Abstract

'What is the influence in Australia of Marxism today? At first sight the question would seem oxymoronic, likely to evoke that sardonic hilarity characteristic of East European jokes. ‘Marxism’ and ‘Australia’ seem to be mutually exclusive, opposed terms. And yet Marxism, and radical thinking, have long histories in the antipodes. In order to contextualize any survey of Australian Radical Scholarship in the wake of Marxism we need to address at least two issues: first, the political demise of communism; and second, Marxism as an element of intellectual culture as such. As the bastions of communism collapse throughout Eastern and Central Europe, and even earlier — since the arrival of the new prince, Gorbachov — media stars and others have celebrated the ‘death of socialism’. This judgment needs to be declared the stupidity which it is...' 

Originally published 1990

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