Race, Empire and Settler-Colonialism in the writings of Marx and Engels

with Padraic Gibson, socialist activist with Solidarity (Australia)

 

In the classical Marxist tradition, anti-racist and anti-colonial struggles are of central importance for the revolutionary working-class movement. But key texts in this tradition also contain racist ideas about supposedly “primitive” Indigenous peoples.

 

Marx and Engels' analysis of race and empire developed in profound ways from the 1850s through to Marx’s death in 1883. This development came in response to resistance movements of colonised people around the world.

 

Watch the video of the forum with socialist and activist Padraic Gibson on the development of Marx and Engels' ideas and their relevance for today's struggles in settler-colonial societies like those in Australia and Canada.

 

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