Issue 30 | The Socialist Correspondent

Articles featured in Issue 30

Podcasts from The Socialist Correspondent
Sunday, May 27, 2018

Listen to Podcasts of articles from the Socialist Correspondent. From issue 30: France further to the right under Macron Carillion, PFI, finance capital and Brexit West's dangerous view of North Korea
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Carillion, PFI, finance capital and Brexit
Friday, March 30, 2018

The collapse of the giant out-sourcing and construction firm Carillion exposes not only the scam of the Private Finance Initiative, which transfers taxpayers money into private hands at greater cost than alternative forms of funding, but also the parasitic nature of the British economy. Finance capital remains the dominate sector and all Tories, from hard-Brexiteers to hard-Remainers wish to preserve its role as they grapple with Brexit. Labour is challenging this model and proposing alternatives to promote other sectors of the economy.
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West's dangerous view of North Korea
Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The conflict between the USA and North Korea is a David and Goliath contest, so to blame both equally is wrong. We also need to know about the devastation caused to North Korea by the United States during the Korean war to understand its position now. It is the US which has rejected North Korean overtures for dialogue, violated the treaty ending the Korean war and ripped up a previously working agreement. The view presented by the media in the west is dangerously skewed and part of war preparations, however, there are powerful voices who also want peace on the Korean peninsula.
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Haiti used by Tories to attack aid budget
Tuesday, March 27, 2018

OXFAM's failure to deal properly with the scandal of sexual misconduct by it's staff in Haiti and the fallout expose other problems with the politics of aid and how it currently operates. The British government has a clearly stated agenda of making aid work more in it's interests, whilst recipients of aid, including in Haiti, are calling for greater accountability to their governments.
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Jerusalem: US ends Oslo peace process
Monday, March 26, 2018

The United State's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem may not have the entirely positive consequences both it and Israel imagine. The city was seized forcibly by Israel and the United Nations has repeatedly rejected Israeli claims to sovereignty over the whole of Jerusalem. The US move has already provoked a reaction in the international community and may galvanise Palestinians and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign to step up[ activity. It may also spell an end to the Oslo peace process, which has been ineffective in producing justice for the Palestinians.
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Rivalries, dangers and possibilities
Monday, March 26, 2018

We live in a very dangerous world dominated by neo-liberalism which fuels inequality, conflict and a drive to war. As well as making the lives of millions miserable there are growing tensions between rival imperial and aspiring imperial powers. Nearly 30 years since the end of the Soviet Union what kind of world is capitalism creating and how is being re-shaped? Despite its dominance, however, neo-liberalism has not won people to support its system. Forces from the left, the extreme right, religions and nationalists are gaining ground.
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France further to the right under Macron
Sunday, March 25, 2018

President Macron is driving through anti-worker measures to make France more "competitive" with other low wage economies and bringing it into line with the UK and Germany. He is attacking workers rights, eroding job security, cutting public services and jobs and privatising publically owned assets. There is opposition, however, it is weaker and more divided than it was. This weakness on the left is providing fertile ground for the right to make advances.
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Prospects for Syria
Sunday, March 25, 2018

The Syrian government, with the help of Russia and Iran, is making significant advances in eradicating terrorist forces like Islamic State. The United States is still trying to frustrate this process as it pursues its own objectives in the region.
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What now for South Africa and the ANC?
Saturday, March 24, 2018

Whilst Jacob Zuma was a problem he was not the only issue facing South Africa and the African National Congress. His departure has offered hope of change, but there are more deep-seated problems which need to be tackled. Despite advances, there has been corruption and growing inequality within South Africa. Opportunists have joined the ANC for personal advancement. Too often the needs of capital have come first. The ANC itself has produced critiques of these problems, but tackling them will be a major challenge.
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Bell Potinger's campaign to inflame racial hatred
Friday, March 23, 2018

The PR company, Bell Pottinger, collapsed after it was revealed that it orchestrated a campaign in South Africa designed to inflame racial hatred and divert attention from allegations of "state capture" against the Gupta family. This is the end of a long line of political interventions made by the company and its founder to promote reactionary policies. These include running Tory election campaigns, advising the government and the National Coal Board during the Miners Strike, working on FW de Klerk's election campaign, campaigning to halt the fraud investigation into the Al-Yamamah arms deal and producing propaganda for the US in Iraq.
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Protests shake Iran's dictatorship
Thursday, March 22, 2018

The latest protests in Iran have different character from those that have gone before. They were more widespread involving both the rural and urban populations and uniting the working and middle classes. Though sparked by growing impoverishment, slogans were also directed against the repressive regime itself. Although the US and Israel expressed support for the demonstrators they have another agenda, hoping to use their repression as a pretext for further attacks on Iran. The Tudeh Party of Iran has warned against the protests being hijacked by reactionary forces both inside and outside the country.
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Catalan elections: victory for the right
Wednesday, March 21, 2018

The confrontational tactics adopted by both the governments in Catalonia and Spain have entrenched the polarisation of pro and anti-independence views. In the elections called after Carles Puigdemont's declaration of independence, pro-independence parties again had a narrow victory, however, more worryingly a majority of Catalans voted for the right-wing. The two biggest parties coming out of the elections were both of the right, one of them pro and the other anti-independence.
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US could lose the next war it fights
Tuesday, March 20, 2018

US defence strategy has shifted from terrorism to "threats" posed by Russia and China and the Pentagon is lobbying for more resources to take them on. Allegations of links between Trump and Russia and interference by Russia in elections there and elsewhere, need to be seen in this context.
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4 Film Reviews
Monday, March 19, 2018

Reviews of Kingsman - The Secret Service and The Golden Circle, Jumanji and Star Wars the Last Jedi.
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Keorapetse "Willie" Kgositsile (1938 - 2018)
Sunday, March 18, 2018

Obituary of the outstanding South African Poet who fought for the liberation of his country from apartheid. He was a major figure in African-American culture and played an important role in post-apartheid South Africa.
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Poems by Keorapetse "Willie" Kgotsitsile
Saturday, March 17, 2018

Poems by the South African poet Keorapetse "Willie" Kgotsitsile: For Hugh Masekala, Anguish Longer than Sorrow and No Serenity Here.
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Mandela centenary memorial appeal
Friday, March 16, 2018

An appeal has been established to honour the life and achievements of Nelson Mandela in the 100th anniversary year of his birth. It will be erected in Glasgow the first city to make him a Freeman while he was still imprisoned and sparking a worldwide campaign by Mayors to support his release. The appeal is supported by prominent Freemen, such as Kenny Dalglish and Sir Billy Connolly and was launched by fellow Freeman, Sir Alex Ferguson, along with Brian Filling, honorary consul for South Africa and Eva Bolander, Lord Provost of Glasgow. Other Patrons are Professor Denis Goldberg and Andrew Mlangeni both Rivonia trialists along with Mandela and both serving lengthy sentences.
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Issue 30 Spring 2018

Articles featured in Issue 30

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