In Today’s Election, the Survival of Brazil’s Democracy Is at Stake
Today, Brazilian voters are not just choosing between Bolsonaro and Lula — the far right and the Left — but whether their nation's politics will be authoritarian or democratic.
Blog
Fascism Was a Violent Counterrevolution
A century since the March on Rome, it is important to remember the horrors of Benito Mussolini’s regime. Fascism was morally repugnant — but also a movement based on violent counterrevolution.
Mike Davis’s Many Contributions to Building a Better World Will Live On
No leftist writer can compare to Mike Davis — not in clarity, breadth, generosity, or ironclad commitment to the working class. Davis has died, but his ideas will continue to find life in generations of leftist activists and thinkers to come.
Emmanuel Macron’s Government Is Imposing Its Unpopular Agenda by Decree
Emmanuel Macron’s government lost its majority this June, and now relies on strong-arm tactics to push through its agenda. This week’s budget debate showed the government’s weakness — and the possibility of blocking its assault on France’s social model.
They Live Is a Timeless Anti-Capitalist Horror Classic
It’s never a bad time to revisit John Carpenter’s 1988 classic They Live, a hilarious sci-fi thriller that skewers the inequality of the neoliberal era and offers an iconic depiction of capitalist ideology.
Australia’s Industrial Relations System Is Designed to Enrich Capital at Workers’ Expense
Since the 1980s, workplace law in Australia has crippled the union movement. Today, it’s a finely tuned machine that exacerbates inequality in order to enrich a small minority of bosses.
New York Landlords Would Rather Keep Homes Empty Than Provide Affordable Housing
During a dire housing crisis, new reporting shows New York City landlords are keeping tens of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments vacant. It’s not the first time landlords have mobilized to erode the city’s affordable housing stock.
To Protect Workers From Inflation, Unions Want to Bring Back the COLA Clause
Cost-of-living adjustment clauses — which protect wages against inflation — used to be standard fare in collective agreements. By fighting to bring the COLA clause back, Canadian workers are refusing to bear the brunt of spiraling costs.
The Politics of Celebrity Are Still a Dead End for the Democratic Party
From Howard Dean to Hillary Clinton, from Beto O'Rourke to Pete Buttigieg, the Democratic Party seems addicted to using personality-driven stardom as a substitute for real politics.
Defeating the Right’s Assault on Democracy Requires a Robust, Progressive Economic Plan
Voters agree American democracy is in trouble, but they’re divided on why and don’t seem too concerned. The Left needs a strong message condemning right-wing attacks on democracy and connecting the topic to the bread-and-butter issues voters care about.
When Liberals Fell in Love With Benito Mussolini
Today marks 100 years since Benito Mussolini became Italy’s prime minister. His first governments pursued austerity and suppressed the labor movement — earning him the praise of liberal economists both in Italy and abroad.
Ballot Initiatives Are the Hidden Voting Rights Issue in This Election Cycle
As our representative system has become less democratic and more oligarchical, ballot initiatives have become more important to passing majoritarian legislation. The Left should take note and proceed accordingly.