International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Scotland after the British general election

Murray Smith — 2015-06-03T13:21:27Z

The day after the May 7 election, George Kerevan, newly elected SNP MP for East Lothian, was walking through his constituency. He was approached by a group of young working-class women who recognized him, proudly declared that they had all voted SNP and wanted to take “selfies” with him. When Kerevan asked why, they replied “because this is history”. They were of course right. The day before the SNP had taken 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland, leaving the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour with one each.

- IV485 - June 2015 / Britain, Scotland

Independence loss contains seeds of future victory

Murray Smith — 2014-10-01T08:36:14Z

After a campaign that lasted two years, Scotland voted on September 18, for or against independence, yes or no. And it was the No that carried the day, by a majority of 55 per cent to 45 per cent. So it was a victory for the British political establishment and a defeat for the forces of independence. And as good democrats, the losers have accepted the verdict.

- IV477 - October 2014 / Scotland

Truths and counter-truths

Murray Smith — 2014-07-26T10:11:48Z

In every war, one of the fronts is that of information and misinformation. In the crisis that Ukraine is going through at present there is a discourse of the Russian state, expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relayed by the political world, broadcast by media that are increasingly under the orders of the state and by the pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine. Its purpose is to delegitimize the Ukrainian government and state and to legitimize Russian interference in the affairs of the country. This discourse has an impact on important sectors of the population is Eastern Ukraine, which are suspicious of Kiev and influenced by the Russian media. Sometimes it even finds an echo in the Western media and, what is much worse, in a part of the left in Europe. It seems important to challenge the Russian version of events in Ukraine.

- IV474 - July 2014 / Ukraine

Luxembourg elections open new political chapter

Murray Smith — 2013-11-02T22:35:05Z

Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on October 20. The immediate outcome was that the ruling (practically non-stop since 1945) party, the Christian Social People's P arty (CSV) looks headed for the opposition benches. A new three-party government is in the making, under the aegis of the Democratic Party, the most thoroughgoing liberal party in Luxembourg and the big winner in these elections, obviously taking votes from the CSV. The anti-capitalist party déi Lénk made less spectacular but solid progress.

- IV466 - November 2013 / Luxembourg

Will the real European Left stand up?

Murray Smith — 2013-06-03T13:55:48Z

THis article was published on leftunity.org in reply to the article "Left Unity's 'modest flutter' ".

- Building new parties of the left / Europe, New parties of the left, Debate section

Class struggle in a “haven of peace and social progress”

Murray Smith — 2011-05-13T18:00:01Z

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the European Union, and also one of the richest. However, in spite of its small size, it has some features that provide an acute illustration of broader tendencies that exist within the European Union and the advanced capitalist countries in general. The two most striking aspects of Luxembourg are its importance as a financial centre and the multinational character of its workforce.

- IV436 - May 2011 / Luxembourg, New parties of the left

The European workers movement: dangers and challenges

Murray Smith — 2011-04-05T06:02:36Z

With the onset of the world economic crisis, the European workers' movement finds itself in a new phase, one that is replete with dangers and challenges. It is important to underline that we are in fact in a new situation and not just a continuation of the previous period.

- IV435 - April 2011

The Unfortunate Collateral Damage in the name of Peace

Murray Smith — 2008-10-26T21:49:55Z

We appeal for your kind assistance to help meet the most urgent needs of the affected populations for food, medicines, potable water and containers, used clothing and books for children, sleeping mats and plastic sheets for temporary shelter.

- IV405 - October 2008 / Philippines

The Scottish elections and the SSP

Murray Smith — 2007-05-12T13:59:42Z

From the point of view of the radical Left in Western Europe, and beyond, the most striking thing about the 2007 Scottish parliamentary elections was the wiping out of the parliamentary representation of the anti-capitalist, socialist Left, and in particular the Scottish Socialist Party.

- IV389 - May 2007 / Scotland, New parties of the left

War and Peace in Mindanao

Murray Smith — 2007-04-06T12:08:30Z

The conflict in Mindanao has lasted for more than 35 years, as the Muslim Bangsa Moro people have fought for self-determination. To date the conflict has claimed 120,000 lives, many of them civilians.

- IV388 - April 2007 / Philippines