International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Fascism, populism and conservatism

Pips Patroons — 2018-12-01T07:27:16Z

In 1941, at Hitler's military apex, Bertolt Brecht wrote The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, wherein he reduces Hitler the politician and his lackeys to a vulgar band of bandits from 1930's Chicago.

- Fascism / Far Right, Flanders

Reform and revolution today: The strategic puzzle

Jet Menist — 2011-03-13T22:12:33Z

Between 1945 and 1979, capitalism was overthrown in substantial parts of the planet. Alongside bureaucratic tyrannies, this yielded promising experiments like the Sandinista revolution, and a wealth of material for debates on socialist democracy and strategy. After 1979, with capital on the offensive, the strategic debates fell still. Only in the new century have we seen the beginning of what Daniel BensaÃ¯d called â€˜the return of the strategic question'. Flemish socialist Matthias Lievens' new book on socialism and democracy in the 21st century provides a welcome opportunity to continue the discussion (which should not be restricted to those who can read it in Dutch).

- Reviews section / Flanders, Debate section, Reviews

Socialism and Democracy

Matthias Lievens — 2011-03-13T22:10:52Z

Let me first thank Jet for having read the book and written this review. By doing this in English, she threw the book in the midst of a debate that is raging internationally in the left, thus amplifying my voice far beyond the audience the book was originally meant for. I have great doubts whether the book deserves this attention. But I can only thank her for giving me the occasion to explain some of its central ideas to an English-speaking audience
The book appeared in a very precise (…)

- Reviews section / Flanders, Debate section, Reviews