No Imitations and No Limitations
Phillip Agnew talks to us about the Movement for Black Lives, the erasure of Bernie Sanders’s diverse support base, and the need for a North Star beyond capitalism.
19148 Articles by: Enver Motala
Enver Motala is an associate of the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) at the University of Johannesburg and of the Centre for Integrated Post-School Education and Training at the Nelson Mandela University.
In Spain, Franco Still Lives
The exhumation of Francisco Franco was meant to help Spain get over four decades of fascist dictatorship. But as the country heads to general elections today, nationalist tensions are soaring — and the Franco-nostalgic Vox party is set to be the big winner.
Barcelona Shows How the Left Can Win
Spain goes to the polls today after a general election campaign electrified by the jailing of Catalan leaders. But Podemos’s regional alliance is resisting the rival nationalisms — and showing what the Left can achieve in office.
Lula Comes Home
Lula’s release will not change the course of Brazilian politics by itself. But the leftist leader has already said his time in prison further radicalized him — and that can only bode well for the popular movement resisting Bolsonaro’s reactionary politics.
I Was the Last Communist Premier of East Germany
The opening of the Berlin Wall on this day in 1989 brought the downfall of the East German regime and the appointment of reformer Hans Modrow as head of government. Thirty years on, he speaks to Jacobin about his experiences on that day and in power, and how German reunification went wrong.
Neoliberalism Created the Crisis in Chile
Decades of free market fundamentalism are the root cause of the ongoing crisis in Chile. Addressing the staggering levels of inequality will require a break with neoliberal dogma — an inconceivable move for the country’s billionaire president.
Lula Livre Was Just the Beginning
Lula is finally free. Now, the mass movement of millions that made his release possible will have to press on to dismantle the entire Bolsonaro regime.
Ireland’s Prisons for Migrants
Asylum applicants in Ireland are forced to live in prison-like “Direct Provision centers,” whose private managers preside over shocking abuse. And Ireland’s “liberal” prime minister Leo Varadkar doesn’t seem to care.
Bernie Sanders’s New Immigration Proposal Is Incredibly Strong
With the release of his immigration plan yesterday, Bernie Sanders has set the bar on a just and humane immigration, border, and labor policy agenda — and made it clear that immigrants are central to a united, insurgent American working class.
There’s No Appeasing Bill Gates
Bill Gates has managed to craft a reputation as a billionaire with a social conscience. But his recent comments on proposals for a wealth tax leave no room for doubt about whose side he’s on.
The Man Who Couldn’t Save East Germany
Egon Krenz told Jacobin about his time as East Germany’s last Communist leader.
Once Again, Flight Attendants Are Leading the Way
Private-sector unions need to up their organizing ambition — for everyone’s sake. The Association of Flight Attendants’ campaign to unionize Delta shows the kind of ambition we need.
Portugal’s Welfare State Is Still in Danger
Victory for the Socialists in last month’s Portuguese election rewarded its successes in easing austerity. But for the Left, the fight isn’t over — especially as the European Union tightens the screws on the country’s public spending.
We Care About the Future — Not Short-Term Profits
Tory governments since Margaret Thatcher have starved Britain of investment, fueling inequity and leaving its infrastructure to crumble. It’s up to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party to rebuild the country and invest in the future.
Lebanon’s Protest Movement Is Just Getting Started
The massive protest movement in Lebanon, now in its fourth week, is still far from its goal of systemic change. But the unprecedented demonstrations against austerity show no sign of slowing down.
Did Bernie’s Campaign Lead to the Teachers Strikes?
Numerous factors contributed to the recent teachers’ strikes. But it is factually accurate, and strategically important, to acknowledge that Bernie Sanders was one of them.
Why We Want to Abolish Billionaires
Hard work doesn’t get you a billion dollars — rent extraction, financial speculation, resource monopolization, and exploiting working people does. We don’t envy the superrich, we want to stop them.
“They May Have the Power to Imprison Me, but No One Has the Power to Keep Me in Prison”
Turkish novelist Ahmet Altan was just released from prison after spending three years incarcerated on trumped-up charges. In an interview with Jacobin, Altan discusses his new memoir, his arrest, and the Erdoğan government’s war on dissent.
The Lib Dems Are at It Again
With their stance on Brexit and their refusal to partner with Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour in any post-election government, Britain’s Liberal Democrats are once again playing to their historic strengths: brazen opportunism and selling out their own voters.
There Is No Way Forward Without Organized Workers
Corporate leaders, reactionary Republicans, and neoliberal Democrats have told Americans to keep lowering their expectations — a better world isn’t possible. They’re wrong. But we’ll only be able to win that improved world by mobilizing workers.