Direct Action Seminar Series

George Papanastasiou, teacher in International Trade at Victoria University

Sam King, Revolutionary Socialist Party activist

Neoliberalism produced so called "economic growth" across much of the capitalist world for almost three decades. Corporate profits increased as a result of massive privatisations, spending cuts, high debt and the driving down of wages. This model for profit and capitalist accumulation appears to have had its heyday.

According to Peter Boone, at the Center for Economic Performance London School of Economics, the Greek bailout "does nothing to resolve the many problems that persist ... it probably makes the euro zone a much more dangerous place for the next few years." Like many economists, Boone considers a number of European countries to be on the brink of bankruptcy. Portugal has the same explosive mixture of high debt and low prospects for growth. Spain has already hit 20% unemployment and may have one quarter of the working population unemployed by the end of the year. Apart from Germany, very few of Europe's economies are looking anything like prosperous. Some, as Boone suggests, "look far riskier than Argentina did back in 2001 when it succumbed to default".

This seminar will explore how, in the context of neoliberalism's crisis, the left can re-invigorate the arguments for social control, economic planning and socialist solutions.

(organised by Direct Action in Geelong)

Belmont Library 163 High Street, Belmont Geelong

Speaker

Van Rudd - artist, political activist & Revolutionary Socialist Party candidate campaigning against Julia Gillard in the seat of Lalor

The Cuban economy continues to suffer the difficulties caused by years of blockade, isolation and its historic underdevelopment. At the same time the Cuban leadership has steered clear of a headlong rush into market mechanisms and the global economy, fearing the potential of increasing social inequality and political corruption. The guest speakers will address what lies behind the current debate on the Cuban economy and trace the history of these debates in theory and in the history of the Cuban struggle for socialism.

Many socialists remain severely critical of Cuba and in some cases deny a socialist revolution occurred. This panel of speakers will address the history of the revolutionary process in Cuba, the challenge to build a democratic socialism distinct from the old Soviet bloc, and the theoretical and practical struggle to put both the individual and collective at the centre of a genuine emancipatory project.

Opening of Vietnamese revolution & anti-war movement POSTER EXHIBITION at International Bookshop

Running till Saturday August 28, jointly sponsored by International Bookshop & Direct Action.

Wine & Cheese

Conch gig celebrating “A victory for all humanity”

Clare Hotel Rathdowne St Carlton

“A victory for all humanity” Vietnam Seminar

Venue: International Bookshop

Vietnam's long struggle for liberation

The Australian campaign against the war in Vietnam

Jo Williams, Victoria University lecturer in education

Van Rudd, artist & political acivist

Lisa Farrance, Socialist activist & PhD Candidate (Victoria University)

Lea Campbell, Research coordinator in educational disadvantage

The question of ideology and its reproduction has always been an issue of much discussion and debate among left activists and in Marxist and socialist theory. The colossal power of ideas and the overwhelming machinery for their production and reproduction in media, education and the arts, provides modern capitalism with one of its most powerful guarantees. This seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss how capitalism "manufactures consent" and what spaces can be explored that may provide counter-hegemonic currents in theory and cultural and pedagogical action.