Articles
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Advanced computing systems are now essential to all aspects of our daily lives. They are also increasingly important to capitalism's power and to the West's military domination. Microchips are the fundamental components of key systems and hardware and the US in particular is battling to keep control of this strategic resource. This fight over tech lies at the heart of its confrontation with China and is the reason it threatens war.
Friday, May 24, 2024
One of the main accusations leveled by capitalist ideologues against socialism is that it simply does not work. This is rather unconvincing coming from the system which has brought us close to the edge of climate catastrophe, decaying living standards and infrastructure, lower productivity and stagnating growth in western economies. And yet this critique of socialism is routinely accepted without examining the evidence of the achievements of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. When these are set out they reveal the opposite - growing economies and improvements in the well-being of the citizens of those countries. This should give us confidence and hope that there is an alternative to the dire reality of our capitalist world.
Thursday, May 23, 2024
in Britain we have seen a wave of strikes and massive demonstrations over Gaza. In response the Tory government has been passing multiple pieces of legislation designed to restrict free speech, the right to protest and the right to strike. This repressive agenda will give the government extraordinary tools to suppress opposition and represents a fundamental threat to democracy. And yet in defiance of these threats and ideological attacks protesters are still out in force in solidarity with the Palestinians and standing up for free speech.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
The rise in military spending by Germany rings alarm bells from a previous era when the fascists were in power preparing for World War 2. Even without fascism, the growth of militarism threatens world peace. War is not the only danger it poses. Carbon emissions by military hardware, like tanks add to the climate change crisis.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
In a familiar pattern the new Argentinian President Javier Milei came to power as a self-proclaimed anti-establishment figure, but in practice his policies benefit private enterprise and attack workers rights. His rise was helped by failed "centrist" policies. The question now is whether there will be effective opposition by the Argentinian people to his disastrous policies.
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.