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The Left
The Left
Electoral success on Corbyn's improbable path to power - interview with Alex Nunns
In the wake of Corbyn's electoral success, Feyzi Ismail interviews Alex Nunns, author of 'The Candidate: Jeremy Corbyn's Improbable Path to Power'
The election of the French parliament: a huge shake-up, but polarisation continues
The victory of "the centre" is only temporary, argues John Mullen
Meanwhile in France, voters stayed away: A tale of two elections
Is this really a surge in support for centrist politics?
The Result: a very good night for Labour - and for the left - Election briefing #34
A victory for Jeremy Corbyn that’s also a real advance for the working class, writes Lindsey German
Win or lose, change has already come
John Rees on how to assess the election result
The days of timidity are over
It's time to stand up for our democratic rights, and that shouldn't be restricted to the vote we have in the general election
Why you should join Counterfire
We need a dynamic, combative left, fit for the 21st century
Mélenchon's campaign should inspire us here in Britain
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's dynamic presidential campaign is proof that the Left can make serious gains
Compare and contrast: what the French elections can tell us about Britain
The rise of Corbyn and Mélenchon have similar roots, but the Labour leader has to contend with problems that the French left does not have
French election tells of a divided France
Macron beat Le Pen to the presidency, but there is a parliamentary election still to come
Lies, damned lies and local elections - Election briefing #10
No one said it was going to be easy, but we must continue the fight, argues Lindsey German
A political earthquake in France and the fight against Le Pen
With less than a week to go until the second round of the French presidential elections, John Mullen takes a look at where we are now
French elections: Le Pen, Macron and the radical left
The first round results for the French presidential election confirm the deep political crisis in the country, which will no doubt deepen at the legislative elections in June
It’s the Left that can beat Le Pen and fascism, not Macron
With the fascist Le Pen winning a place in the the second round of the French election, Cameron Panting takes a look at how the Left should respond
French elections: the banker, the fascist...or the streets?
After the anti-capitalist left's unprecedented achievement in the first round, attention will now focus on Mélenchon’s engagement with the movement, writes Susan Ram
Scottish independence: which side are you on?
Opposition to the establishment will be strengthened if people south of the border support Scottish independence
Trump: the new face of fascism?
Is Trump a fascist? What is fascism anyway? Chris Bambery takes a look
Marisa Leticia - an obituary
Brazil's former first lady and life-long political activist, Marisa Leticia, has died. Orlando Hill takes a look at her life and contribution
French Elections 2017: Islamophobia, austerity and the left
A thorough analysis by John Mullen of the role of austerity and Islamophobia in the upcoming French elections and what the prospects for a radical left alternative are.
Not my pussy: protest trumps pessimism
The weekend’s magnificent demonstrations are a cue to reinvigorate left politics as a whole, suggests Ellen Graubart
The Women's Marches are just the beginning
This can be the start of a new wave of dissent, argues Lindsey German
Brexit and the left: uniting to take control of the debate
John Rees makes the case for the left need to unite around key issues to end the dominance of the right in the Brexit debate
Corbyn and Obama: compare and contrast
Barack Obama's comments about Jeremy Corbyn expose how out of touch with reality American liberalism is, argues Ben Myers
Keeping up: How Corbyn and the left can break through
The fortunes of the Corbyn project and the wider movement are intertwined, argues Ben Myers
Approaching the end time? Italy and the EU
What’s happening in Italy tells us volumes about what’s wrong with the European Union, argues Chris Bambery
Brexit: new poll provides evidence for the left‘s strategy
There are good grounds for the left counterposing our Brexit to the Tories‘, writes Kevin Ovenden
1956: Hungary's lost revolution
The 21st century anti-capitalist movement owes a debt to the heroic and inspiring working-class uprisings in Hungary 60 years ago, argues Sean Ledwith
Dario Fo will continue to inspire us
Actor, playwright, theatre manger, activist: Dario Fo's legacy will live on, writes Jackie Mulhallen
Cable Street: organised racism and capitalist crisis
We must keep the spirit of Cable Street alive by confronting organised racism and fighting the effects of the capitalist crisis, argues Feyzi Ismail
Taking back control: the movement hits the streets of Birmingham
We took back Birmingham from the Tories and were resolute in our opposition to austerity, demanding a new deal for working people, reports Cameron Panting
Breaking Bosnia's deadlock
The imperial powers are once again at loggerheads in the Balkans. Dragan Plavsic argues for a decisive response from the left
Battle of Cable Street: the fight against fascism
As the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street approaches, Chris Bambery looks at the events that took place in 1936 Britain and the lessons we can take from them
Jeremy Corbyn: what happens next?
Lindsey German looks at what happens next after Jeremy Corbyn's landslide victory in the second Labour Leadership election in 12 months
What strategy for Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership?
With Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election almost certain, debate is turning to how a divided Labour Party can move forward. Alex Snowdon considers the next steps for Corbyn and the left
Corbyn: a view from afar
An Argentinian perspective on the rise of Jeremy Corbyn from journalist Mariano Schuster
Corbyn: lies, damn lies and broadcast television
The recent media barrage against Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum represents a new low in mainstream vilification of socialist ideas, asserts Des Freedman
Contribution to Counterfire National meeting on 10th September
From George Barratt
Owen Jones has got it wrong about Jeremy Corbyn
Owen Jones is wrong to compare Corbyn's foreign policy to that of Ed Miliband, writes Lindsey German
Crisis of reformism: Corbyn, Sanders and the left
The re-election of Corbyn is key, but an increase in the level of class struggle is critical to lasting success, argues Lindsey German
Brazil coup: will the left respond?
Héctor Rios takes a look at the context of the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff
Black Lives Matter: getting organised
Shabbir Lakha reports on this week's London activist meeting of Black Lives Matter, as participants discuss the next steps for the movement
No time for faint hearts
We have got this far by being radical, argues Chris Nineham, and now is not the time to moderate the message
They call it unity but it's really war
Owen Smith is being painted as a unity candidate. Chris Nineham argues he is in fact spearheading a war on the majority of the Labour Party
Strategy beyond the referendum
As the established order falls apart, Chris Bambery argues how the left should respond
How the left should deal with the referendum results
With many of the old political certainties breaking up, Lindsey German argues that the left have to rise to the challenge.
End austerity - general election now! Lexit statement on leave vote
As the UK votes to leave the EU, let's take the fight to the Tories
Looking beyond the Referendum
Whatever the outcome, the left will have to unite after the referendum to fight against racism, austerity and war argues Lindsey German.
France and the fight against neoliberalism - podcast
Danielle Obono speaks about the social movements in France and the current wave of protests and strikes around the country
Getting ready for the 24th
After a bleak week, Lindsey German surveys the pre-referendum terrain and offers some starting points for future campaigning
Brexit, the economy, immigration and the Labour Party
Where are the economic arguments for anti-austerity and a new equality across Europe, asks Brian Heron
An assault on the whole movement
The furore over alleged antisemitism in Labour is a smear on the party’s left and an attempt to delegitimise criticism of Israel, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
To stop the far right we must oppose the EU
Kevin Ovenden argues for an internationalist approach to the European crisis in the second half of a two-part series on the European question
'Left-wing antisemitism': anatomy of an accusation
Leo Fischer argues the best response to accusations of antisemitism is to educate, organise and emphasise the continuing human rights abuses committed in Palestine
Dangerous Times Festival 2016: an opportunity that mustn’t be missed
With the Tories in turmoil and the political landscape in flux, the movement and the left need to come together to discuss next steps
The EU referendum and the Left
Obama's remarks have shown that the EU is a constraint on anything democratic and popular that may fall foul of the capitalist class, writes Alex Snowdon
Strategy matters: the left in Chile
The lack of a common strategy to confront neoliberalism, and divided by the Communist Party, Hector Ríos looks at the new left in Chile
Debunked: 12 left-wing reasons for remaining in the European Union
The referendum is not a vote on whether we want to be ‘part of Europe’. It's a vote on an institution that has done far more harm than good
Big trouble for Ireland's rulers: the election analysed
The radical left finds itself in a stronger position than ever before, but must build on this momentum, argues Rob Winkel
Why anti-capitalists should be anti-EU
Chris Bambery explains why the left has to oppose the EU, which is a neoliberal and unreformable institution
Carta a favor da saída da Grã Bretanha da União Europeia
This is a Portuguese translation of the letter by trade unionists and socialists in favour of an exit from the EU
Solidarity statement by JNU alumni and international academic community
Uditi Sen explains the background to the ongoing protests at JNU over the political persecution of the left by the Modi government
Feeling the Bern: can Sanders beat Clinton?
In challenging the corporatist and status quoist politics of Clinton, Sanders has become an electoral lightning rod for the movements, argues Sean Ledwith
Where next, after Syriza? A view from the left in South-Eastern Europe
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica analyses some of the challenges faced by activists trying to re-build the radical left in the Balkans and Eastern Europe since 1989
Nato's dangerous game in the Balkans
Dragan Plavšić examines the drivers behind Nato expansion in the Balkans and the implications for the left in the region
Don’t just watch: The logic of Corbyn’s rise revealed
Corbyn's rise is only the most recent expression of a long term trend towards a more radical and left-wing politics, argues Chris Nineham
Conference 2016 Resolutions
Resolutions passed for Counterfire National Conference 2016
Stop the War: strengthening the movement in 2016
The anti-war position of the radical left inside the Labour Party needs to be consolidated in the coming months, writes Kevin Ovenden
Podemos comeback has broken the Spanish deadlock
The result of the Spanish election is a major breakthrough for the left in Spain and beyond
How the left can move forward in 2016
As a tumultuous year in British politics comes to an end, Alex Snowdon takes a look at the implications for the year ahead
Autumn books for the Corbyn effect
Mark Perryman from
Philosophy Football
provides a rundown of new books for the #jezwecan majority
A coup in the EU: Portugal's left win election but are banned from power
Portugal’s president, has blocked a Left-wing coalition government even though it secured an absolute majority in the Portuguese parliament on an anti austerity mandate reports Nick Wright
Portuguese elections: the left's opportunity
The political centre is shattered. Now the left needs to seize the time, argues João
Camargo
Stay in the streets
The movement outside of Parliament is critical. This government can – and will – be defeated. But it will need all of us to work for it
Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future
Can technology on its own bring about a better society, as Paul Mason’s
PostCapitalism
suggests, or do we need revolutionary politics, asks Sean Ledwith
New Book 'Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth' out now
A new book by Kevin Ovenden looks at Syriza’s rise to become the most important party of the European radical Left
Labour: a party always divided
As support for Jeremy Corbyn has grown so has the determination of those who have run Labour for years to hang on to as much power as they can - this is not new says Lindsey German
Jez we did! A landslide for hope
Corbyn's election represents a decisive rejection of Blairism, a vote against austerity and against war, and a vote for peace and justice. The possibilities opened up now are immense
Time is tight: the challenges to Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign
The political challenges to a Jeremy Corbyn leadership of the Labour Party will come thick and fast…and long before a 2020 election, argues John Rees
The end of Blairism: Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party and the left
New Labour orthodoxies, dominant in the Labour Party for at least two decades, are crumbling writes Alex Snowdon
Jeremy Corbyn, feminism and the Labour leadership
If the women candidates are unlikely to be successful in the Labour leadership election race it's down to politics not patriarchy argues Lindsey German
Classic texts 2: a summary of Lenin's 'Left-Wing' Communism - an infantile disorder
The question for Lenin was: do you stand on the side lines, or engage in joint activity, including electoral activity, in order to break the hold of those who were fudging the issue of reform and revolution?
Brian Eno: Labour's widening witch hunt
Claims of 'far left infiltration' are being used to justify the Labour machine's purge of new members but, as musician Brian Eno makes clear in this opinion piece, the purge goes a lot deeper
Corbyn's enemies are panicked, will they pounce?
As the vote gets underway and particularly if Corbyn wins, what the movement does remains crucial argues Chris Nineham
Labour and socialism: six of the best
The runaway success of Jeremy Corbyn’s bid for the Labour leadership is focusing the attention of the left on the Labour Party's history and prospects in a way not seen for a generation. John Rees provides a guide to essential reading
What's behind the Corbyn surge and why it matters
As underdog becomes front-runner Chris Nineham looks at the factors behind the Corbyn surge
Corbyn: six reasons why he could win a General election
The Westminster bubble was wrong about Corbyn’s candidacy, and it’s wrong about how the left might win the next general election writes James Meadway
The last years of Neoliberalism: Greece rejects Austerity
The Greek vote heralds the last few years of neoliberalism in Europe - the Left can win this time says James Meadway
Greece: No to the deal, No to the political order
The following is a letter to the Turkish and Kurdish organisation Day Mer by Kevin Ovenden regarding the situation in Greece and the lessons for the Left
Radical: what’s in a word?
No solution can be really radical that attempts to avoid, diminish or circumvent the direct participation of the masses argues John Rees
Corbyn is in the leadership race – don't just celebrate, organise!
Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign gives us all an opportunity to profile socialist ideas and rebuild popular left organisation on the ground argues Chris Nineham
Jeremy Corbyn or Blairism Mark 2: a turning point for the Labour left?
The fate of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership bid should mark a turning point for the Labour left writes Lindsey German
Scotland's 'Democratic Revolution'
David Jamieson looks at how mass disaffection with austerity led to the SNP's landslide and the prospect of a radical left electoral challenge
Do protests matter?
Protest isn’t a spectator sport. It is an example of grassroots political organising that should strengthen and embolden those who turn out on the day argues Lindsey German
Protest ABC: the case for demonstrations
'A to B' marches are vital if we want to bolster the Left, bring people in and give strength to other tactics argues Shelly Asquith
E. P. Thompson and the Making of the New Left: Essays and Polemics
Enduring problems of class, class consciousness and political organisation are illuminated in this important new collection of E. P. Thompson’s essays, finds Dominic Alexander
Standing up to Project Fear: build a second force in Scottish politics
The SNP landslide has shown a glimpse of what ordinary people can do when they realise their own power. Now, the social movement must hold them to account for their promises
Revolutionising reformism
It will be up to the radicals and revolutionaries to make the case for an effective, modern reformism - a minimum set of demands, as a prelude to further radicalization - argues James Meadway
Phoenix time
John Rees looks at what can rise from the ashes of the election
The fall and rise of Ed Miliband
The prospect of Miliband’s recent rise in popularity climaxing with Cameron's ejection from Number 10 should be welcomed on the left argues Sean Ledwith
Scotland’s turn
Mark Perryman argues why on election night England’s Radical Left should be celebrating the SNP Landslide
Syriza: escaping the prison of the politics of the past
Syriza's leadership is walking a tightrope between the demands of the troika and the express will of its base and of the majority of the Greek electorate
Eyes on the prize: the election and beyond
The consensus at the centre of British politics is being prised open - and with this comes an opportunity to build a mass, radical left across this island
It's Scotland, stupid
The significance of this election will be greater than any since Margaret Thatcher came to power argues John Rees
Bloco de Esquerda: Portugal's Syriza
Alice Brito reports from Portugal on the state of the Left Bloc
The European Left and the Euro
The Left must ensure that the case against Europe is about transforming social and economic conditions, rather than as a basis for ultra-nationalist solutions to Europe’s malaise writes Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
The Benn Heresy
Alan Freeman’s classic analysis of Tony Benn and his role in the labour movement is sympathetic but critical, and remains highly relevant, argues James Doran
What are the choices? The left, the elections and how to get to a better place
Establishment politics is fracturing, but the General Election outcome won't represent the anger with the elite. Chris Nineham outlines a strategy for popular opposition and generating a new left
Some joined-up thinking in Redcar: RMT union president to stand as Green party election candidate
Peter Pinkney, President of the RMT union spoke to Kevin Ovenden about his decision to stand for the Green Party in May's general election in the once Labour heartland seat of Redcar
Confronting EU illusions
How can we voice opposition to the EU without sounding like Nigel Farage? Well the obvious answer is not to stay silent about the EU’s lack of democracy writes Chris Bambery
Greece, Syriza, and the new left
A resolution on Syriza and the new left passed at Counterfire National Conference 2015.
Submitted by the Steering Committee
Syriza's victory: ours to celebrate, ours to defend
With Syriza's victory comes the potential to shake off the dead years of neoliberalism - years where the left had been ruled out of existence, which are now coming to an end
Greek lesson: let's show some initiative on the Left
What initiatives can the European Left take to deliver practical solidarity to the people of Greece? Kevin Ovenden provides some suggestions
The Green surge and the new politics in Britain
The surge in membership of the Green party shows that British politics is not marching to the right - James Meadway looks at the implications for the Left
Greek election dispatch: Everyone has their rationality – that’s the problem
With an impending Syriza government its opponents are debating their options. Kevin Ovenden's tenth dispatch from Greece
Greece: the strategic question is posed, whether the Left asks it or not
Kevin Ovenden's 7th dispatch from Greece turns to debates about how electoral defeat for the parties of austerity might become a chance to end austerity itself
Scottish Nationalism: ambivalent about national independence?
The continued rise of the SNP has led to increased metropolitan suspicion and a growing backlash. What is the content of the SNP’s nationalism?
Greece: Syriza close to office, elites close to panic
Greece could be about to elect the most radical government of the left in Europe since the 1930s - the outcome could shape European society for decades to come
The Scottish referendum and the English Left – a contribution to debate
Counterfire’s Alex Snowdon replies to two recent articles by Mark Perryman discussing the implications of the Scottish independence referendum for socialists in England
After Scotland, turning into the English Left?
Guest contributor Mark Perryman offers a personal contribution to debates about the implications of the Scottish referendum
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