London and local elections – Bad day for New Labour
A first look at the electoral disaster for the Labour Party in the
council elections and
Ken Livingstone’s victory in the London Mayoral contest.
News and analysis
The latest news and analysis from The Communist, alongside reports of our activity. For Marxist theory and history, click here.
Global Warming – A Socialist Perspective
"According to the defenders of capitalism and the "free market", socialism in general and marxism in particular is all but dead and buried. However it may be instructive to examine one of the main environmental problems created by the free market, namely global warming. This has been described as the greatest disaster facing humankind, not to mention a myriad of other species! The question is can the capitalist system find a global solution?".
Genetic engineering: who benefits?
Genetic engineering has come upon the world with a rush, accompanied by the usual claims of being a way of feeding the earth's poor and removing want. However these claims need to examined in the light of what has actually been done to date, and what is planned for the future. In fact the impetus for the development of genetic engineering, namely the rapid pursuit of maximum profits and futher control of world agriculture runs counter to the stated aims as well as encouraging unsafe science.
Marxism and the emancipation of women
Marxism has always been at the forefront of the cause of women’s emancipation. The 8th of March (International Women’s Day) is a red letter day for us as it symbolises the struggle of working class women against capitalism, oppression and discrimination throughout the world. We are publishing an updated version of the document we published last year on March 8, where we outline the first steps given by Marxism to fight for women’s rights, what the first successful revolution meant for the emancipation of women, conditions of women under capitalism both in advanced and Third World countries and pose the question of how to eliminate inequality between men and women for good.
Why we cannot trust the food industry
Sewage-fed cows, "mad cows", dioxin contaminated chickens, hormone injected cattle, genetically modified Soya, animal carcasses used to make animal feed, contaminated mineral water and Coca- Cola. A common thread runs through all these cases: the search for the highest profits on the part of the food industry to the detriment of everybody's health. Michele Fabbri, Italian Marxist magazine Falce Martello.
Third Way? No way!
We hear a lot about the Third Way these days. But
does this represent anything new or
is it just the socialdemocrats recognising that there is no
longer any room for manouvre?
Barbara Humphries looks at where these ideas come from
and what do they really mean.
GM foods: feeding the corporations
According to Monsanto, the American multinational currently making vast profits out of genetically modified food, the future's so bright that they could genetically modify us to wear shades! Joking apart, there is a serious issue here. Are GM foods safe?
Which Way for Blacks in the US – Black Nationalism or Socialist Revolution?
The United States is the richest and most powerful country on the planet. Yet despite
this, the poison of racism remains an integral part of America. Blacks, together with the
other racial minorities, remain the most exploited section of society, mostly employed in
the lowest-paid and menial jobs. Racism remains an everyday part of their desperate
existence. Today, despite all the "reforms" of the last thirty-odd years, blacks
continue to suffer from lynchings and violence at the hands of the state, racist
organisations and individuals, as well as being forced to live under conditions of mass
poverty and oppression. The recent gruesome murder of a black man in Texas who was dragged
to death behind a truck is a vivid reminder of American racism. Black youth are faced with
daily harassment and intimidation by the police.
World Cup ’98, Football, Big Business and Politics
This is supposed to be, as the media are forever telling us,
the people’s game, our World
Cup, etc., etc. But we have little or no say in it. We generate
the passion but all the
officials see are the buckets of cash. The governing bodies
of football, both national and
international, are remote, out of touch and above all
travesties of democracy. So long as
big business and the multi-nationals control the game and
shape it in their interests,
this will continue to be the reality of things. The fightback
should start now, starting
with the grassroots supporters groups, to ensure that fans
have a say in the game,
alongside the players and coaches, and that big business is
given the red card.
Diana, the Monarchy and the Crisis in Britain
The dramatic events of the first week of September 1997
mark a sea-change in British
society. The sudden death of the Princess of Wales was the
signal of an outburst of
popular feeling which was without precedent in recent
British history. Of course, Britain
has seen more than a few royal births, deaths and
marriages, duly attended by large crowds
of cheering or silently respectful people. But such a
spontaneous eruption as this, such
an overflowing of emotion, such a movement of the
masses, unorganised, uncalled-for,
uncontrollable – such a thing has never been seen. It is an
entirely new phenomenon,
reflecting an entirely new situation in Britain.
A Socialist Alternative to the European Union
This long document by Alan Woods provides a
comprehensive answer to many key questions for
the European labour movement. What is Maastricht? Why
are they introducing all these cuts?
Would it be better without Maastricht? Will it succeed? And
most important of all, how do
we fight it and what is our alternative.