Putin’s War Is a Disaster for Ordinary Russians
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine will leave ordinary Russians poorer and more isolated. Far from “demilitarizing” Eastern Europe, the war threatens to unleash a wider spiral of militarized chaos.
19134 Articles by: James Bloodworth
James Bloodworth is a writer and journalist from London.
Four Ways to Counter Russian Aggression That Don’t Risk Nuclear War
The world needs to punish Vladimir Putin for his illegal war and deter similar behavior in the future. Here are four options that don’t require the West to get into a shooting war with Moscow.
Fordham University Graduate Workers Are Unionizing
Fordham graduate workers are unionizing with the Communications Workers of America. It’s the latest in a wave of organizing at institutions of higher education, where workers are as beleaguered as they’ve ever been.
The Left Must Stand With the Ukrainian People and Against Putin’s War
Socialists’ first task in Vladimir Putin’s appalling war on Ukraine: provide unconditional solidarity with its victims.
France’s Once-Mighty Communist Party Is Struggling to Find Its Voice
French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel is running for the presidency — and even polling ahead of the long-powerful Socialists. But a campaign heavy on identity also shows that the old workers’ parties are struggling to speak to a changed working class.
How Europe Learned to Use Central Banks as a Weapon
The Western sanctions against Russia are widely being called an unprecedented move. But the major mechanism they use has been road-tested throughout a decade of eurozone crisis — and threatens economic devastation far beyond Russian elites alone.
Segregation Is Still Alive in Mardi Gras’s Birthplace
Decades after the end of Jim Crow, cities like Mobile, Alabama, are still shot through with racial segregation. That segregation is reflected in the city’s Mardi Gras culture, where some social societies still maintain white-only membership.
In the Streets of Moscow, Russians Are Shocked by Putin’s War
Vladimir Putin claims that he is “demilitarizing” Ukraine by invading it with tanks and bombs. In Moscow, ordinary Russians don’t understand what their government is planning — but they’re shocked by the assault on a neighboring country.
Under Pressure, the Biden Administration Rebrands Its Medicare Privatization Initiative
After quietly pushing an insurance-industry-backed Medicare privatization scheme, the Biden administration has come under fire from pro-Medicare activists. In response, the administration has rebranded the scheme — but left its privatizing substance intact.
Uber’s Proposal for Portable Benefits Is a Poison Pill
Uber has finally found a jurisdiction in Canada that will allow it to create a new legal category for its workforce. To sweeten the deal, it’s offering a meager portable benefits system — but the actual benefits will all accrue to Uber.
On His Way to Theoretically Colonize Mars, Elon Musk Is Actually Colonizing South Texas
When Elon Musk chose land in South Texas for SpaceX operations, he said it was “cool” if a rocket blew up because there was “nobody around.” Brownsville is one of the country’s poorest cities, and its residents are tired of being treated like they don’t exist.
Russia’s Feminists Are in the Streets Protesting Putin’s War
In today’s Russia, feminists form one of the most active social movements defying state repression. Now they’re uniting to resist Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.
In 1972, Britain’s Miners Showed the Power of the Working Class
Fifty years ago today, British miners concluded a national strike after defeating their Conservative government. The 1972 victory opened up a decade of working-class radicalism, before Margaret Thatcher’s counterrevolution crippled organized labor.
The Starbucks Unionization Drive Sweeping the US Has Arrived in Canada
A Starbucks location in Calgary awaiting its ballot results may prove to be the spear tip of a Canadian answer to the labor surge of its US counterparts. The longtime union-busting company may find itself on the receiving end of an emboldened workforce.
The Free Market Can’t Lead a Clean Energy Transition
Decarbonization won’t be achieved through market-led solutions. It’s only by democratizing the economy and resisting privatization that a meaningful and sustainable transition to green energy can be won.
Putin’s Anti-Bolshevik Fantasies Could Be His Downfall
Before launching his invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin claimed that the country he is now attacking is a Bolshevik creation. His mythical vision of history draws on the darkest tsarist imperialism.
To Get the Legislation It Wants, Uber Is Enlisting Unions in a Charm Offensive
Both Uber and a Teamsters local are backing a new Washington State bill that would give rideshare drivers new benefits — while codifying their status as independent contractors rather than employees.
How Germany and the United States Became Best Friends
After 1945, the Soviets soon replaced Germans as the State Department’s main enemy in Europe. Washington’s ever closer ties with Bonn drew on the logic of the Cold War — but also on the private networking organizations where business and political elites met.
Socialists Fight for a Future Without War
War is nothing but organized killing, and there can be no justification for it. Today we must do what we can to support Ukrainian refugees and to show our solidarity with the brave protesters across Russia who insist that war is not carried out in their name.
When Baseball Players Formed Their Own League
Major League Baseball is mired in a lockout, as team owners refuse to budge just weeks before Opening Day. It’s a perfect time to look back at when the players revolted against the owners and started their own league: the 1890 Players’ League.