December 2011Frontlines | Letter from... | Features |
Columns | A-Z of Socialism | Reviews | Letters FrontlinesA Briefing: Disability and benefitsby Roddy Slorach
The government has pledged to reform incapacity benefit after an almost fivefold increase in the number of claimants since the late 1970s.
Letter from...Feature ArticlesWhy workers can change the worldby Paul Blackledge
Karl Marx's claim that the working class has the power to change the world is perhaps his most important contribution to socialist theory. Before Marx workers were viewed at best as victims of the system or more typically as a rabble whose existence threatened civilisation. Marx challenged these assumptions, arguing that workers' collective struggles for freedom pointed towards a potential socialist alternative to capitalism.
The gathering stormby Megan Trudell
The depth of the devastation of ordinary American lives means that the divisions between workers and protesters that existed in the 1960s have collapsed, writes Megan Trudell
Champion of the Wretchedby Leo Zeilig
Fifty years ago this month Algerian psychoanalyst and revolutionary Frantz Fanon died - just as his most famous book, The Wretched of the Earth, was published. Leo Zeilig looks back at Fanon's extraordinary life and the lessons his groundbreaking work has for us today By Gove: education and the Murdoch Empireby John Newsinger
On 3 October, at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference, education secretary Michael Gove went out of his way to sing the praises of Rupert Murdoch. Gove admitted that he remained "a great admirer of Rupert Murdoch, he's a force of nature, a phenomenon, he's a great man". For a senior minister to still admit to being one of Murdoch's creatures is quite remarkable, but there was a good reason for Gove standing by his man: Murdoch has a central role in Tory plans for British education. InterviewPutting Socialism back on the agendaby Estelle Cooch and Jack Farmer
Estelle Cooch and Jack Farmer spoke to Owen Jones, a left wing member of the Labour Party and author of Chavs, about New Labour, capitalism and the demonisation of the working class 'The union is a shield and our sword is the strike'by Anne Alexander
The left and the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian Doctors' Union
A rank and file slate, including socialists, won major successes in recent elections to Egypt's Doctors' Union, long a bastion of the Muslim Brotherhood. Anne Alexander spoke to Mohammed Shafiq, an organiser of this electoral campaign and a doctor at Manshiyet al-Bakri hospital in Cairo
ColumnsIn my view Unholy rowby Estelle Cooch
In the August edition of Socialist Review I wrote about the crises that have hit successive ruling class institutions, from parliament to the banks. Few would have predicted that the next pillar of the establishment to be riven with turmoil would be the Church of England.
In perspective From small beginningsby Rehad Desai
The Kyoto Protocols are set to become an empty shell following the 17th meeting of the UN Convention on Climate Change ("COP 17") in Durban. Revolutionary Lessons Do we need a revolutionary party?by Josh Hollands
Josh Hollands argues that a revolutionary party can play a crucial role in helping workers to organise against the system
Culture Column The building of dreams and nightmaresby Jeff Jackson
"Once more he looked intently at this new city, not wanting to forget it or to be mistaken, but the buildings stood clear as before, as if around them lay not the murk of Russian air but a cool transparency" - Anton Platonov, The Foundation Pit
ReviewsBooks The Birth of Capitalismby Sarah Young, December 2011
Henry Heller The Tailor of Ulmby Mark Bergfeld, December 2011
Lucio Magri Snuffby Andy Cunningham, December 2011
Terry Pratchett Fair Playby Ruth Lorimer, December 2011
Danny Dorling Too Many People?by Julie Filer, December 2011
Ian Angus and Simon Butler Unruly Womenby Sarah Robertson
Karlene Faith A classic read: Woman on the Edge of Timeby Colin Wilson, November 2011
First published in 1976 Film Elite Squad 2by Camilla Royle
Les Enfants du Paradisby Sian Ruddick
Remastered edition out now. Theatre Juno and the Paycockby Ruairi O'Neill
National Theatre until 26 February 2012 Exhibition Magnum Contact Sheets Thames and Hudsonby Angela Stapleford
All Work and Low Payby Siobhan Brown
Using collections from the Women's Library and strengthened by material from the TUC, this exhibition attempts to cover 150 years of work performed by women and, in part, their resistance. The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsmanby Christine Lewis
The British Museum until 19 February |
