International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

The meaning of our electoral success

Françisco Louçã — 2005-02-24T18:17:29Z

In the wake of the Left Bloc's 6.3% vote and 8 MPs won in the national elections, Francisco Louca - the central spokesperson of the Bloc - talked to the French revolutionary paper Rouge.

- IV364 - February 2005 / Portugal

Big progress for Red Green Alliance

Thomas Eisler — 2005-02-20T00:00:00Z

Thomas Eisler looks at the advances for the Danish Red-Green Alliance, and interviews new MP JÃ¸rgen Arbo-BÃ¦hr .

- IV364 - February 2005 / Denmark

Oil Rich Equatorial Guinea - Time For Another Coup?

Norman Traub — 2005-02-19T00:00:00Z

The long prison sentences passed on Simon Mann and Nick DuToit, leaders of a failed coup attempt against the regime of President Teoboro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, highlight the role of mercenaries in this oil rich state.

- IV364 - February 2005 / Equatorial Guinea

New Successes, New Challenges

Pierre Rousset — 2005-02-16T01:19:22Z

The World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre represented a significant step forward. It still expresses the offensive frame of mind that has characterised it since the beginning, in 2001, even though the bourgeoisie is still dealing severe blows against the workers' and peoples' movements.

- IV364 - February 2005 / World, Social Forum

Then there were 25

Brendan Young — 2005-02-13T00:00:00Z

At a time when the Cold War political division of Europe has ended, European governments are presenting the European Union Constitution as the way forward. But what direction is the EU going in with this Constitution?

- IV364 - February 2005 / Europe

Direct Democracy in Brazil

Alex Cowper — 2005-02-08T00:00:00Z

For fifteen years or so, beginning in the late eighties in the southern city of Porto Alegre, there was a radical experiment in direct democracy which involved thousands of citizens in improving the conditions under which they lived. This experiment was called the Participatory Budget (PB).

- IV364 - February 2005 / Brazil, New parties of the left, Reviews

A â€˜Civil War' that is French and Neo-Colonial

Jean Nanga — 2005-02-07T00:00:00Z

The civil war in Ivory Coast has led to the de facto partition of the country, between the rebellion of the New Forces (FN) and the National Armed Forces of Ivory Coast (FANCI), loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo. It entered a new phase at the beginning of November 2004, when the French army destroyed the FANCI's air force.

- IV364 - February 2005 / Ivory Coast

World Capitalism in a Phase of Permanent Instability

Michel Husson — 2005-02-06T00:00:00Z

The years 2000-2001 marked a significant economic turning point, undermining the hopes placed in the generalization of the benefits of the hi-tech “new economy” and the “irrational exuberance” of the financial markets. Certainly, the United States authorities have succeeded in minimizing the breadth of the recession, but they have only done so at the cost of new disequilibria, while Europe is sinking once again into a depressed economic conjuncture.

- IV364 - February 2005 / Economy

"To lead our people to full social and economic liberation through a complete revolution"

Pascual Serrano — 2005-02-05T00:00:00Z

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez questioned by Madrid intellectuals

- IV364 - February 2005 / Venezuela

Socialist Party Set for Election Comeback?

Antonio Louçã, João Carlos Louçã, Jorge Costa — 2005-02-04T00:00:00Z

On February 20 Portugal goes to the polls. Since the middle of last year, the right-wing Portuguese government has been in crisis - a crisis which led to the resignation and flight of its prime minister Durao Barroso. The Right tried to hold on with a new premier, but faced with popular indignation, the president was compelled to call elections. How is the militant left approaching this event?

- IV364 - February 2005 / Portugal