At this moment, the government of President Daniel Ortega and his party, the Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN or Sandinistas), face a popular rebellion from below on a national scale. We look here at the origins of this rebellion, at the alternatives facing it, and at the responsibilities of those of us in the United States toward the people of Nicaragua.
Sadr, Sectarianism, and a Popular Alternative
22 June 2018, byRecent elections in Iraq show that the country’s voters are tired of a political system that produces only corruption and inequality.
Support the AWP’s campaign for the 2018 General Election
21 June 2018, byAs Pakistan heads toward a general election in July, cynicism about the mainstream political sphere is rife. Attempts by unelected institutions to subvert the democratic process are playing out in full public view, censorship and attacks on press freedom have escalated and personal attacks among political elites have replaced any pretense of reasoned debate about Pakistan’s many economic, social and political crises – from rising inequality, to crippling national debt, to the 22 million children out of school, to the affordable housing crisis, to widespread malnutrition, to the imminent countrywide water shortage.
A critical left approach
20 June 2018, byThe world has been surprised by an impressive popular mobilization in Nicaragua, mainly of youth, which began in opposition to reforms to the social security system, but which has evolved to demand the resignation of the government. Its cost is tragic: dozens of dead, injured and detained, study and work centres destroyed, and a semi-paralysis of economic activity.
A feminist revolution engulfs Chile
19 June 2018, byFor the past month, Chile has been living to the rhythm of demonstrations and university occupations by a historic feminist movement, calling for non-sexist education and the end of harassment and of gender inequality in the health system.
Trump’s trade war on the world
18 June 2018, byTrump’s conflict with Canada and European countries over trade grabbed headlines during the G7 summit, but there are deeper factors involved, writes Lee Sustar.
Climate change and the next left
17 June 2018, byClimate change is already happening. But the really bad news is that there’s very strong evidence that capitalism will deliver a future of catastrophic climate change that will have far-reaching effects around the world, especially in the imperialized countries of the Global South. There is a vast gap between the continuing growth of greenhouse gas emissions and the massive reductions of emissions needed to prevent widespread catastrophes.
Banning abortion is violence against women
16 June 2018, byThis statement by Ni Una Menos (not one woman less) was issued on 4 June on the occasion of major demonstrations in Argentina calling for a liberalization of the law on abortion ahead of the debate scheduled to open on 13 June. On 14 June 2018 the Chamber of Deputies voted by a narrow margin to legalize abortion in the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy. This great victory is the result of years of mobilization by women in Argentina. It has to be confirmed by a vote in the Senate and approval by the president. The statement was translated and abridged for publication for socialistworker.org.
How Britain’s colonial legacy still affects LGBT politics around the world
15 June 2018, by ,At the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the British prime minister, Theresa May, urged Commonwealth nations to reform existing anti-gay legislation held over from British colonial rule.
Parliamentary elections in Slovenia
14 June 2018A new electoral consultation took place in Slovenia on Sunday 3 June 2018. The ultra-right conservatives of Janez Jansa gained the highest number of votes with 24,96 % It is followed by another right party that won 12,66 %. This important score is largely due to anti-migrant demagogy. But this election result is not enough to have a majority government and if he wants to be in power, Janez Jansa will have to find partners from the multitude of small parties, including the anti-islamic party that obtained 4,20 % of the vote. [It would be an exaggeration to call Jelin?i?’s party fascist. JanÅ¡a’s party certainly has neo-fascist features and even originates from Slovene interwar fascism, but it would be anachronistic to describe it as such.] Meanwhile there are events that can provide hope. The Levica party (The left) won 9,29 %. This is to be compared with the 9,92 % gained by the social-democrat party. Lucien Perpette asked Marko Krzan, a militant of Levica to comment on these elections :