The SNP: a threat to the political
establishment?
The SNP looks set to win the
majority of Scottish seats in the general election. It would then be a
key player in any coalition horse-trading. With its eyes firmly on that
prize, it is positioning itself as part of a ‘progressive alliance’, in
opposition to Con-Dem austerity. But does that claim stack up? PHILIP
STOTT reports.
Greece: ‘erratic Marxism’ is not the answer
The Greek finance minister
Yanis Varoufakis is a key figure in the Syriza-led government in Greece
– elected on a radical, anti-austerity programme. He describes himself
as an ‘erratic Marxist’. So, what does he stand for? And what programme
can take the Greek workers’ struggle forward? PETER TAAFFE writes.
What low oil prices cost the world economy
The shale oil revolution in
the US and Canada has produced a world oil glut – and a slump in
investment in high-cost oilfields. Lower oil prices have given a boost
to economic growth in the US and oil importers like the EU, India and
Japan – but thrown oil producers like Russia, Nigeria and Venezuela into
crisis. They have split Opec and sharpened the competition between oil
importers and exporters. Far from being an unqualified ‘plus’, the
sudden plunge of oil and gas prices has underlined the volatility in the
world capitalist economy. LYNN WALSH writes.
