International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Techno-feudal lords or oligarchy of data traffickers?

Françisco Louçã — 2026-01-20T11:44:00Z

Intensive use of social networks, more than other forms of Internet presence, with the possible exception of games, generates behaviours comparable to other forms of drug addiction, such as excessive consumption and psychological, or even physical, hangovers. This article argues that this is the product sold by this new oligarchy.

- IVP612 - January 2026 / Economy

The bromance between André Ventura and Luis Montenegro in Portugal

Françisco Louçã — 2025-11-20T10:47:42Z

The media hype in Portugal about the “survival” of the Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) has the same function as the anti-gypsy posters of André Ventura (president of the far-right Chega party), namely, to distract through a gesture with one hand, while the other takes care of more lucrative tasks.

- IVP610 - November 2025 / Portugal

“The financial economy prevents people from deciding”

Françisco Louçã — 2020-02-29T06:28:30Z

Francisco LouçÃ£ is an economist especially known for being one of the founders and leaders of Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) in Portugal. He is the author, with Michael Ash, of Shadow Networks: Financial Disorder and the System that Caused Crisis, Oxford: OUP, 2018.

While visiting Madrid and Barcelona to promote the Spanish edition of the book, he was interviewed by Jorge O. Maldonado for PÃºblico. The interview was published on 4 February 2020.

- IV541 - February 2020 / Economy

Making Portugal's Break With Austerity Real

David Broder, Françisco Louçã — 2019-10-06T08:16:34Z

As Portugal heads to the polls this Sunday, the Socialist government boasts of its success in breaking the country out of austerity. Yet as the Left Bloc's Francisco LouçÃ£ tells Jacobin, the current low-investment growth model is unsustainable â€” and fundamental questions around debt restructuring and the Eurozone architecture remain to be answered.

- IV537 - October 2019 / Portugal, Economy, European Union

The Portuguese solution and how to use it

Françisco Louçã — 2019-08-15T07:58:04Z

In Portugal there is an old, very old, popular saying, that “from Spain, there is neither good wind, nor good marriage”. Readers living in the Spanish state will, as I hope, understand the existence of some caution based on the history and popular perceptions of the only Iberian nationality that has not been subjected to the power of Madrid throughout the history of the last millennium. And also, what this saying manifests. Literally, it means that the winds coming from the Spanish state (from the east) are rare, but harmful for agriculture. Also, that weddings between the royal houses of the two states resulted in dynastic, diplomatic and military problems. Issues that, in fact, led to the only period in which Portugal was integrated into the kingdom of Castile, between 1580 and 1640. Hence the phrase “neither good wind, nor good marriage”.

- iV535 - August 2019 / Portugal, Spanish state

Parliamentary action and social struggles - The experience of the Portuguese Left Bloc

Françisco Louçã — 2018-09-07T13:20:18Z

The Left Bloc was formed about twenty years ago in Portugal, by the fusion of forces from the anti-capitalist left and the social movement. Today, together with the Communist Party, it is the main formation of the combative left in the country. Based on the Bloc's experience, Francisco LouçÃ£ gives an overview of the still problematic relationship between parliamentary opposition work and investment in social movements and mobilizations.

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

“More than resisting, the left must re-exist”

Françisco Louçã, Marcelo Freixo — 2016-12-27T09:27:52Z

Marcelo Freixo was the mayoral candidate for the PSOL in the municipal elections of October 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. He was interviewed by Francisco LouçÃ£, who is part of the leadership of the Left Bloc in Portugal and of the Fourth International. This interview, which took place on November 27, 2016, was first published by the electronic daily of the Left Bloc, Esquerda.net.

- IV503 - December 2016 / Brazil

What is to be Done with the Banks? Radical Proposals for Radical Changes

2016-04-14T07:55:54Z

Nine years after the outbreak of the financial crisis that continues to produce damaging social effects through the austerity policies imposed on victim populations, it's time to take another look at the commitments that were made at that time by bankers, financiers, politicians and regulatory bodies. Those four players have failed fundamentally in the promises they made in the wake of the crisis – to moralise the banking system, separate commercial banks from investment banks, end exorbitant salaries and bonuses, and finally finance the real economy. We didn't believe those promises at the time, and for good reason. Instead of a moralising of the banking system, all we've had is a long list of misappropriations that have been brought to light by a series of bank failures, beginning with that of Lehman Brothers in 15 September, 2008.

- IV495 - April 2016 / Economy, Debt

The struggle for the solution of the debt and the Euro

Françisco Louçã — 2016-02-26T18:06:53Z

In this brief text I reflect on the international context and the European crisis on the basis of the experience of Portugal under the Troika and the political change that has happened since then. The first part presents a map for 2016, the second deals with Europe, the struggle for the restructuring of the debt and the question of exit from the Euro.

- IV493 - February 2016 / Europe, Greece, Portugal, European Union, Debt

What will happen after this weekend's agreement between the Socialists, the Left Bloc and the Communists?

Françisco Louçã — 2015-11-10T19:02:27Z

On Tuesday 10 November, the rightwing government in Portugal was defeated by a vote of 123 against, 107 for. The Socialist Party has concluded an agreement with the Communist Party and the Left Bloc that would make it possible for the Socialist Party to form a government if the President invites them to do so. Françisco Louçã, former national spokesperson of the Left Bloc explains what is at stake.

- IV490 - November 2015 / Portugal, New parties of the left