Articles
Monday, February 12, 2024
The evidence of Israel’s genocide presented by South Africa to the International Court of Justice was so overwhelming that even though it has a Western bias, it had to accept that there are sufficient grounds to launch a full investigation. However, as the Western imperialist alliance becomes more isolated, over Gaza and before that over Ukraine, it becomes ever more dangerous. Mistrust of the United States is widespread and reflects itself not only in opposition to its policies but also in the increasing reluctance of countries to rely on the dollar. The move to use other currencies for international trade and transactions threatens one pillar of US power – the dominance of its currency. There are also the development and expansion of alternative international organisations like BRICS plus.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
The West's response to its growing problems in the world is to threaten others and wage war. There is now a concerted build up towards more armed conflict including war with China. The question is, can the US and its allies be constrained? What are the forces driving the West to war and what might hold it back? The West now is less able to build coalitions as potential allies do not want to have their vital interests sacrificed in support of Western objectives. In addition, there is some increase in anti-war sentiment within Western countries.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
The problems of advanced capitalist countries run even deeper than their desperate fight to cling onto global dominance. There are serious problems within the system itself. Throughout the G7 productivity is in decline - this is not a new phenomenon, nor is it a specifically British problem. As economic gurus have struggled to find an explanation for this, one thing has become clear, that the unleashing of neo-liberalism under Thatcher and Reagan did nothing to halt this tendency. So far capitalism is not providing the answer to its economic malaise, but can the left? If the problem is the system itself then it may not be fixable. If so then this is yet another reason to question the usefulness of capitalism to humanity, alongside the threat of global war and environmental catastrophe.
Friday, February 9, 2024
We should not doubt that the UK government sees the threats posed by protest against war and unrest against the decimation of living standards and services. In the last couple of years Parliament has passed three pieces of legislation which restrict freedom of speech, the right to protest and the right to strike. A fourth which would outlaw public bodies from boycotting Israel is currently making its way through Parliament. Anti-democratic repression goes hand in hand with the militarist, anti-working class agendas of our rulers.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
What shape is German imperialism in today? An imperialism that twice dared to reach for world power and thus triggered two world wars. Yet now its economy has been hard hit by US demands over Ukraine. It is suffering from increased fuel prices a result of the closure and sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia and rocketing arms spending. Discontent is fueling the far right, while the left remains relatively weak. There have been bans on pro-Palestinian protests. To achieve change common struggles based on class and for peace are essential.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
The international system is in transition from a neo-liberal world order dominated by the USA to a neo-mercantilist world disorder in which major states compete for economic and political power. The transition is not yet complete so there is evidence of neo-liberal forces within and between countries as at the same time neo-mercantilist forces increasingly show themselves at work between and within states and now begin to shape the international agenda. There is also growing opposition to western dominance coming from alliances like the expanding BRICS plus.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Even with determined trade union action and winning pay increases, wages are still not keeping pace with inflation. However, given the determination of strikers over the recent past the government is taking steps to curb strike action. Defending the right to strike will now be an essential part of working class struggle. As will campaigns which gain the broader support of the general public.
Monday, February 5, 2024
The news media and the Government seem intensely relaxed now the annual rate is “only” 4.2%. Yet vast sums have gone to the banks and corporations in the meantime, not least because higher interest rates, raised to bring inflation down, have speeded up the transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich. As a result, householders have permanently lost the income already spent on higher prices, and are still paying more now for gas, electricity, petrol, food and essential goods. Mortgages are higher and rents have always been high anyway. Life has been made harder, partly because of the Bank of England's so-called solutions. Even successful strikes for more pay have not fully recovered the incomes lost. The question arises: how would a progressive government tackle inflation differently, to narrow the gap between rich and poor? Can we escape from capitalist economics on this question?