Issue 20 Summer 2014

CONTENTS:  Ukraine: West aims for strategic control, Simon Korner. Hungry Planet: past its tipping point? Greg Kaser. Seven Myths about the Soviet Union, Stephen Gowans. When grandchildren want to go to the zoo, Edgar Kobi. Cold war tales of US spies and sabotage, Greg Kaser. Robert Burns and his internationalism, David Kenvyn. One man's journey from Islamism, Pat Turnbull. Capitalism is safe in the SNP's hands, Frieda Park. Red Paper says NO to independence, Ken Cable. Scotland's Economy and independence, Paul Sutton.

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Articles featured in Issue 20

• Ukraine: West aims for strategic control
  Wednesday, July 1, 2015

  The crisis in Ukraine has been created by direct interference by the west in the internal affairs of the country. This has lead to the ousting of the elected President and confrontation with Russia. The extreme right has also been fostered and fascists play a significant role in the new regime. There is civil unrest with strong opposition to the coup and to repression by the pro-western forces in certain quarters. Russia, while acting in its own interests, has effectively held off the threat of encirclement by the west. Western countries, seeking advantage for themselves, are divided about how to act. Popular opposition in Ukraine and abroad combined with Russian power and western division have so-far prevented all out war.
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• Capitalism is safe in the SNP's hands
  Tuesday, July 1, 2014

  To many on the left the prospect of an independent Scotland offers the prospect of social progress by jettisoning our sisters and brothers in "Tory voting" England. This is a divisive and dangerous myth which fails to recognise the essentially capitalist nature of the SNP and the Scotland it would seek to create.
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• Hungry planet: past its tipping point?
  Tuesday, July 1, 2014

  The effects of climate change are already being felt, threatening vulnerable and poor peoples with hunger. Unless collective action is taken globally to address this problem the effects will be much worse in decades to come. That is a problem which laissez faire capitalism does not have the answers to.
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• Scotland's cconomy and independence
  Tuesday, July 1, 2014

  The figures are clear. The SNP's economic case for independence does not stack up. Neither North Sea oil nor the financial sector will be a sound foundation and they have no feasible plan for the currency should independence be achieved.
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• Seven myths about the Soviet Union
  Tuesday, July 1, 2014

  Especially among those who experienced life in the Soviet Union a majority have a positive view of it. The economy delivered for people and some of its leaders are still regarded highly today. Today citizens of the former Soviet Union are worse off than they were before its demise and have a dim view of the benefits of capitalism and its political system.
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