Articles
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.