Earlier this year the Royal Academy of Arts mounted Revolution: Russian Art 1917–1932 at its London gallery. It claimed:”One hundred years on from the Russian Revolution, this powerful exhibition explores one of the most momentous periods in modern world history through the lens of its groundbreaking art.” There was no caveat against propaganda paid for by oligarchs. Continue reading
Last chance saloon
At the last general election in 2015 Britons got to choose which of the two major parties would administer austerity. In the snap election on June 8 they are expected to endorse smash and grab capitalism, intensified class war, devastation of the Global South, support for US imperialism and the launch of nuclear missiles on a ‘first-strike’ basis. Democracy in the west is now a template for extinction by consent. Continue reading
The personal is political
Baroness Chakrabarti – the British human rights activist who joined the Labour Party last year and is now shadow attorney general – claims “austerity is a feminist issue.” Henceforth women, disproportionately punished by cuts in social spending, must press for ‘gender neutral’ government budgets. Regrettably, throwing a hijab over the class struggle is unlikely to end exploitation. Continue reading
Take it to the limit
It’s been fashionable for the smart and smug to dump on Trump – much like the English sneered at the Afrikaaner under apartheid while dining at the same table. But the precariat should be encouraged by the election of a US president who threatens to expose the insanity of the system, spread misery and insecurity to the better classes and unveil capitalism as a feast of vultures. There is no downside to confronting reality. Continue reading
Muslims “R” Us
Britons are far more divided over 9/11 than the rest of the world. A recent poll found that while 71 % of the population believe that al- Qaeda carried out the attacks, only 4 % of Muslims do so. Globally by comparison 39 % of all people and 21 % of Muslims buy the official story. Demonising the Muslim community as an incubator of terrorism in the UK is clearly polarising opinion. Continue reading
South Africa: cautionary tale
Charges of fraud against South Africa’s finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, have been dropped. No disgrace attaches. It’s largely accepted he’s been framed for trying to expose a web of cronyism and graft spun from President Jacob Zuma’s office. Support for the minister’s efforts to ‘clean-up’ government is growing. But so too is the recognition that capitalism without corruption is fantasy. Continue reading
Little Israel
Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of the Labour Party despite the efforts of his fellow MPs and a hostile media to bully him into submission. He has promised there will be no recriminations and called for party unity. His enemies pretend to be mollified while getting a second wind and sharpening their daggers. Public life is cynical and seedy in Little Israel. Continue reading
Summer in the City
London, September 2016
Feel the pain
The British establishment has been spooked into revealing its true colours. Public figures behave like kids who have had their toys taken away. Petulance, histrionics and shameless blagging abound. Sites like The Canary and OffGuardian provide a splendid record of not so juvenile delinquency in the face of popular rebellion. Continue reading
On the road again
How swiftly taboos have been broken in Britain. In the space of a year banned ideas of socialism, revolution and radical state intervention in the economy have forced themselves into the public imagination and the media. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, has put full-employment back on the agenda and the political class and the academy cannot dodge the issue. Continue reading
