The Political Economy of Imperialism, Capitalism and Resistance

The Political Economy of Imperialism, Capitalism and Resistance

Today, breathtaking social ruptures, fascist resurgence, and spiralling violence across the globe and in our own colony seem unprecedented. However, the causes and antecedents of our era of ‘polycrisis’ have been expressed within the tapestry of developments in political economy across previous decades. This course seeks to cultivate a historically-informed political economy understanding of contemporaneous crises in both global and local social orders, from colonialism and genocide in Palestine and 'australia', to related climate collapse, expansive wars and violence, housing and affordability crises, criminalisation of protest and erosion of rights, explosive gendered and racial violence, and to teutonic shifts in geopolitics. The course will be founded upon critical, relational understandings of these global and local social phenomena, which seeks to understand the dense interconnections that not only structure the world’s political economy but those relations that determine intersocial relationships and political action that presents barriers, and possibilities, for change.  

The weekly offering is structured through two major components. First, facilitators deliver an interactive overview of the thematic topic for that week; a political economy analysis that touches on the drivers, history, major actors, and resistance. Second, facilitators design engaging, interpersonal activities that catalyse a relational and critical approach to the topic(s), steeped in decolonial and collective liberatory praxis.  

As white settlers on this continent, we acknowledge the limitations of the colonial knowing in which we were brought up within. We see our role in facilitating this course as making clear this capitalist, imperial, and colonial framework; centring Black and Indigenous theories and analysis; as well as encouraging students to reflect on their own knowing and bringing that together to weave a rich tapestry of collective and liberatory praxis against these pillars of domination. 

Week One- Introduction

This session is an easy introduction to the course. Developing a common understanding of key terms and concepts, building relationships in class, and outlining the course structure.

Week Two- Gendered division of labour

Addresses ‘work’ across time, the notions of value, and the gendered discrimination inherent - and how these reflect in escalating patriarchal and racial violence today.

Week Three- land and food

Analyses the centrality of land and agriculture to capitalist development, colonial plunder, and imperial expansion. Settler colonialism in so-called australia is linked to other contexts, such as Palestine, to examine the genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile, the centrality of food in the global political economy and its control is interrogated, and what it means for food prices, poverty, and hunger. 

Week Four- climate Breakdown

Investigates systems of resource extraction and capital that have driven the climate crisis. Critical view on attempts to ‘mitigate’ climate disaster and create ‘resilience’, such as carbon credits and Green Finance. 

Week Five- military-industrial complex and war

Studies the dramatic escalation in violence during the 21st century, in the context of militarism, racism, and othering within contemporaneous ‘cosmopolitan’ society. 

Week Six- future imaginings

A critical reflection on the course, as well as a visioning of just futures, and the praxis that can help engender these communities of care and liberation. 

Delivery mode: In person at IPCS, 78-80 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, 3051, Wurundjeri Country

Days/times: Mondays 5:30PM-7:30PM AEST.

• Week 1: Monday 6 July
• Week 2: Monday 13 July 
• Week 3: Monday 20 July 
• Week 4: Monday 27 July 
• Week 5: Monday 3 August
• Week 6: Monday 10 August

Scholarship places: full fee scholarship places are available for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or unwaged participants. Please email info@ipcs.org.au with a brief EOI to apply.

Accessibility: Please note that IPCS is not wheelchair accessible. There are several steps to the room from the front door of the building (78-80 Curzon St). Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. If you have any accessibility queries and/or requirements, please reach out to us at info@ipcs.org.au

Educators: 

Elliot Dolan-Evans (he/him) is a member of IPCS and a casual academic at Melbourne universities. He lectures in law and political economy, and recently published his first book Making War Safe for Capitalism. Elliot is one of the co-organisers for the national ‘Political Economy of Palestine Reading Group’ and the ‘The Critical Political Economy of Resistance to Imperialism’ book club at IPCS. He has been involved in legal efforts to stop Australia’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, referring Prime Minister Albanese to the ICC and an author of the Red Lines legislative package. 

Hugh Simpson (any pronouns) is a settler of European ancestry living on Wadawarrung Country, engaged in various forms of activism, academics, and advocacy. This includes developing and teaching a short course at Catalyst in 2025 titled Political Alchemy: deconstructing the world and creating worlds otherwise. Hugh tutors in political economy at Monash University, and previously taught the politics of food at Melbourne University. They wrote their thesis on the intersections of food, gender, and colonialism in Palestine and are currently researching green colonialism/extraction on this continent.