newman, an experienced member from Melbourne who had been transferred to Sydney to grow SA there, led the split. The group of ex-Socialist Alternative members in Sydney joined a small socialist group named ], which was started by former members of the ISO.


SA values the political education of their members and supporters by publishing a range of books and pamphlets. Recently a number of members produced a book analysing Australian ], , edited by Rick Kuhn and in April 2007, "The Labor Party: A Marxist Analysis" was published by Mick Armstrong and Tom Bramble. In September 2007 SA published a major new book by Mick Armstrong "From Little Things Big Things Grow: Strategies for building revolutionary socialist organisations". Socialist Alternative also publish a monthly magazine called ''Socialist Alternative'', which is sold on stalls at ] campuses on city streets and at demonstrations. SA values the political education of their members and supporters by publishing a range of books and pamphlets. Recently a number of members produced a book analysing Australian ], , edited by Rick Kuhn and in April 2007, "The Labor Party: A Marxist Analysis" was published by Mick Armstrong and Tom Bramble. Socialist Alternative also publish a monthly magazine called ''Socialist Alternative'', which is sold on stalls at ] campuses on city streets and at demonstrations.


At their most recent conference in December 2006 they decided to prioritise defeating the Howard government around the slogan: "''Howard Out! Don't rely on Labor! Build a fighting socialist alternative!''" They decided to continue to focus on mobilising against the war in Iraq and against the Howard government's Industrial Relations laws.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In the upcoming federal elections they will call for a first preference vote for the Greens and a second preference for the ALP and for putting the Liberals last. {{Fact|date=August 2007}} At their most recent conference in December 2006 they decided to prioritise defeating the Howard government around the slogan: "''Howard Out! Don't rely on Labor! Build a fighting socialist alternative!''" They decided to continue to focus on mobilising against the war in Iraq and against the Howard government's Industrial Relations laws.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In the upcoming federal elections they will call for a first preference vote for the Greens and a second preference for the ALP and for putting the Liberals last. {{Fact|date=August 2007}}
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'''Beliefs and Ideology''' '''Beliefs and Ideology'''
{{unbalanced}} {{unbalanced}}
Socialist Alternative claim to be committed to avoiding the grand pretensions that they say characterise much of the left. While not a member of the International Socialist Tendency, SA remains committed to the ideas and positions associated with the "International Socialism" tradition of Trotskyism which saw the ] states of Russia, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, North Korea and Cuba as being in no sense socialist but forms of ], where workers were exploited by a bureaucratic ruling class. Socialist Alternative has links with a number of other groups which were previously part of the International Socialist Tendency, such as the US International Socialist Organization, the International Workers Left in Greece, the International Socialist Organisation in New Zealand and, in France, ]. Socialist Alternative claim to be committed to avoiding the grand pretensions that they say characterise much of the left. While not a member of the International Socialist Tendency, SA remains committed to the ideas and positions associated with the "International Socialism" tradition of Trotskyism which saw the ] states of Russia, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam and Cuba as being in no sense socialist but forms of ], where workers were exploited by a bureaucratic ruling class. Socialist Alternative has links with a number of other groups which were previously part of the International Socialist Tendency, such as the US International Socialist Organization, the International Workers Left in Greece, the International Socialist Organisation in New Zealand and, in France, ].


Socialist Alternative analyses the world in terms of the political and economic ideas of ], the 19th century ] and socialist activist who argued that history was underpinned by economic systems (the base or structure) which drove changes in political ideas and institutions (the superstructure), which in turn resulted in replacements of one economic system for another. SA views the world in terms of the ] and the ], the former oppressing the latter almost everywhere. Consequently, members of SA believe that today's capitalist world economy needs to be overthrown by means of a socialist revolution, in which the workers or ] will unite to overthrow their employers, the ], who control the means of production. Socialist Alternative's activities are therefore attempts to mobilise workers and students in order to facilitate such a revolution, which they believe will result in an end to worker exploitation, as well as other phenomena such as racism, sexism and homophobia. Critics of SA argue that ] cannot be reasonably blamed for sexism, racism or homophobia.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Socialist Alternative analyses the world in terms of the political and economic ideas of ], the 19th century ] who argued that history was underpinned by economic systems (the base or structure) which drove changes in political ideas and institutions (the superstructure), which in turn resulted in replacements of one economic system for another. SA views the world in terms of the ] and the ], the former oppressing the latter almost everywhere. Consequently, members of SA believe that today's capitalist world economy needs to be overthrown by means of a socialist revolution, in which the workers or ] will unite to overthrow their employers, the ], who control the means of production. Socialist Alternative's activities are therefore attempts to mobilise workers and students in order to facilitate such a revolution, which they believe will result in an end to worker exploitation, as well as other phenomena such as racism, sexism and homophobia. Critics of SA argue that ] cannot be reasonably blamed for sexism, racism or homophobia.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Socialist Alternative supports the right to self-determination of Australia's Aboriginal people and opposes the recent intervention by the Howard government in the ]. {{Fact|date=August 2007}}


Socialist Alternative supports the right to self-determination of Australia's Aboriginal people and opposes the recent intervention by the Howard government in the ]. {{Fact|date=August 2007}} Another distinctive position of Socialist Alternative which separates them from much of the rest of the Australian left is their opposition to the Australian invasion of East Timor and the continuing presence of Australian troops there. Socialist Alternative is also known within Australian student politics for its hostility towards ] and his ] ].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Other targets of Socialist Alternative hostility are the "ruling class" of the United States and its ] ], and the ] for its unwillingness to vehemently oppose businesses. Socialist Alternative also accuses the government of Australia and the United States of waging a racist war against Islam in general. {{Fact|date=August 2007}}

Socialist Alternative is also known within Australian student politics for its hostility towards ] and his ] ].{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Other targets of Socialist Alternative hostility are the "ruling class" of the United States and its ] ], and the ] for its unwillingness to vehemently oppose businesses. In particular SA are highly critical of the Labor party's new industrial relations policy which they see as simply WorkChoices-lite. Socialist Alternative also accuses the government of Australia and the United States of waging a racist war against Islam in general. {{Fact|date=August 2007}}


==Controversy== ==Controversy==
===Confrontations with Zionists=== ===Accusations of anti-semitism===
In 2006, Socialist Alternative supporters at ] were involved in a number of confrontations with supports of ]. In an article published by '']'' on September the 4th, ], members of Socialist Alternative were stated to have disrupted a visit by the Israeli ambassador . A member of SA there wrote a controversial email referring to some students who had tried to violently close down an SA stall as "] (who) felt the need to assert their ] and fetish for ] and mass slaughter of ] people" . There have been several incidents on Melbourne campuses, some reportedly involving SA . However, SA leaders at Melbourne Uni insist that it is not anti-semitic, maintaining that Israel does not represent Jews, simply claiming to do so. Moreover SA points out they have many Jewish members, including the prominent Canberra academic Dr Rick Kuhn. "We take a firm stand against all forms of racism" Vashti Kenway (Students Against War and Racism, SA member) once claimed.<ref>'''' By Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref><ref>'''' by Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref> In an article published by '']'' on September the 4th, ], members of Socialist Alternative were accused of having hardline positions against Israel and using aggressive tactics on campus. SA was likewise accused of being unsympathetic to Jewish groups during the highest period of ] since the ]s and demonstrating on university campuses where the majority of this was occurring . Members of SA have also been known to make controversial comments such as calling some ] students at the ] "] (who) felt the need to assert their ] and fetish for ] and mass slaughter of ] people" . These attitudes have resulted in allegations of anti-semitism . However, SA insist that it is not anti-semitic, maintaining that Israel does not represent Jews, simply claiming to do so. "We take a firm stand against all forms of racism" Vashti Kenway (Students Against War and Racism, SA member) once claimed.<ref>'''' By Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref><ref>'''' by Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref>

SA leaders at Melbourne Uni have denied that the group is anti-semitic, maintaining that Israel does not represent all Jews, and pointing out that they have many Jewish members, including the prominent Canberra academic Dr Rick Kuhn. "We take a firm stand against all forms of racism" Vashti Kenway (Students Against War and Racism, SA member) once claimed.<ref>'''' By Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref><ref>'''' by Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref>
According to ], a writer in the Socialist Alternative has claimed that “Zionism . . . agrees with Nazism that Jews have to be walled-off from Non-Jews” and Israel’s existence is racism. .


===Campaign tactics=== ===Campaign tactics===
⚫ They have become renowned in many universities for their behaviour (yelling with megaphones), handing out leaflets and barging into lectures to launch their campaigns. Socialist Alternative have been known to drown out political viewpoints that diverge from their own, in political forums, with loud repetitive chanting of slogans. They argue that this is a valid political tactic, as the viewpoints they seek to silence already get heard excessively through the media <ref>'''' audio report on 2JJJ February 16. 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref>

⚫ They have become renowned in many universities for their tactics. Those tactics have been known to include yelling with megaphones, handing out leaflets and barging into lectures to launch their campaigns. Socialist Alternative have been known to drown out political viewpoints that diverge from their own, in political forums, with loud repetitive chanting of slogans. They argue that this is a valid political tactic, as the viewpoints they seek to silence already get heard excessively through the media <ref>'''' audio report on 2JJJ February 16. 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007</ref>


==References== ==References==

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File:Salogo.jpg
Socialist Alternative's logo is characterised by the Red Wedge, evoking the 1919 Russian Civil War propaganda poster by El Lissitzky

Socialist Alternative (often abbreviated as SA) is a Trotskyist group in Australia formed by a split from the International Socialist Organisation in 1995. They are characterised by a strong focus on recruitment on campuses and at demonstrations.

Activity

SA is mainly composed of students active in their student unions, with emphasis on university-based political campaigns.

SA have held regular meetings to discuss current events and Marxist theory and usually employ an energetic postering campaign to advertise them, particularly on inner-city campuses and in the surrounding suburbs. Their regular discussions focus on the relationship between political ideas and every day life, such as consumerism and living in a consumerist society. These discussions double as recruitment opportunities for new members. SA hold a national educational conference called Marxism Today in April each year.

Socialist Alternative was heavily involved in protests against Israeli attacks against Hezbollah, which occurred in Lebanon during July and August 2006. Over the last three years they have been prominent in the left-wing campaign against the Iraq War. They have previously been involved in campaigns for the rights of refugees, in anti-capitalism and anti-globalisation demonstrations and against the operation of the Jabiluka uranium mine. They are currently mobilising in support of the protest in September against the APEC conference which US President George Bush will be attending.

Members of SA are identifiable during protests due to the red flags they usually carry in their contingent or red bloc. This distinguishes them from other Marxist organisations in Australia who normally carry placards.

History

Members of Socialist Alternative (Australia) assisted in the construction of this effigy of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, made by the VCA Student Union. The building in the background is RMIT University which was occupied during an education demonstration.

Socialist Alternative began amongst a number of Melbourne ex-members of the International Socialist Organisation (ISO), after they were expelled from the ISO in 1995, following a lengthy debate about perspectives for building its membership. This was part of a broader debate in the International Socialist Tendency (IST) about the nature of the political situation and how socialists should respond, which resulted in splits in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Greece, South Africa and France, and the expulsion of the United States ISO from the IST.

SA briefly joined the Socialist Alliance, which grouped together the Democratic Socialist Perspective {DSP), the ISO, and some smaller left groups and individuals. However SA dropped out, apparently because Socialist Alliance was not attracting new forces and appeared to be increasingly dominated by the DSP. SA also opposed the strong emphasis the Socialist Alliance put on running in parliamentary elections which they saw as counterposed to building activism on the ground. In 2002 and 2003 Socialist Alternative made a number of approaches to the ISO for unity but the ISO was not interested.

Socialist Alternative was a primarily Melbourne-based group up until around 2003, when it experienced in membership across Australia. In August 2004 Socialist Alternative experienced the loss of a number of members in Sydney and most of their Brisbane branch. In Sydney, Marc Newman, an experienced member from Melbourne who had been transferred to Sydney to grow SA there, led the split. The group of ex-Socialist Alternative members in Sydney joined a small socialist group named Solidarity, which was started by former members of the ISO.

SA values the political education of their members and supporters by publishing a range of books and pamphlets. Recently a number of members produced a book analysing Australian capitalism, Class and Struggle in Australia, edited by Rick Kuhn and in April 2007, "The Labor Party: A Marxist Analysis" was published by Mick Armstrong and Tom Bramble. Socialist Alternative also publish a monthly magazine called Socialist Alternative, which is sold on stalls at university campuses on city streets and at demonstrations.

At their most recent conference in December 2006 they decided to prioritise defeating the Howard government around the slogan: "Howard Out! Don't rely on Labor! Build a fighting socialist alternative!" They decided to continue to focus on mobilising against the war in Iraq and against the Howard government's Industrial Relations laws. In the upcoming federal elections they will call for a first preference vote for the Greens and a second preference for the ALP and for putting the Liberals last.

Beliefs and Ideology

This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page.

Socialist Alternative claim to be committed to avoiding the grand pretensions that they say characterise much of the left. While not a member of the International Socialist Tendency, SA remains committed to the ideas and positions associated with the "International Socialism" tradition of Trotskyism which saw the Stalinist states of Russia, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam and Cuba as being in no sense socialist but forms of state capitalism, where workers were exploited by a bureaucratic ruling class. Socialist Alternative has links with a number of other groups which were previously part of the International Socialist Tendency, such as the US International Socialist Organization, the International Workers Left in Greece, the International Socialist Organisation in New Zealand and, in France, Socialisme International.

Socialist Alternative analyses the world in terms of the political and economic ideas of Karl Marx, the 19th century philosopher who argued that history was underpinned by economic systems (the base or structure) which drove changes in political ideas and institutions (the superstructure), which in turn resulted in replacements of one economic system for another. SA views the world in terms of the ruling class and the workers, the former oppressing the latter almost everywhere. Consequently, members of SA believe that today's capitalist world economy needs to be overthrown by means of a socialist revolution, in which the workers or proletariat will unite to overthrow their employers, the bourgeoisie, who control the means of production. Socialist Alternative's activities are therefore attempts to mobilise workers and students in order to facilitate such a revolution, which they believe will result in an end to worker exploitation, as well as other phenomena such as racism, sexism and homophobia. Critics of SA argue that capitalism cannot be reasonably blamed for sexism, racism or homophobia. Socialist Alternative supports the right to self-determination of Australia's Aboriginal people and opposes the recent intervention by the Howard government in the Northern Territory.

Socialist Alternative is also known within Australian student politics for its hostility towards John Howard and his conservative government. Other targets of Socialist Alternative hostility are the "ruling class" of the United States and its President George W. Bush, and the Australian Labor Party for its unwillingness to vehemently oppose businesses. Socialist Alternative also accuses the government of Australia and the United States of waging a racist war against Islam in general.

Controversy

Accusations of anti-semitism

In an article published by The Age on September the 4th, 2006, members of Socialist Alternative were accused of having hardline positions against Israel and using aggressive tactics on campus. SA was likewise accused of being unsympathetic to Jewish groups during the highest period of anti-semitism since the 1940s and demonstrating on university campuses where the majority of this was occurring . Members of SA have also been known to make controversial comments such as calling some Jewish students at the Melbourne University "Zionists (who) felt the need to assert their racism and fetish for genocide and mass slaughter of Arab people" . These attitudes have resulted in allegations of anti-semitism . However, SA insist that it is not anti-semitic, maintaining that Israel does not represent Jews, simply claiming to do so. "We take a firm stand against all forms of racism" Vashti Kenway (Students Against War and Racism, SA member) once claimed.

Campaign tactics

They have become renowned in many universities for their behaviour (yelling with megaphones), handing out leaflets and barging into lectures to launch their campaigns. Socialist Alternative have been known to drown out political viewpoints that diverge from their own, in political forums, with loud repetitive chanting of slogans. They argue that this is a valid political tactic, as the viewpoints they seek to silence already get heard excessively through the media

References

  1. What's left of the left soldiers on The Age, May 1 2002. Accessed June 10, 2007
  2. An unholy alliance By Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007
  3. Jews in fear of hardline uni groups by Barney Zwartz and Adam Morton, The Age September 4, 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007
  4. Hack Notes: Shouting Down Abbott audio report on 2JJJ February 16. 2006. Accessed June 10, 2007

External links

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