Escalation in the Donbas Risks a Disastrous War
Russian president Vladimir Putin has sent tanks into the Donbas on dubious pretexts. But a far bigger danger awaits if the West seeks an escalation that will only pour fuel on the fire.
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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.
Noam Chomsky: “Every Time We Build Up Our Military Budget, We’re Attacking Ourselves”
In a new interview, Noam Chomsky discusses the hypocrisies of US empire and why, if we really wanted to build a decent society, we’d immediately slash the massive military budget.
The Real Vladimir Lenin
Ninety-nine years after the Russian Revolution, let’s free Lenin from distortions of all types.
Viktor Orbán’s New “Pro-Refugee” Stance Is Opportunistic — and Still Racist
Ahead of today’s Hungarian election, Viktor Orbán has boasted of his solidarity with Ukrainian refugees. The anti-immigrant premier has folded to public sympathy for Ukrainians — but the welcome doesn’t extend to everyone fleeing war.
Corporate Interests Are Inflaming US-China Tensions
In a global economy defined by overproduction and underconsumption, American and Chinese corporations are struggling to extract profits from developing nations. Without massive wealth redistribution, consumption won’t return to stable levels.
How the Ukrainian Working Class Was Born
At the turn of the last century, Ukraine’s labor movement was subject to tsarist domination and divided along linguistic lines. The revolutions of 1917 inspired calls for self-determination and the formation of a common Ukrainian identity.
Aleksandr Dugin Is the Reactionary Prophet of Russian Ultranationalism
Most have never heard of Aleksandr Dugin or his obscure Traditionalist philosophy. But both have quietly become important influences on Russian politics over the past few decades.
Armed Blackmail Will Never Bring Peace to Eastern Ukraine
The Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks aimed to demonstrate the Kremlin’s muscle and force concessions over disputed regions. The threat of military force will never bring a viable peace — and for the Left, the first task is to de-escalate the rising nationalist tensions.
In Georgia, Geopolitical Jousting Is Crowding Out the Real Issues
In Georgia, rival bills on “foreign agents” sparked mutual accusations of US and Russian interference. With all politics turned into jockeying over the country’s geopolitical position, discussion of its bleak economic record is quietly suppressed.
Ukraine Faces an Imperial Carve-Up
The Trump administration’s proposals for peace in Ukraine sound like a real estate deal, where the United States gets a payoff for handing over Ukrainian land. But with Kyiv’s leverage shrinking, the country may be forced to swallow a grim deal.
Assessing Trotsky
How should we assess the legacy of Leon Trotsky?
Left in a Corner
Politically isolated and facing repression, the Russian left is pondering its future.
Timothy Snyder’s Lies
In Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands, Hitler and Stalin are one and the same. And the partisans — Jewish fighters included — only encouraged German crimes.
The Revolution Party
The question of the party is back on the Left's agenda — and not a moment too soon.
“I am not here as the accused, I am here as the accuser of capitalism”
100 years ago today Scottish socialist John Maclean, accused of sedition for his revolutionary organising, delivered an iconic defence of socialism from the dock.
Vladimir Putin’s Referendum Today Is Just Papering Over the Cracks of His Rule
Today, Russians vote in a constitutional referendum designed to give Vladimir Putin a fresh burst of legitimacy. His feeble response to the coronavirus pandemic has ruined his “strongman” reputation — and it’s feeding a growing mood of popular discontent.
Azerbaijan Has Conquered Karabakh, but the Conflict Still Isn’t Over
Azerbaijan’s brutal offensive in Karabakh has killed hundreds and forced countless Armenians to flee their homes. And its expansionist agenda isn’t over yet.
The Ban on Russian Oil Is Another Way for Germany to Assert Its Power
Europe’s partial ban on Russian oil is forcing states to look for alternative energy sources. But Berlin’s shifting positions show that Germany's concern is its own power on the world market — with green issues little more than a fig leaf.
The Russian Statelets in the Donbas Are No “People’s Republics”
Vladimir Putin claims to be defending populations in the Donbas. In fact, the Kremlin-controlled statelets there are dominated by military rule and repression of organized labor — a troubling indicator of the future Putin has in store for neighboring regions.