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The documentary ‘Her Socialist Smile’ explores a different side of Helen Keller
Helen Keller (1880-1968) was one of the most inspirational figures of the 20th century. But most people know the writer and activist for her determination to overcome the barriers facing people with physical disabilities in her lifetime, not for her equally fierce determination to replace American capitalism with a system in which the workers control the means of production.
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The nonbinary Chinese fighting to live their truth
Activist Chao Xiaomi is inspiring transgender Chinese to reject the gender binary. But the community continues to face deep-seated discrimination.
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Walter Scott and the historical novel
On his 250th anniversary, Jenny Farrell writes about Walter Scott and his historical novels, uncovering themes of class conflict, ethnic and nationalist struggles, and how the personal experiences of his characters link with broader historical upheavals.
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U.S. defeat in Afghanistan—A contrast with the Soviet experience
The U.S. has been defeated today in Afghanistan not by a super power with an advanced military, but by a rag-tag army of fanatical locals who perfected and consolidated their fanaticism under U.S., Saudi and Pakistani tutelage in the 1980s to fight the Soviets.
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Deb Haaland: Diversifying the established imperialist order
On Dec. 17, 2020, Deb Haaland was appointed by Joe Biden as Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI). Celebratory headlines proclaimed it a “historic moment” and the identity politics-influenced left was quick to defend the appointment from questioning. Immediately, Haaland’s nomination was touted as a “victory for Indigenous movements.” As Indigenous and other colonized revolutionaries, we offer a materialist antidote to the narrow and superficial narrative that has been put forward by corporate, non-profit, and even, left-media sectors.
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At the brink of a new world system: imperialism, race and caste
The U.S. has degenerated to such an extent that is probably one of the least democratic countries in the world. It is ruled by an extremely powerful and undemocratic billionaire class, buttressed by an entrenched bureaucracy and intelligence apparatus, and legitimized by an obsequious media which does not even pretend to be neutral.
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The arts, trade unions, and working-class identity
Anthony D. Padgett reflects on the arts, trade unions, and working-class identity.
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A day in the death of British justice
The reputation of British justice now rests on the shoulders of the High Court in the life or death case of Julian Assange.
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Show the children the green fields and let the sunshine into their minds: The Thirty-Second Newsletter (2021)
The turn to digital education has emboldened mega-corporations to enclose the commons of public education, making it harder and harder for the masses of children to have access to any education at all. Big business sees the opportunity clearly.
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Sports sovereignty in Puerto Rico
A few days ago, athlete Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won a gold medal for PR in the 100-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics.
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Cuba, China, Latin America and the World
Cuba only needs around 30 million syringes to vaccinate its entire population–that is a million dollars. This is a tiny sum for the countries, either together or even individually, which oppose the blockade of Cuba.
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Marxism resurges among young Chinese after CPC’s centenary proves a success
Marxist-inspired youths.
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Feminist protests in Palestine
Mapping the fight for women’s liberation in Gaza and the West Bank.
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Berlin Wall and Kaiser Palace: Berlin Bulletin No. 194 August 10, 2021
Until 1989 that terrible Berlin Wall angered many an East German. The small part of Germany it helped preserve for 28 years was always the butt of anger, sarcasm, vituperation and resistance in one form or another.
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Walter Benjamin’s Marxist critique
The works of Walter Benjamin confuse the majority of his readers, but this does not need to continue.
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Why time’s up for China’s ‘shadow education’ industry
Last month, China announced strict new regulations on academic tutoring and training classes for young children. How did the industry get so big, so fast?
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Percy Bysshe Shelley: romanticism and revolution
Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, in Crime and Punishment, wrote, “The darker the night, the brighter the stars”.
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Sports apartheid: Israel’s Olympic team did not include a single Palestinian citizen of Israel
Palestinian citizens of Israel are 20 percent of the population. But not a single one was on Israel’s 90-member Olympic team.
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The far Right’s manufactured meaning of Critical Race Theory
Right-wing commentators claim to know what CRT is, while showing no interest in engaging with its ideas, and only very rarely quote the words of its proponents.
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Review of Keti Chukhrov – ‘Practicing the Good: Desire and Boredom in Soviet Socialism’
As the title reveals, Chukhrov is particularly interested in two aspects of Soviet socialism: desire and boredom. For a libidinally conditioned capitalist subject, socialism as a non-libidinal economy appears boring and unsexy.