International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Build to the left, quickly!

Andreas Sartzekis , Tassos Anastassiadis — 2010-12-29T15:50:20Z

Not so long ago the defeat of the right wing candidates in the municipal elections in the two major cities in Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki, would have been followed by scenes of popular enthusiasm in the streets throughout the night. There was nothing like that this time, when the right was defeated in cities where it had ruled for decades!

- IV431- December 2010 / Greece, Economy

Reflections on the Israeli occupation, the Palestinian Authority and the future of the national movement

Julien Salingue — 2010-12-20T16:54:08Z

On October 3, Mahmoud Abbas. de facto Palestinian President (his term of office was officially completed in January 2009), stated that he would reject all dialogue with Israel if the settlement freeze on the West Bank was not renewed. The same day, outgoing Israeli chief of staff Gaby Ashkenazi was “visiting” Bethlehem, where he met officials of the Palestinian security forces. The coincidence of these two apparently contradictory events illustrates the increasingly flagrant lack of synch between, on the one hand, diplomatic posturing to revive a “peace process” which is long dead and buried and, on the other, the reality on the ground, the continuation of Israeli expansionist policies and the ever stronger integration of the Palestinian Authority in the apparatus of colonial oppression.

- IV431- December 2010

A beautiful Indian summer of social mobilization

Fred Borras — 2010-12-14T19:50:38Z

The preparation of the Woerth-Sarkozy reform on pensions has generated one of the most important social mobilizations that this country has known, comparable to, if not more important than, those in November-December 1995 against the Juppe plan and in spring 2003 against the Fillon reform, concerning pension systems. Although having as yet only a little hindsight, we can already draw some lessons from the movement…

- IV431- December 2010 / France

Third European Anti-capitalist Conference, an encouraging step forward

Yvan LemaÃ®tre — 2010-12-13T22:36:35Z

Delegates from all over Europe, from Ireland to Poland, from Greece to Norway, met for the Third European Anti-capitalist Conference met in Paris on October 16 and 17 at the height of the demonstrations against the French pension reform.

- IV431- December 2010 / Europe, Anti-capitalist left

Neither Washington nor the Party State

Au Loong-Yu — 2010-12-13T17:02:31Z

It is interesting to read the debate among Chinese on Liu Xiaobo being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Although most liberals welcome this as encouragement for fighting for democracy in China, there are people who claim that Liu is not the proper candidate for the prize.

- IV431- December 2010 / China

Assembly of Social Movements meets in Dakar

Olivier Bonfond — 2010-12-06T10:45:14Z

The third Seminar of the Assembly of the Social Movements took place from 5-7 November in Dakar, as part of the preparation of the World Social Forum scheduled for February 2011. The Assembly adopted the following declaration:

- IV431- December 2010 / Senegal, Global Justice

The politics of class hatred as a response to the economic crisis

Alan Thornett — 2010-12-05T12:59:27Z

Britain has the first coalition government seen in Britain for 75 years. It was formed in June after an inconclusive election by an agreement between the Tory Party (main party of British capitalism) and the Liberal Democrats (the junior party of capitalism) â€” who in their previous form as the Liberal Party have not been in government since the early part of the 20th century.

- IV431- December 2010 / Britain

"No to war, No to Nato"

Xeca Robles — 2010-12-01T13:03:33Z

On the 19th and 20th of November, the warlords arrived in Lisbon. The heads of state of the 28 country members of NATO gathered to sign the allianceÂ´s new strategic concept. The Portuguese government prepared the most security expensive operation of all times in Portugal. Without any public consultancy, more than 5 million euro were spent on anti-riot equipment, like tear gas, armored vehicles, shields, helmets, etc.

- IV431- December 2010 / Portugal, NATO

Exacerbation of Corruption and Social Contradictions

Zhang Kai — 2010-12-01T06:34:12Z

In 1989, Chinese students and workers fought against the authoritative bureaucracy and corruption, for democracy and human rights. The struggle had been brutally suppressed, but over the past 21 years, the reality has shown us that it is essential to continue the struggle. It has also adversely proven that the repression has exacerbated the many abuses in the aftermath of the repression.

- IV431- December 2010

The Consequences of 60 Years of Nation-State Building

Zhang Kai — 2010-11-30T13:11:34Z

The People's Republic of China has been established for 60 years, there are tremendous changes in different aspects, particularly in the economy. It is said that China will exceed Japan and even USA within ten years and become the most powerful economic entity.

- IV430 - November 2010 / China