We publish here an article by Andrea Davolo of the Italian Marxists, who looks at the latest tragedy involving the case of hundreds of North African migrants who died recently due to a capsized overcrowded boat off the coast of Lampedusa, an Italian island, and who analyses the wider question of immigration under capitalism.

In the final analysis, the US government shutdown over parts of the federal budget and Republican opposition to “Obamacare” is a reflection of the insoluble contradictions of capitalism. In a follow up to yesterday’s article, we publish here an in depth analysis of the economic and political background to the current shutdown and potential default in the USA.

With sections of the US Federal Government now in shutdown and the possibility of default looming, we publish here an article by John Peterson of Socialist Appeal USA, who comments on the deep divisions that are opening up with the US capitalist class and their political representatives.