Russia Beyond Supervillainy

In Russia, Vladimir Putin’s evil genius matters less than pressures from the ultrarich, US foreign policy, and the ravages of the neoliberal Yeltsin years.

If the European Union Doesn’t Democratize, It Will Crumble

After a decade that produced a series of shocks, the European Union seems to have weathered its worst moment of crisis. Yet the EU still suffers a fundamental lack of democracy — and the Left should be in the forefront of demanding its reform.

Attacks on Freedom of the Press Are Ramping Up

The state of democratic rights for journalists in some of the world’s leading Western powers is becoming increasingly worrisome.

Donald Trump Is Rapidly Gaining on Joe Biden in the Polls

Bernie Sanders has been able to withstand Donald Trump's onslaught of attacks even as Joe Biden, like Hillary Clinton before him, is watching his lead collapse.

Trump’s Pro-Israel McCarthyism Is Already Boomeranging

Neocons are taking advantage of the neo-McCarthyism Donald Trump has stoked against pro-Palestinian activists on the left to go after more antiwar voices on the right in his own administration. Such witch hunts never stop at their original targets.

Leftist Elected Officials Should Always Vote No on the Military Budget

It should be a matter of course that self-identified leftist and progressive members of Congress should vote down the annual bloated, dangerous, war-profiteer bonanza that is the military budget.

Nationalist Leader Promises a Self-Sufficient Romania

Far-right candidate Călin Georgescu pulled ahead in the first round of Romania’s presidential election last Sunday. His denunciation of “globalists” and the European Union is more rhetoric than practical program, but it resonated with many crisis-hit voters.

On Friends, Foes, and the Thin Line Between Them

Netanyahu’s War on Gaza Risks Spiraling Into a Regional Catastrophe

If Israel does not de-escalate its war on Gaza, the conflict risks spilling into neighboring Middle Eastern nations. The humanitarian consequences would be horrific.

Joe Biden Is Trying to Sell Endless War as an Economic Opportunity

With the war in Gaza raging, Joe Biden is attempting to pitch new military spending as a boon for the economy. Could he get more cynical?

Military Contractors Are Framing the Israeli War on Gaza as a Win for Investors

This week, arms industry executives at both Raytheon and General Dynamics spoke candidly about how Israel’s war on Gaza will be good for business.

Protests by Soldiers’ Wives in Russia Show How an Antiwar Movement Can Grow There

In Russia, the wives of men mobilized to the Ukrainian front are increasingly demanding that they be returned home. While the movement is not mainly directed at opposing Vladimir Putin, it offers hope of breaking the war machine from within.

Canada Is Showering Arms Dealers With Money While One in Four Can’t Afford Groceries

Soaring food costs are making it impossible for almost a quarter of Canadians to access basic groceries. Instead of strengthening safety nets, the Canadian government is lining the pockets of defense contractors.

The Art World Is a Haven for the Superrich

Many of the Russian superrich who have had their assets frozen in recent weeks have deep connections to the art world. As the curtain is pulled back on these holdings, art’s role in creating and sustaining the 1 percent has once again been revealed.

They’re Not Ukrainian, but They’re Fleeing the Same War

Faced with Russia’s invasion, more than 200,000 non-Ukrainians have fled the country. They haven’t received a warm welcome in other EU states — and many face being sent back to the homelands they escaped to begin with.

In Germany, Liberals Lead the Authoritarian Turn

The rise of the anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland has prompted a wave of troubled reactions in Germany. But authoritarianism isn’t just a far-right creation, and today, liberals are leading the charge against basic democratic freedoms.

Transnistria Has Soviet Flags, but Its Oligarchs Want to Trade With the West

Russia has long used breakaway states in Abkhazia and Transnistria to assert military power abroad. Yet the regions’ recent history also shows their growing integration into Western capitalism — and the limits of Moscow’s imperial power.

Neoliberalism Hasn’t Helped Much of the Global South

For a brief period after World War II, Third World nations played an active role in shaping the world economic order and fostering development. For all its promises and a few success stories, neoliberalism hasn’t done the same.

Jeremy Corbyn: We Can Build a New Economic Order

In a speech to the Progressive International, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says now is not a time for retreat. We must build a powerful alternative to capitalist destruction.

Canada’s Military Trained Ukrainian Fascists. Now It’s Claiming “Russian Disinformation.”

A report from George Washington University reveals that the Canadian Armed Forces trained a far-right Ukrainian group. Despite corroboration by its own internal documents, the Canadian military is calling the report “Russian disinformation.”