For Proof Reaganomics Was a Sham, Look to American CEOs’ Pay
CEO pay has jumped nearly 1,500 percent since 1978. It had nothing to do with hard work or greater productivity. Corporate bosses simply grabbed what they could.
19216 Articles by: Ryan Switzer
Ryan Switzer is a PhD candidate in sociology at Stockholm University. He researches right-wing politics in welfare states.
Parts of the YIMBY Movement Are Moving Left
The “YIMBY” movement, which advocates expanded housing supply, includes many free-market boosters. But many YIMBYs have moved left in recent years.
We Should Be Sober About the Risk of Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine
The risk of nuclear weapon use in Ukraine is low but rising. It’s deeply concerning. But we should also resist the kind of alarmism that is counterproductive to both principled internationalism and winning a world free of nuclear weapons.
“Altruistic” Celebrity Chef José Andrés Is Fighting to Keep His Own Workers’ Wages Low
Celebrity chef José Andrés, owner of 31 restaurants, has made a name for himself as a philanthropic restaurateur. But while he generates headlines with displays of generosity, his company is quietly trying to block restaurant workers from receiving better pay.
Emmanuel Macron Is Launching Another War on France’s Pensions
France’s liberal president, Emmanuel Macron, spent his first term attacking key planks of the French welfare model. Now, he’s launching another war on pensions.
Spain’s Government Is Turning a Blind Eye to Killings at Its Border
In June, police killed at least 37 people at the Moroccan-Spanish border at Melilla. Spain’s main parties have voted against an official inquest into the massacre — exposing the hollowness of the center-left government’s “progressive” credentials.
H. Chandler Davis Was a Lifelong Radical and a Moral Touchstone for the Left
Chan Davis, who died last month at the age of 96, faced down McCarthyite blacklists and imprisonment to pursue a brilliant academic career. Davis knew how to change and learn from political experience, but he always remained loyal to his socialist principles.
American Federalism Isn’t a Boon for Democracy — It’s a Disease
The promise of US federalism is that states will be “laboratories of democracy,” more responsive and more innovative than the federal government. The reality is that states are more often laboratories of authoritarianism, dominated by the rich and powerful.
Republicans Are Trying to Block Citizen-Led State Ballot Initiatives
Citizen lawmaking through ballot initiatives is becoming an increasingly critical tool to counter minority rule and pass progressive policies. But Republican-led states are moving aggressively to make the ballot initiative process harder to use.
The World Survived the Cold War Because It Feared Nuclear War
Many thought that, with the end of the Cold War, the world had seen the last of big-power nuclear brinksmanship. But the Ukraine crisis has revealed that leaders have forgotten the lessons of that era.
Puerto Rico’s Electricity Nightmare Was Brought to You by Privatization
For years, Puerto Rico has endured a ruthless campaign of austerity and privatization, including a corporate takeover of its once-public power grid. The result: nearly a quarter-million people have been without power for over two weeks since Hurricane Fiona.
Mick Lynch Tells Jacobin: The Working Class Is Back
Leader of Britain’s RMT railworkers’ union Mick Lynch has become the most prominent face of the fight against the ruling Tories. He talked to Jacobin about his socialism and republicanism and how class politics can build a broad front against all inequalities.
Strikes Work Better When They’re Organized Democratically
Kindergarten teacher Tyler Dupuis went on strike with Oakland teachers in 2019 and Seattle teachers this fall. It’s not a coincidence that Oakland won more than Seattle: when it comes to strikes, militancy and member mobilization get the goods.
Tomorrow, Students Across the Country Will Strike for Abortion
Students at over 50 schools across 30 states are walking out of class this week for abortion rights.
For Socialist Psychologist Alfred Adler, Collective Feeling Was the Cure
Alfred Adler was ahead of his time in centering what he called “social interest” in his psychological theories. His approach sought to combat shame and alienation and encourage concern for the common good — a psychological application of his socialist values.
The Kurdish Struggle Is at the Heart of the Protests in Iran
Protests in Iran have erupted following the death of a young Kurdish woman for “inappropriate dress” — laying bare not only the theocratic brutality of Iran’s government but the Iranian state’s historic repression of the Kurdish people.
Massachusetts Utility Companies Are Blocking Environmental Progress
In liberal Massachusetts, you don’t have to convince many people that climate change is real — it’s for-profit utility companies that are creating a major barrier to climate action.
Those Refusing to Fight in the Ukraine War Should Be Protected
As Russian men fled after Vladimir Putin’s draft announcement, Latvia closed its border with Russia, and Finland said it was tightening its visa policy. Those choosing not to fight need to be celebrated, not shunned.
The Heroic Gwangju Uprising Sowed the Seeds of Democracy in South Korea
In May 1980, pro-democracy protesters mobilized in the South Korean city of Gwangju. The US-backed military dictatorship responded with bloody repression, but the legacy of the Gwangju Uprising was vital for the democratization of Korean politics.
American Parents Are Pissed Off
Being a parent in privatized America, where you’re basically on your own, has never been easy. Since COVID, things have gotten even worse — but it doesn’t have to be this way. More social democratic policies can relieve the strain underlying parents’ rage.