The Age of Regression
Born in the seventeenth century, our faith in progress is now at death’s door. Sociologist Göran Therborn traces the idea’s history — and argues that it must be revived.
185 Articles by: Daniel Finn
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Daniel Finn is the features editor at Jacobin. He is the author of One Man’s Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA.
The European Union Is Endorsing Israel’s Attack on Gaza
European leaders claim to be champions of the liberal international order that Donald Trump is repudiating. But they’re lining up with Trump to support the resumption of Israel’s murderous onslaught against Palestinian civilians.
A St Patrick’s Day Socialist Guide to Irish Film and TV
From Dancing at Lughnasa to The Wind That Shakes the Barley, from Peaky Blinders to Kneecap, here’s a list of Irish-themed films and TV shows for the discerning left-wing viewer — including the time Jackie Chan took on the IRA.
The Left Can Win Without Immigration Restrictionism
The New York Times’ David Leonhardt argues that Danish Social Democrats succeeded by restricting immigration and suggests other center-left parties may need to follow suit. Yet other recent European left parties have succeeded through a different path.
How to Stop Trump’s Plan for the Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza
Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly evict Palestinians from Gaza may have been the product of a sudden whim, but that doesn’t mean he’ll discard it easily. Determined resistance from Arab and European states will be needed to block this catastrophic scheme.
Peter Mandelson Will Do Anything to Curry Favor With Trump
Peter Mandelson, the new British ambassador to Washington, has always been keen to suck up to the wealthy. He should have no problem groveling before the Trump administration on behalf of Keir Starmer’s government.
Immanuel Wallerstein and the Life and Death of Capitalism
Immanuel Wallerstein was convinced that the capitalist system would end within the next few decades and would either be replaced by a more regressive world-system or a more democratic and egalitarian one. In his view, the odds were 50-50 each way.
Israel Is Still the Obstacle to a Permanent Gaza Cease-Fire
The Israeli government spent months obstructing a cease-fire deal in Gaza while the US refused to apply pressure. Israel’s leaders are keen to resume the onslaught while ramping up violence in the West Bank if Washington allows it.
Mike Marqusee Was One of the Left’s Great Culture Writers
It’s ten years since the death of Mike Marqusee, a brilliant socialist writer who tackled everything from the careers of Muhammad Ali and Bob Dylan to the politics of Zionism. Marqusee’s addictively readable work deserves to reach a new generation.
The Center Cannot Hold, and It Doesn’t Seem to Care
Centrist politicians once based their whole pitch on the claim to possess “electability,” but now they can’t offer a sustainable formula for beating an increasingly militant right. They only develop a sense of urgency for the fight against the Left.
What Comes After Neoliberalism?
The era of neoliberal globalization is drawing to a close. Yet for socialists, there might not be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Say Nothing Turns the IRA’s Secret History Into TV Drama
The new FX TV show Say Nothing dramatizes one of the most controversial stories in modern Irish history, with characters that include former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams. Showrunner Joshua Zetumer spoke to us about the challenges of producing the series.
Benjamin Netanyahu Is Wanted for Crimes Against Humanity
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The hostile response to the warrants from Israel’s Western allies is a calculated assault on international law.
The Destruction of Gaza Will Be Joe Biden’s Enduring Legacy
Joe Biden talked about wanting a cease-fire, but he continued sending weapons to Israel and refused to apply any pressure to end the attack on Gaza. That refusal, cosigned by Kamala Harris, is an integral part of both their legacies.
Corporate Donors Guided Kamala Harris to Defeat
Rich donors like Mark Cuban boasted about their success in shaping Kamala Harris’s campaign and inducing her to ditch progressive economic policies. We shouldn’t let them shrug off responsibility for a disastrous defeat.
How Devaluing Palestinian Lives Became a Western Obsession
Openly racist attitudes to the Palestinian people are pervasive in the European and American political mainstream, from the liberal center to the far right. This form of bigotry is a gateway through which old-fashioned colonial racism can gain new legitimacy.
Rashid Khalidi: “Israel Is Acting With Full US Approval”
After 12 months, there’s no end in sight to Israel’s relentless onslaught against Gaza, now extended to Lebanon. Historian Rashid Khalidi explains how Israel and the US are working together to destroy all constraints on violence against civilians.
Has the Forward March of Sinn Féin Halted?
Sinn Féin was aiming to form a government in the South of Ireland for the first time after riding high in the polls for a couple of years. But with an election due within months, a drop in support for Sinn Féin means that prospect is slipping away.
How “Social Europe” Became the Alibi for a Neoliberal EU
During the 1970s, left parties and unions promoted the idea of a “Social Europe” as a response to the crisis of capitalism. The term later served as a rhetorical distraction from the EU’s ongoing embrace of neoliberal dogma.
The Scientific Socialism of J. B. S. Haldane
J. B. S. Haldane was one of the 20th century’s great scientific minds. He was also a passionate socialist and a scourge of pseudo-scientific racism whose life gives us a fascinating case study on the relationship between science and politics.