“Populism” and the Significance of Left and Right
In the United States, the Populist tradition has always defined left-wing and egalitarian politics, unfairly maligned by bosses and intellectuals alike.
19712 Articles by: T Rivers
T Rivers is a pseudonymous journalist who covers East and Central Africa.
A Letter From Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia
Kevin Rudd was once prime minister of Australia. Now he’s writing Jacobin angry letters. Here he defends his record on climate change.
The Struggle for Democracy in Sri Lanka
In the push and pull between authoritarianism and democracy in Sri Lanka, the former has won out more often than not. But the fact that the country is not a full-blown dictatorship today is a testament to a spirit of resistance that can’t be snuffed out.
The Far Right Is Growing in Uruguay
Uruguay goes to the polls today for its second-round general election. The outcome is unclear, but a new coalition between mainstream and far-right parties sets a worrying new precedent in Latin American politics.
How Chicago Teachers Won a Nurse in Every School
The recent Chicago Teachers Union strike put adequate school staffing at its center, including putting a nurse in every school. A school nurse explains how the union won that demand.
The American Federation of Teachers Isn’t Standing Against Austerity in Puerto Rico
In the midst of brutal austerity measures carried out by an undemocratic junta in Puerto Rico, unions should play a central role in fighting back. Yet only one teachers’ union, the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico, is leading that fight — while another, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, is partnering with it.
Neoliberal Feminism Has a New Private Club
The Wing, London’s new private members’ club founded by a former Hillary Clinton aide, is just more of capitalism covering itself in the veneer of women’s empowerment.
India’s Supreme Court Ruling Is Another Victory for Hindu Nationalism
The latest decision from the Supreme Court in India has legitimized the destruction of the Babri Mosque. Meanwhile, mainstream parties and commentators refuse to call it what it is: the latest stage in an accelerating process of Hindu ethno-nationalism.
Why International Law Can’t Save Palestine
International law has utterly failed to halt or even slow Israel’s brutal colonial project. The institutions of law can be tools in our political movement, but they cannot liberate Palestine on their own.
Chile Can Be a Laboratory of Popular Democracy
The social upheaval in Chile has made it clear that the country’s Pinochet-era, neoliberal constitution must go. But the process of replacing it cannot be a top-down affair. Like the popular assemblies that have carried the rebellion forward, it must be based on democratic mass participation.
Deval Patrick Is Everything That’s Wrong With the Democratic Party
Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick’s resume reads like a dystopian novel about the nihilism and brutality of contemporary capitalism. He should leave public life forever.
“We Do Not Want These Criminals to Rule Us”
Mass protests are nothing new for Iraq. But what’s different about the demonstrations currently rocking the country is that protesters are calling for the overthrow of the entire post-US-invasion political system.
How Hindu Nationalism Came to Rule
The story of how India came to embrace a virulent form of Hindu nationalism isn’t just one of bigotry and state violence — it’s also about the failures of neoliberal development.
Ilhan Omar Is the Fighter the Tenants’ Movement Needs
With the demand for a homes guarantee, housing organizers want to create a Medicare for All for housing justice. Ilhan Omar is taking their vision to Congress.
Why We Confronted Joe Biden on Deportations
Last night, immigrant rights activists asked Joe Biden to repudiate Obama’s immigration record. Biden said no and then told them to “vote for Trump.” Carlos Rojas, one of the activists, talks to Jacobin about why he spoke out — and why we need an immediate moratorium on deportations.
Medicare for All Means “To Each According to Their Need”
A new study looks at other countries’ experiences with implementing single-payer health care systems. It finds that Medicare for All likely will not only cost less than many estimates suggest — it will also result in a more equitable distribution of care.
The Spanish Constitution Is Strangling Catalonia
The PSOE-Podemos coalition set to form Spain’s next government will rely on Catalan support in parliament. Yet after an election polarized around national tensions, both parties are ignoring Catalans’ call for self-determination.
The All-Women MSNBC Debate Panel Wasn’t a Feminist Victory — It Was a Right-Wing Disaster
This week’s all-women-moderated presidential debate is being lauded as a feminist victory in the press. But it was hardly that. The candidates were just fed inane questions meant to defend the benevolence of US empire and marginalize political positions deemed too far left.
Jeremy Corbyn Just Announced a Vision for a Humane Britain
Labour’s election manifesto has been launched, and it presents a breathtaking vision of radical yet pragmatic change for the UK. Now we have to get that vision through to voters and drown out the din of a hostile media.
The Labour Party’s Manifesto Is Lifting the Floor for Everyone
Labour’s manifesto shows that the party understands the urgency of the burning injustices that are stunting the lives of millions in Britain today — and is prepared to take action to end them.