Issue 29 | The Socialist Correspondent

Articles featured in Issue 29

May miscalculates - Corbyn Succeeds
Sunday, September 17, 2017

Theresa May and the Tories made drastic errors in both calling the General Election and in how they ran their campaign. By contrast Jeremy Corbyn was able to get across his policies and successfully challenge the negative media assaults that he had faced up till then. May and the Tories came out very much weakened and Corbyn and Labour stronger.
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Trump heightens war stakes with N. Korea
Saturday, September 16, 2017

President Trump's threats of war against North Korea should not be dismissed. Though there are concerns about his stance, nevertheless the demonisation of North Korea looks very similar to the media narratives about Iraq and Libya before the West launched wars there and Saddam and Gaddafi were overthrown. the build up of US military power in the area is a further concerning move.
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Grenfell Tower residents ignored
Friday, September 15, 2017

The tragedy at Grenfell Tower was no simple accident. It was the result of the willful actions of local and national government who got rid of fire safety requirements, hived off management of housing, cut public services and failed to listen to residents and take action on the lessons of a previous tower block fire. What is the real value of human life in capitalist Britain today?
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US sanctions: trade war or much worse?
Thursday, September 14, 2017

New US sanctions against Russia are a blatant attempt by the United States to pursue its economic interests in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in opening up supplies of gas to countries in the region. However, this not only threatens Russia's interests, but also those of Germany, Austria and the European Union. Germany and Austria have protested vehemently against the sanctions. The region remains volatile, with Ukraine still a flash point.
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How Corbyn cut through: exclusive interview with a senior Labour stratagist
Wednesday, September 13, 2017

First published in The Conversation UK. Labour's election strategy involved taking advantage of the requirement on broadcasters to give fair and equal coverage to Jeremy Corbyn, to make extensive use of social media to counter the right wing print media and to to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. This involved taking risks such as Corbyn's speech after the Manchester terror attack where he questioned whether the "war on terror" was actually keeping us safe.
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In Scotland Labour begins to recover
Tuesday, September 12, 2017

The SNP lost far more seats than it expected to in the General Election and it now has major problems. Largely due to Corbyn's positive national campaign and despite a negative campaign by Scottish Labour the Party won an additional 6 seats. Though the Tories were the main beneficiaries of the SNP's decline if Scottish Labour learns the lessons of Corbyn's campaign then it could again be the biggest party in Scotland.
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Labour catches the mood in London
Tuesday, September 12, 2017

There was an increase of 5% in the number of people voting in London in the General Election. The swing to Labour, however, was more than twice that demonstrating that it is winning over voters across the board and in the process gaining 4 more seats. It now holds 49 of the capital's 73 seats.
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Why Labour lost 5 seats in N. England
Monday, September 11, 2017

Despite Labour's much improved performance across Britain it still lost 5 seats in the north of England. Even though these were lost vote share for Labour improved and the losses were largely due to UKIP voter going to the Tories.
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Mansfield and NE Derbyshire analysis
Sunday, September 10, 2017

Mansfield and North East Derbyshire were two of the seats Labour lost at the General election, despite increasing its vote share. Whilst there were local factors at work and changing demographics, the principle cause was the strong support for Leaving the European Union among the electorate. As in other parts of the country the UKIP vote collapsed and largely went to the Tories and here that was sufficient to enable them to win the seats.
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Yemen devastation backed by US & UK
Saturday, September 9, 2017

The Saudi war in Yemen is causing a humanitarian disaster and is being supported logistically and through the sale of arms by the United States and Britain. However, opposition to the war is growing and Saudi credibility and its strategy in the area is being undermined.
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Syria success has forced US to retreat
Friday, September 8, 2017

The success of the Syrian government in retaking control of large parts of the country has forced the United States into an acceptance of this reality. the US has not, however, given up its aim of dividing the country and still offers support to terrorist groups in areas outwith government control, where other parties to the conflict like Turkey also pursue their own interests.
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Fragmenting Iraq is the US strategy
Thursday, September 7, 2017

US strategy in Iraq has been similar to the one it is pursuing in Syria. a main plank of this is trying to fragment the country to better control its energy resources. It uses terrorist groups to support its aims, plans to maintain a military presence in Iraq and promotes ethnic and religious divisions.
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Qatar exposes limit of Saudi power
Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Saudi Arabia's attempts to role back Qatar's influence in the Gulf have been largely unsuccessful and have created more divisions. This has caused some re-alignment of forces in the region with powers such as Russia, China and Iran taking advantage to extend their influence. The US has interests in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar but has also sought to divide and rule. This is further evidence that it is creating instability and problems that it cannot control.
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Palestinian hunger strike victory
Tuesday, September 5, 2017

The Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike, begun on 17th April has ended in victory, with 80% of their demands being met. It demonstrates the strength of the Palestinian people when unified round their cause and the power of solidarity. It also shows that Israel is vulnerable to pressure, both internal and external.
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Letter from troubled Latin America
Monday, September 4, 2017

The picture across Latin America is now very different from the leftward surge of a few years ago. Progressive advances are being rolled back or are under threat from neoliberal forces internally and imperialist forces externally. Despite that there is strong resistance. Venezuela is at the centre of US attempts to reassert its dominance in the region. There are still positive developments as well and everything to fight for.
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Ten Days that Shook the World
Sunday, September 3, 2017

John Reed an American journalist and communist was eye-witness to the Russian revolution. His account is electrifying and is a must read for anyone who wants to understand what happened in November 1917 and indeed any socialist revolutionary process.
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Cuba's resilient working class
Saturday, September 2, 2017

Killing Communists in Havana by Steve Cushion describes the struggle to maintain an independent and militant Trades Union Movement in Cuba in the period before the revolution. this was in the face of right wing government attempts to undermine it and take it over. It was a struggle which included the use of violence, gangsterism and the interference of the USA. There were assassinations and many paid a high price for their principled activity on behalf of the Cuban working class.
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Issue 29 Autumn 2017

Articles featured in Issue 29

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