The Left

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

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

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

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

Opposition to the establishment will be strengthened if people south of the border support Scottish independence

Is Trump a fascist? What is fascism anyway? Chris Bambery takes a look

Brazil's former first lady and life-long political activist, Marisa Leticia, has died. Orlando Hill takes a look at her life and contribution

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.

The weekend’s magnificent demonstrations are a cue to reinvigorate left politics as a whole, suggests Ellen Graubart  

This can be the start of a new wave of dissent, argues Lindsey German

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

Barack Obama's comments about Jeremy Corbyn expose how out of touch with reality American liberalism is, argues Ben Myers

The fortunes of the Corbyn project and the wider movement are intertwined, argues Ben Myers

What’s happening in Italy tells us volumes about what’s wrong with the European Union, argues Chris Bambery 

There are good grounds for the left counterposing our Brexit to the Tories‘, writes Kevin Ovenden

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

Actor, playwright, theatre manger, activist: Dario Fo's legacy will live on, writes Jackie Mulhallen

We must keep the spirit of Cable Street alive by confronting organised racism and fighting the effects of the capitalist crisis, argues Feyzi Ismail

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

The imperial powers are once again at loggerheads in the Balkans. Dragan Plavsic argues for a decisive response from the left

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

Lindsey German looks at what happens next after Jeremy Corbyn's landslide victory in the second Labour Leadership election in 12 months

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

An Argentinian perspective on the rise of Jeremy Corbyn from journalist Mariano Schuster

The recent media barrage against Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum represents a new low in mainstream vilification of socialist ideas, asserts Des Freedman

From George Barratt

Owen Jones is wrong to compare Corbyn's foreign policy to that of Ed Miliband, writes Lindsey German

The re-election of Corbyn is key, but an increase in the level of class struggle is critical to lasting success, argues Lindsey German

Héctor Rios takes a look at the context of the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff

Shabbir Lakha reports on this week's London activist meeting of Black Lives Matter, as participants discuss the next steps for the movement 

We have got this far by being radical, argues Chris Nineham, and now is not the time to moderate the message

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

As the established order falls apart, Chris Bambery argues how the left should respond

With many of the old political certainties breaking up, Lindsey German argues that the left have to rise to the challenge.

As the UK votes to leave the EU, let's take the fight to the Tories

Whatever the outcome, the left will have to unite after the referendum to fight against racism, austerity and war argues Lindsey German.

Danielle Obono speaks about the social movements in France and the current wave of protests and strikes around the country

After a bleak week, Lindsey German surveys the pre-referendum terrain and offers some starting points for future campaigning

Where are the economic arguments for anti-austerity and a new equality across Europe, asks Brian Heron

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

Kevin Ovenden argues for an internationalist approach to the European crisis in the second half of a two-part series on the European question

Leo Fischer argues the best response to accusations of antisemitism is to educate, organise and emphasise the continuing human rights abuses committed in Palestine

With the Tories in turmoil and the political landscape in flux, the movement and the left need to come together to discuss next steps

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

The lack of a common strategy to confront neoliberalism, and divided by the Communist Party, Hector Ríos looks at the new left in Chile

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

The radical left finds itself in a stronger position than ever before, but must build on this momentum, argues Rob Winkel

Chris Bambery explains why the left has to oppose the EU, which is a neoliberal and unreformable institution

This is a Portuguese translation of the letter by trade unionists and socialists in favour of an exit from the EU

Uditi Sen explains the background to the ongoing protests at JNU over the political persecution of the left by the Modi government

In challenging the corporatist and status quoist politics of Clinton, Sanders has become an electoral lightning rod for the movements, argues Sean Ledwith

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

Dragan Plavšić examines the drivers behind Nato expansion in the Balkans and the implications for the left in the region

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

Resolutions passed for Counterfire National Conference 2016

The anti-war position of the radical left inside the Labour Party needs to be consolidated in the coming months, writes Kevin Ovenden

The result of the Spanish election is a major breakthrough for the left in Spain and beyond

As a tumultuous year in British politics comes to an end, Alex Snowdon takes a look at the implications for the year ahead

Mark Perryman from Philosophy Football provides a rundown of new books for the #jezwecan majority

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

The political centre is shattered. Now the left needs to seize the time, argues João Camargo

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

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

A new book by Kevin Ovenden looks at Syriza’s rise to become the most important party of the European radical Left

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

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

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

New Labour orthodoxies, dominant in the Labour Party for at least two decades, are crumbling writes Alex Snowdon

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

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?

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

As the vote gets underway and particularly if Corbyn wins, what the movement does remains crucial argues Chris Nineham

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

As underdog becomes front-runner Chris Nineham looks at the factors behind the Corbyn surge

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 Greek vote heralds the last few years of neoliberalism in Europe - the Left can win this time says James Meadway

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

No solution can be really radical that attempts to avoid, diminish or circumvent the direct participation of the masses argues John Rees

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

The fate of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership bid should mark a turning point for the Labour left writes Lindsey German

David Jamieson looks at how mass disaffection with austerity led to the SNP's landslide and the prospect of a radical left electoral challenge

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

'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

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

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

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

John Rees looks at what can rise from the ashes of the election

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

Mark Perryman argues why on election night England’s Radical Left should be celebrating the SNP Landslide

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

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

The significance of this election will be greater than any since Margaret Thatcher came to power argues John Rees

Alice Brito reports from Portugal on the state of the Left Bloc

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

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

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

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

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

A resolution on Syriza and the new left passed at Counterfire National Conference 2015.

Submitted by the Steering Committee

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

What initiatives can the European Left take to deliver practical solidarity to the people of Greece? Kevin Ovenden provides some suggestions

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

With an impending Syriza government its opponents are debating their options. Kevin Ovenden's tenth dispatch from Greece

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

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 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

Counterfire’s Alex Snowdon replies to two recent articles by Mark Perryman discussing the implications of the Scottish independence referendum for socialists in England

Guest contributor Mark Perryman offers a personal contribution to debates about the implications of the Scottish referendum

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