ABSTRACT

Thalia Anthony in Chapter 4 explores the contribution to anti-colonial studies of 19th-century German philosopher, political economist, and activist Karl Marx and his colleague Friedrich Engels. Exploring On Colonialism, Thalia Anthony asserts that in a time of crisis and struggle for First Nations peoples, Marxist analysis of colonialism provides scholars and students with a mode of analysis to understand racism and struggle in settler colonies. The chapter argues that as capitalism struggles to provide answers for a range of socio-economic problems, including environmental harm, exploitation of labour across the world, poverty, pandemics, and state violence, Marxism provides a material alternative. Marxism is a call to action to change society, and this shapes how my academic work continuously interacts with my advocacy and activism.