Exit polls are confirming predictions that Evo Morales has won a convincing victory over his conservative rival, Manfred Reyes, in Bolivia. Whilst facing staunch opposition amongst wealthier Bolivians living in the gas-rich East, Morales – an Aymara coca farmer and the country’s first indigenous president – has always enjoyed strong support from the poorer Quechua [...]
Since Chris’ tragic death at the weekend there have been a number of warm and inspiring tributes, and I thought I’d highlight a few here. Michael Rosen in the Guardian. Alex Callinicos, John Rose and many other comrades in Socialist Worker. Snowball on Histomat. Keith Flett from the London Socialist Historian’s group.
Chris Harman, editor of International Socialism, former Editor of Socialist Worker and a leading member of the Socialist Workers Party, died last night in Cairo where he was speaking. This news is still raw, but I wanted to offer some initial thoughts. Chris made, through his journal writings and numerous books, an enormous contribution to [...]
Working class universalism is not enough. Labour does not deserve our unwavering loyalty It’s Friday evening. I should be out partying or down the pub. Instead I’m sitting in front of my computer, wondering what wondrous topic to opine upon for my column. I’ve scoured the news. David Cameron’s doing God and Boris, hopes for [...]
I keep getting hassled by chuggers. I don’t really mind, I have to admit, though I can never afford to sign up for a direct debit to a charity, but it has got me thinking about the left. Every single chugger I’ve spoken to in the last few weeks has tried to sell me their [...]
Reports are emerging that the philosopher G.A. Cohen died in the early hours of this morning aged 68. Cohen was most famous as arguably the most significant of the ‘Analytical Marxists’, who attempted to systematise Marx’s ideas into the schemas of analytic philosophy. Implicit, and often explicit, in this task was the purging of the Hegelian core [...]
To many of my generation, who were born in Thatcher’s Britain and whose politics were shaped by the stark reminder one morning in September 2001 that history was far from over, Tony Benn is a hero. It was another left-wing icon, Bob Dylan, who described a hero as “someone who understands the degree of responsibility [...]
I spent last weekend where I spend the first weekend of every July, at the annual Marxism Festival, hosted by the SWP. Unfortunately, as ever, due to my various commitments (most notably organising the free creche), I didn’t get to see many of what I’m told were highlights. Nevertheless here are a few of my [...]
The 39th Carnival of Socialism has just been put up by Infantile and Disorderly. Here it is: When I agreed to the Carnival of Socialism, I wasn’t thinking clearly. Otherwise, I would have said that the week when I start a new job and move house (into one without the internet I might add) is [...]
There’s a bit in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where the eponymous character starts paraphrasing Moby Dick. “I’ll chase him round the moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round Perdition’s flames before I give him up!” he cries. Tracking down comedian Mark Steel can be a bit like that. Between [...]
