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Socialist Outlook
SO/03 - Spring 2004
In the Politics Section the keynote article opens a debate on what neo-liberal economics represent and suggests reasons why they have been adopted by late capitalism. The recent target of privatising policies has been public provision such as education. We discuss the impact of neo-liberal policies on education in Europe, including in Britain, France and Italy, and proposes some ways of developing the opposition to them. Large numbers of people have to move across the world to seek work. The roots of migration are situated in global inequalities of wealth and power - the key focus for the left should be workers’ rights, not what migrants can (or cannot) ‘do for us’. We discuss the fourth World Social Forum held in India and reflect on some of the lessons that can be learnt from it. We show how revolutionary developments in Britain would transform the world. Tony Blair’s government has been characterised by a relentless attack on civil liberties and perhaps the ground is being prepared today for a future ‘strong state’. In the Theory and History Section we examine some of the lessons from Ireland in the fight against the new imperialism. We chatr the history of Sri Lanka and show how neo-liberal policies continue to impoverish much of the population. In the Debate Section we examine what the left can learn from women’s struggles of the 70s and 80s, taking issue in particular with Lindsey German’s recent article in International Socialism. Finally we include a contribution to the debate facing revolutionaries in Brazil.
A year after the invasion of Iraq, the US-led occupying forces are provoking resistance from ordinary Iraqis. As many countries pull out their civilian workers from Iraq, it is clear that Napoleon understood better than the US administration that you can do anything with a bayonet except sit on it!
Politics
Over the last fifteen years, since the collapse of Stalinism in Eastern Europe, the term ‘neo-liberalism’ has become increasingly used to describe both the national and international strategies adopted by capital. Here Andy Kilmister opens up a debate about exactly what we mean by neo-liberalism.
Politics
Richard Hatcher discusses the impact of neo-liberal policies on education in Europe, including in Britain, France and Italy, and proposes some ways of developing the opposition to them.
Politics
Tony Blair claims that immigration is the public’s number one issue. The left needs to be part of this debate about migration too, with our own answers, which challenge the apparent consensus. Bill MacKeith here situates the roots of migration in global inequalities of wealth and power, and argues that the key focus for the left should be workers’ rights, not what migrants can (or cannot) ‘do for us’.
Politics
The fourth World Social Forum took place in Mumbai, India this January and its success was widely acclaimed. Mumbai was celebrated as more diverse, less dominated by celebrities and with greater participation by poor people than its predecessors. Terry Conway reflects on the event and some of the lessons that can be learnt from it.
Politics
The key slogan of the anti-globalisation movement against neo-liberalism is ‘Another world is possible’, but Marxists do not often take the time to outline what an alternative society might look like, and how we might get there. In this article, through a series of entirely reasonable and logical measures, Phil Hearse shows how things could be different in Britain. While not an alternative blueprint for society, these would result in changing the world – and a revolution in Britain would change the world.
Politics
Tony Blair’s government has been characterised by a relentless attack on civil liberties. Piers Mostyn asks whether the ground is being prepared for a ‘strong state’.
Theory and History
New Labour’s steadfast support for the US invasion of Iraq has raised again the debate on the nature of imperialism. Blair’s ‘civilising mission’ aims to remake the world in the image of his own ‘decent’, liberal and Christian values. His main foreign policy adviser, Robert Cooper, calls for a ‘new age of empire’. This article by David Coen examines some of the lessons from Ireland in the fight against the new imperialism.
Theory and History
Despite Sri Lanka’s achievement of independence in 1948, the ethnic divisions set in train by the British colonisers continue to affect its politics today. Here, Yamuna Bandara, a Sri Lankan journalist based in Britain, charts the history of the island and shows how neo-liberal policies continue to impoverish much of the population.
Debate
As the resistance to globalisation develops, the question of how oppressed groups in society can fight against their oppression, and on what basis, could come to the fore as it did during the 1970s. Jane Kelly and Julia Brandreth examine what the left can learn from women’s struggles of the 70s and 80s, taking issue in particular with Lindsey German’s recent article in International Socialism.
Debate
The Marxist left has played a key role in building the Brazilian Workers Party (PT) from its formation two decades ago. How the left responds with the PT now in government drifting into neo-liberalism, poses major questions of principle. Day to day tactics can only be determined on the spot, but at its latest international meeting the Fourth International launched a debate on the broader strategic issues facing our comrades. The following statement from the International Socialist Group was presented to the meeting as a fraternal start to the discussion.
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