Étienne Balibar: Socialism and Democracy Are Intrinsically Related Ideas
Marxist philosopher Étienne Balibar sits down with Jacobin to discuss freedom and democracy — and why socialists need to reclaim those words from the Right.
18003 Articles by: Agathe Dorra
Agathe Dorra is a PhD researcher in political aesthetics at King’s College London
A Former South African Anti-Apartheid Activist to Palestine Activists: Stay the Course
Pulitzer Prize–winning writer James Forman Jr was once a student activist for divestment from South Africa. Urging both discretion and bravery, he shares his lessons with student activists calling for divestment from Israel and a cease-fire in Gaza.
Hegel in the Era of “Wokeness”
German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel may not have been an early champion of modern values, but his dynamic view of history didn’t advocate a simplistic revival of the past either. He was a critic of extremes, with complex views on state violence and historical progress.
How France Has Continued Exploiting Its Former African Colonies
The French army’s forced exit from Niger has been wistfully termed the end of an era of great-power status. We should remember what this really meant: a zombie empire that crushed democracy in order to protect French elites’ power, both in Africa and at home.
Unions and Elected Officials Are Joining the Movement for Palestinian Freedom
When a group of pro-Palestine state legislators and activists launched a five-day hunger strike outside the White House this week, members of Congress and major unions showed up in solidarity. The movement against Israel’s war on Gaza just keeps growing.
On Climate, Joe Biden Should Realize That Being Better Than Trump Is the Easy Part
Joe Biden shouldn’t take for granted that young voters will automatically support him just because Donald Trump was a disaster for the climate. Biden will still have to make good on ambitious climate promises before the election.
How a Young Communist Won and Lost Power in Postwar Japan
Today marks a decade since the death of Japanese communist Toshiko Karasawa. Her courageous life is a testament to the revolutionary potential of anti-imperialism, but also the difficult choices faced by the Left in US client states.
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers Is a Holiday Triumph
Alexander Payne’s new film The Holdovers, starring Paul Giamatti, is the kind of wonderful comedy-drama we used to take for granted. Today it feels like a cinematic miracle.
Sleep Easy, Shane
With humor, warmth, and delicate beauty, Shane MacGowan’s lyricism profoundly shaped a generation — and was never afraid to denounce injustice, no matter how unpopular this made him with the powerful.
Big Tech Is Exploiting the Mental Health Crisis to Monetize Your Data
Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon are increasingly developing apps and services offering mental health treatment. The value of these products for users is dubious — but they do promise the companies lucrative new sources of highly personal data.
Come Hell or High Water, Justin Trudeau’s Government Backs Israel
The International Centre of Justice for Palestine has served Justin Trudeau’s government with a notice of intention to prosecute for alleged complicity in Israeli war crimes in Gaza. It’s the end result of years of unstinting support from Canadian leaders.
The United Auto Workers Are Looking to Unionize the Whole Auto Industry
In the wake of its historic strike victory, the United Auto Workers says thousands of nonunion autoworkers have reached out asking for support in organizing their plants. The UAW already has plans in motion to unionize the whole US auto sector.
Rustin the Liberal Biopic Versus Rustin the Labor Activist
Netflix’s new feel-good Bayard Rustin biopic, Rustin, claims the civil rights hero has been forgotten because of his sexuality. But it was his fiery and provocative class politics that makes him both controversial and prophetic today.
The Biden Administration Is Undermining Global Carbon-Reduction Efforts
A new leaked report suggests the Biden administration is undermining efforts to set standards for a global carbon market. Coupled with Joe Biden’s absence at the global climate summit this week, patience with the US’s lack of action is wearing thin.
In Spain’s Basque Country, Workers Held a General Strike for Public Care
On Thursday, trade unions and women’s movements across Spain’s Basque Country held an explicitly feminist general strike. Workers are striking for a public community care system — one that ensures care work is well-paid and properly supported.
Israel’s War on the People of Gaza Must Not Be Allowed to Continue
A temporary cease-fire made it easier to grasp the horrifying violence inflicted upon civilians in Gaza by the Israeli military. As Israel begins another onslaught, Joe Biden will bear full responsibility for the carnage that follows unless he demands a halt.
The Verdict on Henry Kissinger
In the United States, one of the twentieth century’s most prolific butchers died as he lived — beloved by the rich and powerful, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
Henry Kissinger: To Die at the Right Time
From Rockefeller to Nixon, then on to Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, Kissinger’s service tracked the metaphysical evolution of American power. We all live now in the Kissingerian void. What horrors await?
Kissinger in Bangladesh
When war erupted in South Asia in 1971, Henry Kissinger called Indians “bastards,” and Richard Nixon said they needed “a mass famine.” For both men, US interests were worth killing hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis and displacing millions more.
Kissinger in Cambodia
By all accounts, the death and destruction Henry Kissinger wreaked upon Cambodia never burdened him. But he bears responsibility for a brutal American bombing campaign and creating the conditions that spurred the Khmer Rouge to power.