Cities in revolt
A review of Meena Menon and Neera Adarkar, One Hundred Years, One Hundred Voices (Seagull Books, 2004), £19.95 Continue Reading
Month: April 2005
Emin matters
Tracey Emin is the most famous contemporary artist in Britain. This is the first time a woman has occupied this position and that is, in itself, worthy of note. Moreover her fame is connected to what makes her a serious… Continue Reading
Che and the socialist tradition: a reply to Mike Gonzalez
Mike Gonzalez’s latest book, Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution (Bookmarks, 2004), is published at an opportune moment, constituting a formidable challenge to all those who see in Che’s symbolism a guiding star for their political actions. When saying that… Continue Reading
Venezuela: inside the Bolivarian revolution
Roland Denis is a leading revolutionary in Venezuela. He was briefly a member of the Chávez government (in 2002-2003) as vice-minister of planning, but resigned after ten months, together with the minister, in protest at the lack of grass roots… Continue Reading
Looking for an alternative
It had been a very hot summer in Porto Alegre. The grass was scorched all along the riverbank site where the 2005 World Social Forum was held. Only the converted gas plant which served as a communications centre offered any… Continue Reading
Can we change the world without taking power?
John Holloway: I don’t know the answer. Perhaps we can change the world without taking power. Perhaps we cannot. The starting point—for all of us, I think—is uncertainty, not knowing, a common search for a way forward. Because it becomes… Continue Reading
Respect: the record so far
Respect was formed in January last year as a coalition of socialists, anti-war activists, Muslims and disillusioned Labour supporters, including the expelled MP George Galloway. Centrally it is opposed to Bush and Blair’s war, to the neo-liberal attacks on workers… Continue Reading
Labour’s organic crisis
Only a fool would attempt to make some comments about the health and future of the Labour Party just a few weeks before a general election provides a very useful snapshot of its popularity and makes the task much easier.… Continue Reading
Urban landscapes
Cities are at the centre of politics in Britain today. More than 80 percent of the UK population live in cities and their suburban hinterland.1 New Labour has made the regeneration of urban spaces through an ‘urban renaissance’ a key… Continue Reading
Blair’s vision for education: business, business, business
Capitalism has always had a problem with education. Since the Industrial Revolution, the ruling class’s need to increase the skills of future workers has been contradicted by its fear of them becoming articulate, knowledgeable and independent-minded. Hannah Moore, religious philanthropist… Continue Reading