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Socialism Today 132 - October 2009

Socialism Today 132 - October 2009

Capitalism: costing the earth

Climate change threatens the future of humanity. Two thirds of all eco-systems are damaged. Extreme drought, flooding, storms and fires, force millions to flee and become refugees. With climate talks coming up in Copenhagen in December, the heat is on to deal with the climate crisis. MATTIAS BERNHARDSSON, a city councillor for Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden), writes.


Preparing for the showdown

In the run-up to the general election, which must be held by June 2010, the mainstream parties are united on their central theme: there will be deep cuts to public services. These will go alongside pay restraint and soaring unemployment. The only debate is the severity and speed of the cuts. And, despite twelve years of anti-working class policies, most trade union leaders continue to back New Labour to the hilt. The interests of working-class people, however, are glaringly absent from the debate. PETER TAAFFE assesses this important political conjuncture.


Afghanistan: Obama’s war

"I WOULD say this about defining success in Afghanistan and Pakistan… We’ll know it when we see it", said Richard Holbrooke, US special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Financial Times, 14 August) Jim McGovern, Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts put it another way: "I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that we’re getting sucked into an endless war here". (Washington Post, 1 September) Whatever way you put it the eight-year war in Afghanistan is a nightmare. MANNY THAIN reports on Obama's unwinnable war.


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US backlash
The end of the Obama honeymoon

The roots of Chinese Stalinism
October sees the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic. Per-Ake Westerlund writes

China in transition
Lynn Walsh continues our China debate series on the character of the Chinese state

Forbidden questions
The politics of noir fiction

Beatlemania
It was forty years ago today...

Revolution in psychology
Alienation to emancipation

The Hitler-Stalin pact
A debate from the pages of Moscow News

Cover cartoon: Suzanne Muna www.squashdonkey.co.uk