Austerity Is a Deeply Antidemocratic Project
Austerity is not bad economics. It is a century-old project to undermine democracy in crucial areas of our lives.
Blog
“Colombia Is on the Right Side of History”
Daniel García-Peña is Colombia’s new ambassador to the US under its first left-wing government. He spoke to Jacobin about the Right’s lawfare campaign against President Gustavo Petro, cutting diplomatic ties with Israel, and a more independent Colombia.
Bail Bond Insurers Are Lobbying to Keep People in Jail
The for-profit bail industry is behind a new federal effort to criminalize charitable efforts designed to help people who can’t afford to post bail. The legislation is part of a national wave of attacks on bail reforms.
Alex Salmond, a Nationalist in the Age of Globalization
Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who died last week, made Scottish nationalism mainstream. His independence promise was caught in a key contradiction, seeking to make Scotland a model social democracy within globalized capitalism.
The Uses and Abuses of Manet’s Olympia
When Édouard Manet debuted his painting Olympia in 1865, critics were shocked by a nude who looked like “the Queen of Hearts after a bath.” Today they are more interested in imposing essentializing ideas of race about the black maid beside her.
There’s No Such Thing as a Climate Haven
Hurricane Milton and other extreme weather events imperil not only people but also the US economic system, with insurance regulators trailing behind. You may be able to escape the flood, but the financial crises that follow will affect us all.
The Capitalist Threat to Democracy
The threat to a true democracy that promotes material well-being, equality, and social solidarity is deeper than Donald Trump. It comes from a capitalism that can never make its peace with democracy.
Amazon Is Still a Health and Safety Nightmare for Workers
Amazon claims it has markedly improved workplace safety at its notoriously dangerous warehouses in recent years. A closer look at the data for the corporation’s workplaces in the US and Canada shows Amazon still boasts abysmal injury rates.
Scurvy in the Age of Billionaires
Once banished to history books, scurvy is making a comeback in wealthy countries thanks to soaring economic inequality. While the rich swim in spirulina kombucha and kale smoothies, the poor are skipping out on oranges and broccoli.
David Montgomery’s Labor History Is Essential Reading
One of the great labor scholars of the 20th century, David Montgomery was determined to place workers at the center of US history. For Montgomery, rigorous historical analysis couldn’t be divorced from engagement with the working class.
Richmond Progressive Alliance’s Lessons for Local Organizers
It doesn’t often make national headlines, but the city of Richmond, California, has been home to a successful progressive political reform project in recent years. Here are ten lessons for other municipal reformers from the Richmond Progressive Alliance.
Go See The Apprentice Before It’s Too Late
Trump supporters will never go see The Apprentice, and anti-Trumpers won’t be able to bear two hours watching the bane of their existence rise to wealth and power. This lack of a clear audience spells an unfortunate box-office bomb.