- by Marcus Browning
- The Guardian
- Issue #2136
Hiroshima commemoration in Perth, 2024.
There is growing opposition around Australia to the authoritarian police-state attempts to silence voices of protest in support of the Palestinian people and against Israel’s genocide. This opposition is coming from the political left and other organisations and individuals that recognise the threat to democratic rights.
The Albanese government is toadying and kowtowing to the Israel lobby in an attempt to create division in the wider public so as to provide a cover and justification for Israel’s murderous crimes. It is doing so on behalf of its political master, the USA.
INSTABILITY
As more US ships, aircraft and troops come to Australian military facilities, the level of Australian military integration with the aggressive and destabilising US government has risen, further undermining Australia’s independence and security.
The expansion of “missile defence” systems in Australia, Japan, South Korea and on US military platforms near China will create more regional tension and instability, increasing the possibility of war. Israel is a major part of US plans for domination in the Middle East.
This is the context for understanding Australia’s defence of rogue state Israel and the attack on rights in Australia. Unity is also paramount in the struggle against war and for peace, for only the widest possible range of social forces united in action can beat back this anti-democratic offensive.
CLASS ACTION
A united working class means the objective of unity in action by all sections of the working class in support of their economic and political interests.
Building this unity in action means advocating policies and demands which workers will take up because they reflect and advance their interests. It means seeking the widest support and involvement of working people. It means being prepared to work with other political organisations and individuals willing to advance the cause of the working people.
Workers are not alone in attempting to achieve a better society. All progressive and democratic sections of society take up campaigns against the effects of capitalism’s social and economic crisis, the drive to war, the betrayal of Australia’s independence and sovereignty.
A range of progressive movements exists which involves workers, intellectuals, farmers, professionals and others. They provide a realistic basis on which to build a broad and active people’s unity in support of progressive issues and to defend democratic rights.
In many of these mass movements, workers and working-class organisations play a part. However, their participation is often limited and does not fulfil the need for the working class to play the leading role which their size, experience and organisation calls for. Working class unity is the basis for the development and success of a broader people’s unity.
A united left is a vital element in uniting the democratic forces.
PARTIES
Left political parties have a responsibility to strengthen their cooperation, develop effective programs which reflect the interests of working people, and propose a strategy and tactics to achieve such a program.
Wage and salary earners make up the great majority of all those who take part in production and provide community services. This is the enormous social base for the development of working-class unity.
Left unity, the unity in action of the working class, and the unity in common struggle of the working class and the other progressive and democratic social forces in society are interdependent processes.
Unity and co-operation between the different progressive social forces is a powerful force for change. Unity at all levels is the key to repelling the offensive of capital against the rights, and indeed the lives, of Australia’s working people.
UNITY IN ACTION
The CPA proposes the following 10 points as a guide to unity in action:
1. That every organisation and the individuals involved must approach others on the basis of equality, mutual respect and honesty.
2. There must be consultation at each step of the unity process to ensure agreement on policies, tactics and actions.
3. An atmosphere must be created in which the results of agreements and steps taken are frankly discussed and evaluated. Mistakes will be made, which should be recognised and corrected during the course of work.
4. Agreements by co-operating organisations must be reached by consensus. Voting should be resorted to only as a last resort and be limited to procedural matters.
5. Where agreement is not reached on an issue, this issue should be put aside with each organisation free to express its view on the issue using its own facilities.
6. Once agreements are reached, all organisations help to popularise and carry them out.
7. Ideological differences should not stand in the way of co-operation on issues held in common.
8. A contest of ideas between co-operating organisations is natural and inevitable. This contest or any criticism of one organisation by another should be stated in a manner that does not undermine the unity achieved on agreed issues but should contribute to clarity and to strengthening the developing unity.
9. Each organisation is free to publish its views and carry out activities in support of its own policies that are not the subject of agreements.
10. Discussion and agreement at leadership level be backed up and deepened by cooperation at all levels of the organisations involved.
There’s a good reason why you hear the following line chanted at a lot of demonstrations. It’s true, but it needs action:
The people united can never be defeated.
