FREE EVENT
6pm Wednesday 19th November 2025
KATHLEEN SYME LIBRARY
251 Faraday St, Carlton

Speaker: Max Lane

The world finds itself at the beginning of a crossroad in the evolution of the contradictions of imperialist capitalism. The capitalist system’s energy, which came from its struggle to establish and consolidate itself globally, has been exhausted. Politically this is expressed in degenerate, directionless “leadership” from Trump to Biden to the Australian scene. Most glaring economically is the extreme slowness, almost incapability, to adopt renewable energy widely enough. The countries of the Global South, with the partial, extraordinary, exception of the Peoples Republic of China, are stagnating in low-levels of productivity, with profound social and cultural consequences. Everywhere, the world is entering the period where capitalist method is the fetter on its own development to a degree that is severe and even existential.

However, imperialism is able to distribute impacts of the spiralling crisis unevenly. In Australia, like other rich-club, imperial societies, there are few direct stimulus to provoke the majority of people to first imagine, and then work towards a different future. The background noise of climate dystopia and social malaise is drowned out by countless distractions. The social conditions foster sleepiness and boredom.

Almost everywhere, including in Australia, the Left also stagnates below its potential. Severe ruptures with its past hinder the left’s capacity to learn the central historical lessons. The individuals being newly radicalised by the crisis, so far, reside mostly online but remain unorganised: throwing them into eclecticism and confusion.

Inspiration for those remaining active on left has come from the Global South: Cuba, Venezuela, the heroism of the Palestinians, and in a different way through the material achievements of China. In the Global South, a different social scenario exists: shaping a different future remains the immediate pressing challenge for the majority of people and shapes their outlook.

In Australian conditions, linking with Global South struggles must be a key in waking up, inspiring and training a new generation of young people to fight here – ultimately, and urgently, against our own ruling class. The first step is to prove that a socialist perspective is interesting, and more than a repetition of cliches or schema. It means linking with and understanding struggles internationally and grasping that another Australia is possible only in another World, different everywhere.

Max Lane is a socialist activist and writer known for his expertise on Southeast Asian politics, particularly Indonesia. He has been active in political solidarity with liberation movements in Indonesia, Timor Leste and the Philippines since the 1970s. He wrote on Southeast Asian Affairs for Green Left Weekly from 1990-2007. His works include Unfinished Nation: Indonesia Before and After Suharto (2008) and Indonesia Out of Exile (2024). In 2024, he was awarded the Timor Leste Medal of Honour for his solidarity work with Indonesia and Timor Leste. He is a member of Red Spark.