-
Political power and dissent in post-revolutionary societies
Marx’s original definition concerned political power as the direct manifestation of class antagonism, coupled with its opposite: the abolition of political power properly so-called in a fully realized socialist society. But what happens in between? Is it possible to break entrenched political power without necessarily resorting to the exercise of a fully articulated system of political power?
-
How ‘white people’ were invented by a playwright in 1613
The Jacobean playwright Thomas Middleton invented the concept of ‘white people’ on 29 October 1613, the date that his play The Triumphs of Truth was first performed. The phrase was first uttered by the character of an African king who looks out upon an English audience and declares: ‘I see amazement set upon the faces/Of these white people, wond’rings and strange gazes.’
-
The Marxism of C.L.R. James
Cyril Lionel Robert James (1901-1989) has begun to enjoy a revival among U.S. and European intellectuals which promises to spread his influence more widely in the present and future than was the case at any time during his life. He is best known for his magnificent history of the Haitian revolution, entitled Black Jacobins (first published in 1938 and reprinted often since then), but a growing number of people are becoming increasingly familiar with many other facets of his work.
-
FBI launches COINTELPRO 2.0, targeting ‘black identity extremists’
Raise your hand if you identify as a “black identity extremist.” Matter of fact, raise your hand if you’ve ever even heard of the term “black identity extremist.”
-
Venezuelan analysts warn against a new plan to overthrow Nicolás Maduro on October 13th
The constitutional and legitimate government of Nicolás Maduro is facing a brutal offensive by the internal and foreign right led by the United States.
-
Here’s how Breitbart and Milo smuggled nazi and white nationalist ideas into the mainstream
A cache of documents obtained by BuzzFeed News reveals the truth about Steve Bannon’s alt-right “killing machine.”
-
Promises, promises
They keep promising, ever since the recovery from the Great Recession started more than eight years ago, that workers’ wages will finally begin to increase. But they’re not.
-
The difficult art of being a feminist in an economist classroom
It’s high time that we replace the narrow rational economic man within our models with a more objective understanding of human nature by incorporating the ‘feminine’ characteristics of humanism, connectedness, and intuition.
-
The hackers who made possible a universal electoral register for the Catalan referendum
VilaWeb interviewed one of the IT experts who created, at breakneck speed, the program allowing voters to dodge Spanish repression.
-
The Mexican earthquakes in perspective
Mexico suffered two powerful earthquakes in September 2107. The first, with magnitude 8.2 took place on September 7. With its epicenter off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, it caused damage mainly in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. The second took place on September 19 and had a magnitude of 7.1, with its epicenter about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City, damaged the surrounding area, including Mexico City.
-
Bolivia begins tribute to Che on 50th anniversary of death
On Wednesday, the country came alive preparing for the numerous forums, debates, and artistic and musical exhibitions in memory of Che Guevara.
-
The world must stand with Catalonia
In the face of Spanish authoritarianism, Catalonia deserves our solidarity and support.
-
Wind of changes is blowing in Catalonia
Everyone could sense in the air that this Sunday was going to be a great day for the Catalan people and for the peoples of the world who fight for the right to self-determination.
-
Soft shell, hard core: on the 150th anniversary of the publication of Karl Marx’s Capital, Vol. 1
In bourgeois economic theory, competition, commodity production, profit seeking, and growth express something like the human essence. They are ahistorical constants, not the results of specifically capitalist relations that have historically emerged and can therefore be overcome. This is exactly what makes Marx’s critique of economics highly topical.
-
The effect of the whip: The Frankfurt school and the oppression of women
Stuart Jeffries on the Frankfurt School’s absence of women and the points of contact between the thinkers associated with the Institute für Sozialforschung and theorists of feminism.
-
Sanitizing history on the 400-year anniversary of Mayflower voyage
In 1620 the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, UK and in 2020 the 400-year anniversary of the sailing is being commemorated, centred in Plymouth UK. Highly selective and sanitized education preparations have already started.
-
U.S. congress asks Pentagon to prepare to intervene in Venezuela
In the light of these Congressional moves, the “military option” which Trump has mentioned is far from being some crazy comment or out-of-place remark, but a carefully put together political plan, taking shape and methodically checking off its procedural stages.
-
The bipartisan militarization of the U.S. federal budget
The media likes to frame the limits of political struggle as between the Democratic and Republican parties, as if each side upholds a radically different political vision.
-
‘Brazil has lost control over its natural resources because it has lost its sovereignty’
One of the main issues of Michel Temer’s government is the surrender of Brazilian natural resources to national and foreign economic groups.
-
Google eyed
The Hoover Company’s vacuum cleaners once so dominated its market that people often still describe using any make of vacuum cleaner as ‘hoovering up’. Similarly, people ‘Google’ information from the Internet, even if they do not use Google.