Labour Is Combatting Cynicism With Hope
While Boris Johnson’s Conservatives rely on a narrative that nothing could possibly get better, the transformative project of Corbynism rebuffs this cynicism — and isn’t afraid to speak in terms of hope.
20417 Article(s) by: Agathe Dorra
Agathe Dorra is a PhD researcher in political aesthetics at King’s College London
No, Finland Is Not a “Capitalist Paradise”
In Finland, the government owns nearly one-third of the nation’s wealth, and 90 percent of workers are covered by a union contract. That may not be socialism, but it’s also not a “capitalist paradise,” as the New York Times ridiculously claimed over the weekend.
In Marseille, the French Left is Finally Uniting
For years, divisions on France’s left have helped Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen dominate the political terrain. But in the country’s second city, grassroots pressure has forced them to put aside their differences — and ahead of March 2020’s elections, they’re promising to launch a “Marseille Spring.”
Uber Has Always Been a Criminal Organization
Some were apparently surprised when Uber’s CEO defended the Saudi regime over its murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But from the start, Uber’s business model has been based on habitual criminality and a shocking indifference to human life.
Colombia’s New Awakening
With its recent general strike and continued mobilizations, Colombia has joined the global wave of unrest. If the movement can resist right-wing president Iván Duque’s attempts at co-optation, it could lay the groundwork for the transformation of a society long characterized by inequality and militarized brutality.
Emmanuel Macron Wants to End France’s Welfare State
France was paralyzed by strikes on Friday, as workers from train drivers to teachers revolted against Emmanuel Macron’s attack on pensions. While the liberal president fancies himself as a French “Thatcher,” his bid to tear up France’s welfare state now faces its most powerful opposition yet.
The New Economic Policy Was the Alternative to Stalinism
Generations of left-wing thinkers have fundamentally misunderstood the young Soviet Union’s New Economic Policy.
The Last Days of the BBC?
Streams of reports point out the bias at work in BBC’s politics coverage. As it edges ever closer to Britain’s Conservative Party this election campaign, it’s clear the public broadcaster needs radical reform if it is to be saved.
The Fight for Peace and Justice in Colombia
In Colombia, a mass movement has emerged to challenge the government’s neoliberal policies and failure to honor its historic peace agreement with the FARC. It offers the possibility of a just future for the country.
The NHS Shows What Life Outside the Market Could Look Like
The Tories hate the National Health Service not only because it delivers free public health care, but because it points the way toward a different society — one in which the market does not dominate our lives.
Elizabeth Warren Isn’t Serious About Winning Medicare for All
Whatever her intentions, Elizabeth Warren’s reversal from immediately pushing for Medicare for All to first passing a public option as part of a longer-term phase-in will sideline our movement — and fail to move us closer to achieving either program.
If the Hell Scott Morrison Believes in Exists, He Would Be Destined for It
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has repealed the Medevac Bill, a short-lived law that ensured the rapid evacuation of sick refugees for treatment. To justify his actions, Morrison relies on Christian credentials, but in his cruelty, he’s anything but Christ-like.
Joe Biden Reminded Us That He’s Just Another Liberal Elitist
Yesterday, somebody asked Joe Biden a question about his failson Hunter. He responded by calling him fat and dumb. It’s just another reminder that “everyman” Joe Biden hates working-class people.
How Mindfulness Morphed from Ancient Spiritual Practice to Big Business
The roots of mindfulness as a spiritual practice go back thousands of years. But today, corporations like Facebook and Google are using it as a technique to extract more productivity and more profits from workers.
Everything You Need to Know About the Protests in Iraq
The protest movement convulsing Iraq is a heroic revolt powered by unemployed, precarious, and informal workers. Their aim is to overturn the entire political system, which has produced nothing but violence and poverty for the vast majority of Iraqis.
Arts for the Many
Successive UK governments have been slashing arts funding for decades. Labour is promising to reinvest.
This UK General Election Is a Choice Between Imperialism and Internationalism
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party is running on a platform of peace and human rights. The Tories are running on a record of weapons sales to oppressive regimes and covert wars. The choice is clear.
The Tories Are Literally Dying Off
They may win next week’s general election, but in Great Britain the Tories are struggling to win over anyone under the age of 45. And younger generations don’t seem to be going Conservative as they get older. The Conservative Party has a serious problem.
Why the Early German Socialists Opposed the World’s First Modern Welfare State
Otto von Bismarck built the world’s first welfare state, but his intent was to kill the rising workers’ movement. It’s a reminder that socialists don’t just want to use the welfare state to keep starvation at bay — we want to build the foundation for working-class emancipation.
Liberals Should Stop Wringing Their Hands Over Voting Labour
There are only two real choices in the UK election — Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour and Boris Johnson’s Tories. Comfortable liberals who claim to be “politically homeless” are exposing their cluelessness about the misery and havoc another Tory government will impose on ordinary Britons.