Another Passing Academic Fad
Sir: Peter Baldwin’s exhaustive article (“The Inherent Racism of Identity Politics”, January-February 2019) curiously makes no mention of the influence of Marxism on the current tsunami of identity politics sweeping Western academia. Only a few years ago the Arts departments of Western universities were steeped in the Marxist “historical truths” of the class struggle and the class war involving the aristocracy (in past times), the middle classes and the working classes. A true Marxist would never countenance identity politics, pointing out that the working peoples of the world may be black, white or brindle. In some countries there may be a preponderance of whites in the working-class struggle, such as in USA, and in others, such as South Africa, a preponderance of blacks in the working class. But their struggle to overthrow capitalism is universal.
So what on earth has happened to the Marxists on our Western campuses? Have they infiltrated the “identitarian…
Madam: Archbishop Fisher (July-August 2024) does not resist the attacks on his church by the political, social or scientific atheists and those who insist on not being told what to do.
Aug 29 2024
6 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins