About

The Red Anti-Imperialist Collective is a Marxist Leninist organisation in Australia. Red Ant stands for socialism, anti-imperialism and Marxism-Leninism. Capitalism–with its endless wars, exploitation, structures of servitude and humiliation–is at odds with the needs of humanity and the planet. As socialists, we argue that this system can be defeated when working people take power into their own hands and build a new future.

Our Statement of Principles and Perspectives expresses, very briefly, Red Ant’s basic political views.

If you want to be involved, get in contact today at: contact@redantcollective.org or fill in the form here.

If you would like to stay in touch with Red Ant and read about our activities, please subscribe to our newsletter here.

Red Ant Statement of Principles and Perspectives

Red Anti-Imperialist Collective (Red Ant for short) is an organisation of socialists united by the goal of building a Marxist-Leninist cadre party rooted in internationalism and anti-imperialism. Armed with the understanding that capitalism is a global and inherently exploitative economic, political and social system, Red Ant works towards its overthrow by a revolutionary movement based on the power of the working class.

In a wealthy imperialist country like Australia, any genuine and successful revolutionary movement must be foundationally anti-imperialist. The world today is starkly divided: a small bloc of rich nations prospers by dominating and exploiting the vast majority of humanity that comprises the Global South. The same nations that grew rich from the horrors of colonialism are those that now safeguard the structures that perpetuate global inequity.

The working class requires a strong, disciplined socialist party to secure both immediate gains against capitalism and the long-term goal of building socialism itself. Red Ant is engaged in the work of building such an organisation, comprised of cadre who are well versed in Marxist theory, practically engaged in struggle, and who constantly seek to develop their understanding of the concrete conjuncture.

However, it takes time to develop a serious organisation of this kind. The process of party-building and cadre formation requires patience, discipline, and clarity of direction. In the imperialist countries, the organised left is only now beginning to rebuild itself into a significant social force.

Red Ant draws on the contributions of Marx, Engels and the Russian revolutionaries, while also learning from the experiences of revolutionary struggles across the Global South—in China and Vietnam, Cuba and Ghana, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau, India and Peru Egypt and Palestine, and elsewhere.

Capitalism has annexed and intensified all kinds of oppression: based on race, gender, sex, caste, and ability. These oppressions have been deepened by colonialism and imperialism. Socialism entails their complete abolition, and demands that their present forms be resisted both within revolutionary ranks and within broader society.

Australian capitalism was built upon the genocide of Indigenous peoples and the destruction of their societies. This genocide is not merely historical but ongoing. Revolutionary struggle in Australia must therefore be both Marxist and Indigenous, directed against a capitalist-imperialist system that enables and perpetuates colonialism and genocide.

The Red Ant Structure

The highest decision-making body is the Red Ant Collective, which takes decisions by simple majority vote. The conditions of membership for the collective are:

  1. Members accept the Red Ant Statement of Principles and Perspectives as the basis of our organising
  2. Members endeavour to be involved in Red Ant activities
  3. Members pay monthly dues (the amount decided by the member)

The Red Ant Political Committee is empowered to make decisions between Red Ant Collective meetings in accordance with perspectives set by the Collective. The Red Ant Political Committee (PC) is elected by the Red Ant Collective and re-elected at each in-person National Conference of the Red Ant Collective or at any Red Ant Collective meeting.

Friends of Red Ant

People who are sympathetic and supportive of Red Ant’s politics but feel they cannot currently commit to the project of building a new group are encouraged to join Friends of Red Ant.

Friends of Red Ant:

  1. Are in general agreement with the spirit of Red Ant’s Statement of Principles and Perspectives
  2. Contribute regular dues in accordance with what they deem possible
  3. To the best of their ability and situation, support and attend Red Ant public events and activities
  4. Do not have the rights of members to participate in Red Ant’s decision-making processes