The Budget: four reflections and a rule of thumb
by Michael Rosen 1. In the post-Budget fog, there are occasional dissident voices that say something along the lines that obsessing about small differences in “the deficit” is some kind of smokescreen for what’s really going on. In other words, capitalism can cope with what are by all accounts relatively small differences (i.e. people go […]
Metamorfarage
by Caliban’s Revenge, originally featured in the Spring 2015 issue of the rs21 magazine
Israel after the Knesset elections: What hasn’t changed
In a result to the 2015 Israeli Knesset elections that has surprised very few, Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently announced there would be no Palestinian state on his watch, will remain Prime Minister of Israel.
Climate catastrophe in the South Pacific
Cyclone Pam has caused devastation on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. Struggling with the legacies of British and French colonialism and current forms of neo-colonialism, the people of Vanuatu are now faced with the consequences of catastrophic climate change, writes Nick Evans. “We see the level of sea rise … The cyclone seasons, […]
The changing landscape of Indian politics
Ian Crosson reports on the Delhi elections last month which brought the Aam Aadmi Party to power against the ruling BJP. It is not just SYRIZA and Podemos who are shaking up some of the more established political parties. In India on 10th February a political earthquake shook the capital city Delhi and across India […]
“Hope in the stubborn instances of resistance” – Assessing the current state of the women’s movement in India
Tithi Bhattacharya recently caught up with Kavita Krishnan on the prospects for the women’s movement in India today and questions of strategy TB: December 2014 marked two years since India erupted in mass protests against gender violence that inspired us globally. Where do you assess that battle for women’s rights to be at this two-year […]
Climate change has revolutionary potential
Tabitha Spence discusses how the movements against climate change open up a space to wider radicalisation
Tory cuts hitting FE hard
Mark Keating, a lecturer in a London college, discusses the cuts that are hitting the further education sector hard The Tories delivered another body blow to the further education (FE) sector when they announced swingeing 24% cuts to the Adult Education budget at the end of February. This kind of cut would have been greeted […]
On the murder of Boris Nemtsov
Tens of thousands demonstrated in Moscow and other cities around Russia today against the murder of Boris Nemtsov on Friday night. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was a prominent critic of president Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. He had been due to lead today’s demonstration in Moscow against the war, marking a year since […]
Malcolm X in the Midlands
On the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, Zakir Gul examines a visit he made to a small town near Birmingham, and his enduring legacy.
We need to be honest about what is happening in Greece
Jonathan Neale adds his view to the debate on events unfolding in Greece. We need to be honest about what is happening in Greece. The leadership of Syriza said during the election that under no circumstances would they leave the euro. But if they won the election, they would be able to persuade the governments […]
Demanding the right to breathe
David Renton continues the debate about events in Greece, discussing the agreement between Syriza and the Eurozone, and considers the options facing the movement in Greece. If there had been any doubts about the meaning of the agreement reached by Syriza and the Eurozone, they were resolved by the publication on Tuesday morning of Greece’s […]
Struggles, but not yet a movement: Response to Graham Campbell
Ruth Lorimer responds to Graham Campbell‘s article ‘The Assault on London Housing Rights,’ arguing the current struggles need to be expanded and deepened to see real results. Graham has raised some important points in his article ‘The Assault on London Housing Rights’, but there are a few assertions I disagree with and would like to […]
Real free speech is subversive, not about defending the status quo
Colin Wilson discusses recent controversies about freedom of speech. The last few months have seen a number of discussions about “free speech”. After the Charlie Hebdo killings, the magazine’s supporters frequently justified its publication of Islamophobic and racist cartoons by reference to free speech. When protesters in January opposed Marine Le Pen speaking at the […]
The Assault on London Housing Rights
Graham Campbell reports on two local struggles to defend council housing in London, and draws some conclusions about the social significance of the Coalition’s assault on social homes. February 14th to 23rd is designated by Radical Housing Network as Housing Action Week, and it certainly has been. Leading up to the actions of the past […]
“I will continue serenading happiness.” Arab revolutions four years on
The conference Arab revolutions four years on: Revolution, repression and resistance was held at the School of Oriental and African Studies on 13 -14 February.
Precarious Work, ‘Compression’ and Class Struggle ‘Leaps’
Kim Moody, author of In Solidarity, continues the discussion begun by Ian A and continued by Kevin Crane about the nature of work and workplace struggle today In his response to Ian A, Kevin Crane raises a number of serious issues concerning the work of socialists in trade unions and the workplace. The heart of his […]
Je Suis Charlie Chaplin
Colin Revolting looks at the politics of Charlie Chaplin When millions of people held “Je Suis Charlie” signs in memory of the cartoonists killed in Paris last month, a different Charlie came to mind. Charlie Chaplin who made his first screen appearance, 100 years ago, as The Tramp. Why did I think of this other […]
The Magpie: Can we get a political voice?
In a new column, The Magpie discusses working class political representation The feeling that working class people in Britain have no effective political voice was everywhere even before Syriza won. It is shared by followers of Russell Brand; by those who back Labour out of fear of the Tories; and those who back smaller parties such […]
No platform for Marine Le Pen at the Oxford Union – join the protest tomorrow
A demonstration against French Front National leader Marine Le Pen will take place outside the Oxford Union, Frewin Court at 5pm tomorrow. Come and say “va te faire foutre” to fascists with us, argues Kate Bradley Tomorrow (Thursday 5th February), Marine Le Pen is coming to the Oxford Union, and a demonstration to protest her […]
Police ‘Shield’ scheme is not a solution
Kate Bradley writes that the government’s new proposals to combat gang crime will cause more miscarriages of justice. Two weeks ago, the London Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) announced that it would provide £200,000 to pilot the new ‘Shield’ scheme in the London boroughs of Haringey, Westminster and Lambeth. Shield is being […]
Greek elections: web round up
The Greek election this weekend could mark a seismic moment in European politics. Dan Swain rounds up commentary from across the web to help you keep informed while eagerly awaiting the results.
The Ghetto uprising – resistance is never futile!
Jan Ladzinski introduces Wladyslaw Szlengel’s poem, Counterattack, on the 72nd anniversary of the start of revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto Exactly 72 years ago the Warsaw Ghetto saw an unexpected revolt. In the years of the Nazi occupation as many as 400,000 Jews were crowded into an area of 1.3 square miles, deprived of food and […]
“I’m going to kill a cow.”
by Anindya Bhattacharyya “I’m going to kill a cow,” he declared, scrutinising my face. I stared back blankly. There was a short awkward silence. “So are you offended by that? I bet you’re really offended by that.” He would then proceed to explain why I ought to be offended by him killing a cow – but […]
I have been very quiet online since the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices and here’s why
Sadia Jabeen discusses the experiences of being Muslim in the face of rising Islamophobia following terrorist attacks. It was originally published on Make Tea & Cake, Not War. As events unfolded on Wednesday I felt a real sense of dread. I haven’t felt like this since just over 13 years ago, on September 11th 2001, and […]
City Link: UKIP donor Jon Moulton shows his contempt for workers’ rights
City Link boss and UKIP supporter Jon Moulton sacked 2,727 of his workers on Christmas day. Brian Parkin looks at how UKIP wants to attack the rights of working people. This piece was originally published in Northern Star – email rs21leeds@gmail.com for more details. UKIP have risen to prominence on their anti-EU stance through which they have made […]
Above the law: VIP abuse and the playboy prince
Over the last week allegations of sexual abuse by Prince Andrew have surfaced. Estelle Cooch discusses how, when it comes to VIP abusers, everyone seems to know, but nothing is done. Few could have predicted the whirlwind of abuse allegations that would follow when those against Jimmy Savile started to surface in October 2012. […]
The roots of Israeli apartheid
What does it mean to say that Israel is an apartheid state? Sølvi Goard unpacks a history of vicious segregation and ethnic cleansing
“The United States of America is awesome”
A report on the CIA’s use of torture between 2001 and 2006 was released on December 9, after five years of investigation, $40 million and heavy redactions. Cc. image courtesy of The U.S Army In an act of confession, the government of the United States has released a 500-page report describing torture carried out by the […]
Historical Materialism 2014: Reversing the decline
In the third of three articles, UNITE union activist Ian Allinson reports from four very useful sessions[i] learning from the North American Labour movement at this year’s Historical Materialism conference. Several speakers presented evidence of the serious decline in union membership density (the proportion of workers in a union), collective bargaining coverage (the proportion of […]