Hope is a scarce commodity in 2023. The threat of military confrontation between the US and China looms large and is fuelling military expansion on a terrifying scale. An aggressive far right is making gains in an alarming number of countries, enjoying both electoral success and gathering support online and on the streets. And the instability in the world economy is condemning ever greater numbers to poverty and economic insecurity, while a minority continue to accrue obscene wealth. 

The Marxism 2023 conference, held in Melbourne over the Easter weekend, proved an important antidote to this grim picture. As veteran Indigenous right activist and radical Gary Foley declared in his speech at the around 500-strong opening night of the conference, "a room full of earnest young radicals is a sign of hope". This set the tone for the weekend. An enduring theme over the more than 100 sessions was that resistance springs eternal no matter what our side is up against. The upsurge of struggle in France against President Macron raising the age of retirement was a particular focus, as the actions of workers there starts to seriously unsettle the ruling class in one of the key centres of European capitalism. Struggles elsewhere, including in Iran against the repressive regime, in the UK over working conditions and against the far right in a variety of places, also featured.  

The history and continuing tradition of radical Indigenous struggle was a key theme, taking on a renewed importance in a year when the the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament will be both a face-off between racists and anti-racists, as well as ploy by the Labor government to secure some left credibility that it does not deserve. Taking up other issues of immediate concern, such as the investment of billions in nuclear-powered submarines to support a future US-led war, as well as keeping alive the history of resistance and working class struggle in Australia, were all important themes aimed to better equip the activists of today for the struggles that lie ahead. 

After more than three years of online organising and zoom meetings, the conference marked the first national gathering of socialists since the pandemic began. With more than 1,300 tickets sold, attendees came from nearly every capital city in the country, as well as from around the world. The fight against capitalism is a global struggle, reflected in the large number of sessions featuring international speakers, including from the US, Argentina, Spain, France, Iran, Palestine, Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Greece.

The success or otherwise of future struggles to stop imperial war and defend workers' living standards in the context of economic chaos will be in part determined by how well we are able to build up the forces to fight those battles now. The Marxism conference continues to be a vital contribution to achieving that goal.