Topic: Asia

Australian imperialism and the rise of China

Tom Bramble looks at the rise of China and considers the conflicts for Australian imperialism: pulled between making the most of China’s booming growth and remaining loyal to the US, which sees China as a potential threat to their imperialist domination.

Japan: politics and struggle after the tsunami

Dougal McNeill looks at the changing political situation in Japan in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Indonesia: trade unions and the regeneration of radical politics

Max Lane provides an overview of the "rebirth" of a powerful working class movement and the challenges posed for emerging forces of the Indonesian Marxist left.

Defying the stereotypes: women textile workers in Bangladesh

Liz Ross shows that, in spite of brutal exploitation, women textile and garment workers from the industrial revolution in nineteenth century Britain to Bangladesh today have defied the stereotype of passive victims.

Why you should read 'This Earth of Mankind'

Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s historical novel Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind) was published by Penguin in 1983.  Max Lane, argues it should be read by anyone wanting to understand the history of Indonesia in the late twentieth century.

Indonesian independence and Australian imperialism

Sam Pietsch looks at the response of Australian governments, both Liberal and Labor, to the challenge of Indonesian independence in what they regard as their "backyard".

Duterte and the prospects for struggle in the Philippines

Ben Reid draws on his extensive research into the history, economics and politics of the Philippines to explain the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 and its consequences for the working class and the left.

Review: Workers’ anti-war resistance in Japan

Shomi Yoon reviews a new work on the rich history of working class anti-war activism in Japan during World War 2.

Review: The politics of the Indonesian union movement

Ben Reid reviews a newly published work on Indonesia's modern trade union movement.

China: Behind the massacre

David Lockwood analyses the social, political and economic factors that precipitated the heroic Tiananmen Square movement.

Dinky-di domination: Australian imperialism and the South Pacific

David Glanz documents the sordid history of Australian imperialism in the South Pacific.

Australian perceptions of Japan: The history of a racist phobia

Phil Griffiths explores the origins and ongoing realities of anti-Japanese bigotry in Australia.

The new Australian militarism

Tom O'Lincoln surveys the history of Australian imperialism, arguing that Australia has independent reasons for maintaining the US alliance, which it uses to dominate and exploit peoples across our region.

Vietnam: How we won last time

Anne Picot provides a history of the Australian anti-war movement of the 1960s.

“Until the end of the world”: Myanmar’s unfinished revolution

Robert Narai recounts the inspiring struggle against the military coup in Myanmar and analyses the forces involved.