Democracy & State
Overcoming the enemies within
17 May 2012
The left must unite in order to change the relationship of forces both within and outside the Labour Party, argues Mike Macnair
Strike against death machine
26 Feb 2026
There has not being anything like the February 6 coordination in terms of scale so far. Toby Abse welcomes the overtly political strike action taken by dockers against Israel’s continued assault on the Palestinians
Escape from paradise
26 Feb 2026
Under a catastrophic US oil blockade, the country is suffering blackouts, shortages of basics and a draining exodus of young people. Yet there are still those on the left who imagine that small and medium-sized countries can be really independent and even build their very own socialist society, writes Eddie Ford
Sticking plaster budgets
26 Feb 2026
We want a democracy for the people that works through the people. Tam Dean Burn reports on the ‘people’s budget’ initiative proposed by Your Party councillors in Glasgow
Not just a feudal relic
26 Feb 2026
It is not enough to exploit occasional royal scandals, let alone adopt monarchical socialism, argues Paul Demarty. The left needs to consistently advocate a democratic republic as a matter of basic programmatic principle
Ban fraudulent legislation
19 Feb 2026
Judges have struck down the government decision to proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism legislation. This is an important victory - but a limited one, argues Mike Macnair. In the name of ‘national security’ the government can, and says it will, appeal
Not nationalism but regionalism
12 Feb 2026
Having rightly opposed the illusions in nationalism in Your Party Scotland, Peter Kennedy proposes his own recipe for the future
Heading to dreamland
12 Feb 2026
Separatism is taken as common sense by much of what passes for the left in Scotland nowadays. But, argues Peter Kennedy, socialism and nationalism contradict each other
We will not be silenced
05 Feb 2026
After Bondi, Zionists are cynically attempting to link the December 14 massacre to the pro-Palestine movement. Labor Tribune editor Marcus Strom reports from Sydney
More lies, more paranoia
05 Feb 2026
Rightwing media outlets continue to denounce the new Chinese embassy building - clearly they take their cue from Donald Trump and his claim that it is “very dangerous” for the UK do business with China. Mike Macnair explores what lies behind the entirely artificial campaign
While the vultures circle
05 Feb 2026
Even before the election has taken place, Gorton and Denton is being touted as another humiliating blow for Labour and yet another triumph for Reform. Eddie Ford is not convinced. True, Sir Keir is on the ropes in parliament, but expect tactical voting
Classical Marxism and general strikes
29 Jan 2026
Can the working class liberate itself through staging one big strike? That was the idea of Chartist leaders and is still the idea of left groups today. Marking the centenary of the 1926 General Strike, Jack Conrad looks at the Marx-Engels team and the international debates
History repeating itself
29 Jan 2026
Once protected by the US, Kurdish fighters have withdrawn to Kobane and Al Hasakah, but face annihilation. They no longer serve America’s strategic interests. Trump is backing the former terrorist Ahmad al-Sharaa. Esen Uslu pleads for lessons to be learnt
No trust in the state
15 Jan 2026
Despite Elon Musk’s climbdown, there is still talk of further legislation to restrict X and other social media platforms. But should the left trust Keir Starmer and Liz Kendall when it comes to policing online content? Paul Demarty thinks not
No return to past
15 Jan 2026
Sepideh Jodeyri introduces a statement from Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company on the struggle against the theocracy
Old corruption revived
08 Jan 2026
The latest right-populist smear tag is the ‘stakeholder state’, writes Mike Macnair. Fronted by Paul Ovenden, the Murdoch press rails against the bloated state apparatus and turns what is a half-truth into a big lie