BRIC Nationalism Is No Alternative
Developmentalist nationalism is a poor substitute for socialism.
Search Result(s) for: “russia”
George Kennan Was No Friend of Democracy
Late in life, diplomat George Kennan became known as a “dove” on US-Russian relations. But after World War II his containment strategy played a major role subverting democracies in the name of fighting communism.
Remember the Russians Who Fought Against Putin’s War
Almost a year into Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the state is cracking down ever harder on all signs of dissent. Today exiled or jailed, the Russians who spoke out against the war are key to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic society.
Before World War II, Zionism Was a Fringe Ideology
Prior to Israel’s founding, the majority of European Jews rejected the idea of an ethnically Jewish nation. Instead they fought antisemitism by building solidarity.
The Czech Socialist Literature That Influenced Milan Kundera
Milan Kundera, who died this month, became known as a staunchly individualist critic of one-party Communist rule. Yet his work was also steeped in the rich earlier traditions of left-wing Czech literature, which grappled with the meaning of human freedom.
The US Isn’t Properly Tracking Its Weapons Supply in Ukraine
Use of the US’s unprecedented weapons supply to Ukraine has not been properly tracked by the Department of Defense — and the country has a history of alleged misuse, loss, or selling of munitions.
African Unity Can’t Take Place on France’s Terms
Last Sunday, the military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger quit West African economic union ECOWAS. It’s a major blow to the regional integration project — and a rebuke to Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to interfere in France’s former colonies.
The War in Ukraine Has Exposed Germany’s Strategic Quagmire
The war in Ukraine has renewed talk of Germany’s role in leading Europe — but also increased its economic and even foreign policy reliance on Washington. As bloc tensions rise, talk of an independent European superpower sounds like empty boasting.
The Reactionary Jargon of Decoloniality
Cloaked in an impenetrable jargon, “decoloniality” dehistoricizes and culturalizes colonialism. It’s a political and intellectual dead end for socialists.
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.
Iulii Martov Was the Russian Revolution’s Lost Prophet
The Russian socialist leader Iulii Martov warned that a revolution that sacrificed democracy would end up destroying its own ideals. Martov lost the political battle after 1917, but the development of the Soviet system vindicated his early criticisms.
billy woods: “My Music Is Radical, in Its Own Way”
Rapper billy woods is a leading figure in contemporary underground hip-hop. He spoke to Jacobin about the inspiration for his music and his left-wing politics.
The Triumph and Tragedy of Russian Women
The first decades following the Russian Revolution saw enormous changes in women’s social role, but early promises of liberation were soon stifled. The record of women’s struggle is among the revolution’s most precious legacies.
The Biden Hawk Behind Trump’s Iran War
Outgoing CENTCOM commander Michael Kurilla has had Iran in his crosshairs for years as part of a larger vision for keeping China out of the Middle East and squeezing it in an eventual conflict.
Capitalism Won’t Collapse on Its Own
Capitalism’s recurring crises have long fueled predictions of its inevitable demise. Vivek Chibber explains why breakdown isn’t guaranteed — and why political agency, not historical laws, will determine whether we get socialism or barbarism.
The World After American Decline
Donald Trump has abandoned the project of neoliberal globalization in a desperate bid to reverse America’s decline. It’s cut the ground from underneath Washington’s junior partners and left the European Union floundering.
Europe Is Sanctioning Critics of Israel and Militarism
Sanctions were once sold as a gentler foreign policy tool for exerting pressure on dictatorships and terrorist organizations. Yet measures like banning individuals from having bank accounts or traveling are increasingly used to chill free speech in Europe.
Trump’s Intervention in Iran Will Be a Disaster
Iranians have been trying to complete their democratic revolution for over a century. Every time the US gets involved, it sets that project back by decades.
Antarctica Is the Final Frontier for Great Power Rivalry
The geopolitical race for the Arctic has become a major talking point for the international media. Antarctica hasn’t attracted the same attention, but the frozen continent is also becoming a site of contestation for the world’s most powerful states.
Europe’s Vain Hopes of Imperial Grandeur
As Washington scales down its US defense commitment to Europe, many of the continent’s leaders are talking of making the EU a military superpower. It’s an unrealistic prospect, but it risks becoming the key focus of EU spending.