Theses on the class struggle in Canada: Political Perspectives 2013The political situation across the Canadian state is characterized by subterranean moods of discontent that burst out in sporadic explosions. All of these movements are manifestations of the underlying crisis of the system. To help arm workers and young people in the fights to come, Fightback is publishing our political perspectives for 2013.
Is crisis coming to Canada? New figures warn of Europe-style collapseOnce known for providing its workers with a relatively stable standard of living, one European country after another is pushed into crisis and austerity, provoking social explosions across the continent. The Canadian ruling class, on the other hand, has taken a certain satisfaction in asserting that this country is above the European fray. Do these claims actually have any weight? Or, does the Canadian economy have the same underlying weaknesses that have brought European capitalism to its knees? How close is Canada to a Europe-style meltdown? |
Upcoming Events JUN 19 Iranian elections and the prospects for revolution
Ted Grant CentennialThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ted Grant. To mark the occasion, Fightback is helping to launch a new political biography of Ted, as well as holding book launch meetings in Toronto and Montreal that will cover Ted's contributions to Marxist theory in the post-war period. Click here to see information about the events, as well as how to order your copy of the book.Featured Links
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Featured AnalysisA socialist view from the 2013 federal NDP convention Venezuela: The presidential elections and the tasks of the revolution Ontario NDP must not be fooled by Liberals' new face: Vote down the Liberal budget! Labour leaders must defy illegitimate laws in fight against austerity Internationalism and class unity on display at Marxist Winter School 2013 XII Canadian Marxist Conference held amidst largest mass movements in Canadian history |
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Brazil is currently experiencing the largest demonstrations seen in the country in over 20 years. The protests were sparked by an increase in the cost of public transport, but under the conditions of police brutality and the ever increasing cost of staging major sporting events, that spark was enough to set alight the contradictions that have been building up in the form of poor healthcare, poor education, and rampant corruption. With the tentacles of capitalist crisis beginning to reach Brazil, many of the workers and youth in the country are frustrated with the current system and have taken to the streets to demand change.
More than 90 people packed a room at the University of Toronto on Fri. Jun. 14 to listen to an eyewitness account of the mass movement in Turkey, as well as discuss the revolutionary perspectives for Turkey. Co-organized by Fightback and the "Canada Student Collective in Solidarity With Protesters in Turkey", the event brought out a wide cross-section of workers, students, and youth, revealing the great interest and enthusiasm that exists for the movement in Turkey.
Over the past month, significant measures have been taken by the administration at York University to limit freedom of speech and to stifle democratic dissent. This has included an outright ban of the Students Against Israeli Apartheid group (SAIA), at least until 2014. This ban followed a wave of student organizing around the issue of Israeli imperialism and the occupation of Palestine.
On Wednesday, 5th June, supporters of La Riposte and Fightback magazines in Montreal organized a discussion circle to discuss the movement that has recently rocked Turkey. More than half a dozen Turkish youth showed up to the discussion circle. About 20 people came out, including more than half a dozen Turkish youth. The Turkish movement has not only inspired the millions of youth in Turkey, but also across the world, and this was made clear with the attendance of youth from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, and of course, Canada, present at the discussion circle.
On Sunday, June 9th, about 60 people — mostly Turkish youth — showed up to the Jeanne-Mance Park in Montreal to show support to the movement in Turkey. This is the second time the Turkish people in Montreal gathered in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Turkey. As these lines are being written, the Erdogan regime is stepping up its repression, mobilizing thousands of police forces to crush the centre of the movement — Taksim Square.
The magnificent movement of the workers and youth of Turkey is an inspiration to the whole world. What began as a peaceful protest against the cutting down of trees in a park to pave the way for the construction of a shopping mall has turned into a tidal wave of mass protests against the vicious and reactionary Erdogan regime, which has acquired insurrectionary dimensions. 
What started as a small scale protest against the destruction of Gezi Park that stands next to Taksim Square in Istanbul has now developed into a nationwide movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Erdogan, of the AK Party. What is the background to this movement? How is it possible that an apparently small issue (a “few trees” as Erdogan put it) has sparked such a huge movement? If there were a revolutionary leadership with roots in the working class, we would be on the eve of a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism in Turkey.
