What the Presidential Debate on Race Is Really About
When the Democratic establishment opposes the universal programs in Bernie Sanders’s platform, it’s not because they want to do more to address racism. It’s because they want to do less.
19104 Articles by: James Bloodworth
James Bloodworth is a writer and journalist from London.
When Politics Becomes Professional
All successful movements need leaders, elected officials, and, yes, even bureaucrats. The key is to remember the radical roots of those bureaucracies and leaderships — so they can sustain instead of squelch socialist politics.
Cricket in the Service of Hindu Nationalism
Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government are using cricket to spread their influence in the United States.
The Right Has Power in Latin America, but No Plan
Across Latin America, the Right has swept to power. But its achievements pale in comparison to the Pink Tide — and it has no compelling vision for how to address the region’s challenges.
The Candidates’ Policies On Inequality: A No-Bullshit Guide
What are the 2020 candidates proposing to do about inequality, one of the defining issues of our time and a proxy for the class struggle? We’ve scoured their campaign websites and tallied up the pros and cons.
The Socialist Journey
Martin Hägglund’s This Life deftly weaves religion, philosophy, and political economy to produce a moving vision of a socialist ethos. But it fails to grapple with the problems that will attend the journey beyond capitalism.
“More Tribal, More Sectarian, More Crony Capitalist Than Ever”
Bashar al-Assad has started confiscating the homes of Syrians who fled during the Civil War. For decades, his clan has purged the state of all but the most fanatical loyalists: now, it’s doing the same to society itself.
Why the Right Hates Ilhan Omar
The Right hates Ilhan Omar — but not just out of racism. They know she’s a threat because she fights for workers of all races and creeds.
It’s About More Than Ricky
The toppling of Puerto Rico’s centrist governor is a beautiful display of people power. The next target: La Junta, the Washington-imposed board pushing austerity and privatization.
Puerto Rican Politics Will Never Be the Same
Disgraced Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rosselló is slated to leave office today. It’s a victory for the mass protest movement — but as elites struggle to name a successor, the colony’s future remains uncertain.
Ricky Is Gone
Puerto Rico’s corrupt governor is set to resign today at 5 PM. It’s a stunning win for the island’s leftists, who have struggled for years against oppression and austerity.
A Clown With a Balancing Act
Elections to Ukraine’s parliament produced the first one-party majority since the end of the USSR. But as nationalist violence persists, comedian-president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s base is anything but stable.
History From Above in Africa
Africa’s massive new free trade deal promises to unify over a billion people and lift the continent out of poverty. But the case of Ethiopia shows that it will instead spark a continental race to the bottom and shut workers out from economic policy.
Labour is Changing the Way Politics Works
Political parties these days are rarely in touch with ordinary voters except at election time. With its new community organizing program, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party is starting to change that.
The Rebellion in Hong Kong Is Intensifying
Massive demonstrations in Hong Kong have forced the government to shelve a bill that could muzzle dissident voices. But the protesters are still on the streets — and they’re demanding the resignation of Hong Kong’s chief executive.
Labour Can’t Let Tory Antics Distract It
Media pundits and Tory messaging wizards prefer to engage in endless chatter about meaningless Westminster ephemera. But Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour does best when it focuses on concrete policies that improve people’s lives.
Last Night’s Debate Was a Throwback to a Darker Time
Sometimes it’s hard to remember what Democratic Party politics was like before Bernie Sanders threw his hat into the ring four years ago. Last night was a grim reminder.
Ideologues Playing Battleship
The British Navy’s seizure of an Iranian oil tanker has sparked diplomatic crisis and a tit-for-tat action by Iran. Post-Brexit Britain wants to reassert itself as a global power — but it’s suffering from a serious case of imperial overreach.
The Five Star Movement Is Imploding
The Five Star Movement emerged promising to liberate Italians from a corrupt political establishment. But its hollow claim to stand outside the left-right divide has made it into a mere stooge for Matteo Salvini.
Joe Biden Was a Trainwreck in Last Night’s Debate
Last night’s Democratic debate was disastrous for Joe Biden. The problem is, the rivals who criticized his long record of right-wing policies have supported plenty of reactionary policies of their own.