Articles
Monday, May 22, 2017
Palestinian prisoners in Israel are on hunger strike demanding that their basic human rights are respected. Violations include, torture, solitary confinement, medical negligence and denial of visits. Approximately 20% of the population has been detained, affecting every Palestinian family. in a letter to the New York Times, the leader of the strike, Marwan Barghouti explains why it came about.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
The Russian revolution, although the most important and successful case, was part of a wider movement of mutiny, rebellion and strikes which were happening across Europe at the same time. In Germany and Hungary workers also seized power. in France there was wide spread mutiny in the army and navy and in Britain there was industrial unrest and resistance in the armed forces. Sympathy for the Russian revolution helped stop the military intervention aimed at the new socialist state.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Without any proof the Western media has been quick to point the finger at President Assad for the chemical weapons attack in Idlib. But he would seem to have little to gain from such an action as he is winning the civil war. There are, however, several competing factions within the country and regional powers who would have plenty to gain.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Politics are dominated by constitutional issues - Brexit and Scottish independence - despite the Labour leadership's attempts to shift the debate to an attack on Tory austerity. It has not been helped either by attacks from within the Parliamentary Labour Party. Against this background the Tories made gains in recent local and mayoral elections, however, the results were not uniform across the country.
Friday, May 19, 2017
The Spanish civil war is still of live significance today. The coming of the Second Republic in Spain posed a challenge to the reactionary forces which had dominated the country and offered hope workers and peasants. European capitalism, still reeling from the Russian Revolution, preferred to side with the fascist military coup against the democratically elected government. In doing so it not only ensured the defeat of the republican forces, but also paved the way for further fascist aggression and the Second World War.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
The desire of the people of Haiti for progressive change has been thwarted over decades by the ruling elite and external intervention. Recent elections have had low turn outs and been subject of endemic manipulation and fraud. Though people are disillusioned just now things will not stay that way.
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Wolfgang Streeck's book "How Will Capitalism End?" considers the structural problems of capitalism which culminated in the financial crisis. This is to be welcomed, however, there are weaknesses in his approach including a neglect of big economies outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the continued impact of technological development. Is capitalism really approaching its end?
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Extracts from the work of the writer Georgi Kublitsky who travelled the Soviet Union over the years and described its economic and social development. These extracts deal with the development of the different nations in the Soviet Union and focuses on Azerbaijan as one example.