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The Right
The Right
Contradictions in the US and Israel's special relationship
The needs of the Israeli settler-colonial state and US imperialism are not perfectly aligned, argues John Clarke
Europe in crisis: opportunity for the left….and the right
As angry protests erupt across Europe, Kevin Ovenden argues that the left has to present a clear direction to the struggle or face the growth of a scapegoating right
Sweden election: Polarisation and prospects for the left
ES Sandberg assesses the political landscape ahead of Sweden’s general election on 11 September
Curious tensions: the American hard right and Putin
The isolationist pro-Putin politics of the Republican hard right is clashing with an American establishment committed to imperial hegemony, writes John Clarke
'A new world is struggling to be born': Pamela Fitzpatrick on Starmer, poverty and the mood for change
Pamela Fitzpatrick discusses with Shabbir Lakha current Labour leadership, the targeting of socialists in the Labour party and what the left can do to counter it
A dangerous opening for the right in Canada
The racist, anti-vaxx People's Party of Canada being the only party to have made significant gains in the recent election is a warning for the left, argues John Clarke
Germany’s election: shattering the illusion of stability
As Germany prepares to go to the polls, Kevin Ovenden assesses the fragmentation of German politics
Why I’m marching in Manchester: take the fight to the Tories over the climate crisis
Elaine Graham-Leigh explains how the
People's Assembly demonstration
outside the Tory conference in October presents another opportunity to build the movement against climate change
Covid, corruption and calamity: why Guatemalans want the president out
Protesters are leading a national shutdown to force President Giammattei to resign after he sacked the country’s anti-corruption prosecutor, reports Jonathan Maunders
Zero support for workers as Labour backs employers on zero-hour contracts - Counterblast
Labour's ambivalence towards workers' rights alongside its embrace of the neoliberal status quo is set to backfire, argues Lucy Nichols
The left, the right and the culture wars - video
Introduced by Mike Wayne and Kevin Ovenden at Counterfire's Revolution! Festival
Punished for speaking truth to power: Dawn Butler is right about Johnson’s lies
Instead of punishing Dawn Butler for her honesty, Boris Johnson should be held to account for his lies, argues Caitlin Southern
Tories 3-0 down in the culture wars – weekly briefing
Lindsey German on the right in retreat and the grey knight’s return to witch-hunting
Murdoch’s man: how the left can beat Coyne in Unite
Chris Neville looks at the Coyne campaign in the Unite General Secretary election and explains why the left should back Steve Turner
French elections: Why there is no champagne for Macron or Le Pen
The triumph of traditional parties of the left and right, together with record levels of abstention, offers little cheer for either projected ‘frontrunner’ in next year’s presidential poll, argues Susan Ram
The news that’s not fit to print
Andrew Neil's new news channel funded by big money and bigots is an attempt to push the already right wing UK media further to the right, writes Des Freedman
Is it good night Sir Keir after Labour’s bad night?
Labour's Hartlepool loss and poor performance in the local elections is a decisive rejection of Starmer, and blaming the left won't save him, argues Shabbir Lakha
The Colombian uprising: mass protests rage on despite deadly repression
Jonathan Maunders reports on the mass protests across Colombia in response to police brutality and planned government austerity measures
The dangerous victory for the Spanish right in Madrid
Chris Bambery analyses the Popular Party’s success in Madrid’s elections, and the increased power of the far right Vox party
From ‘bling-bling’ to Sing Sing: the calamitous fall of Nicolas Sarkozy
The conviction of a former president on corruption charges is a major humiliation for the French State, writes Susan Ram
The Trump Moment: a wake-up call for the left
A long read - August Nimtz examines the Trump era in the context of the capitalist crisis and argues for the building of an independent left rooted in the class struggle.
Unite: the left must mobilise to beat the right
Unite executive member Richard Allday writes (in a personal capacity) on the union’s general secretary election and the need for a united left
Beyond satire: John Woodcock to investigate extremism
John Woodcock’s record shows the absurdity of his review into “progressive extremism” and the transparency of the government’s attempts to criminalise protest, writes Yonas Makoni
Pro-independence Catalan vote deepens crisis of the Spanish state
Chris Bambery analyses the Catalonia election which put pro-independence parties ahead of unionists, the crisis for Madrid and the challenges ahead for the left
Tories don’t actually care about your child’s mental health - CounterBlast
The government is using fake concern about lockdown learning as a smokescreen to justify another risky reopening of schools, argues Sean Ledwith
Poland’s abortion ruling: collapsing conservatism
The women's movement taking on the Polish government's draconian abortion ruling is developing into a broader political force, writes Reece Goscinski
After Trump: can the left organise to defeat the right? - part two
As Biden is inaugurated, Kate O’Neil asks DSA activist and author Saman Sepehri what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the American left
After Trump: can the left organise to defeat the right? - part one
In the lead-up to Biden’s inauguration, Kate O’Neil asks DSA activist and author Saman Sepehri what this month’s historic events in the US mean for the American left
Why Trumpism must be defeated: reactions to the Capitol chaos
Some immediate thoughts on the scenes of armed Trump supporters taking over the Capitol building on Wednesday
The perfect storm: Covid and Brexit merge in Kent - CounterBlast
Terina Hine looks at the growing crisis around sky-rocketing Covid transmissions and the miles of backed up lorries on the M20 ahead of the Brexit deadline
When Liz Truss speaks a truth, beware
Mike Wayne unpicks Liz Truss’s recent speech on inequality and finds that it scores some hits against parts of the left
Cummings’ exit shows how the Johnson administration is falling apart - CounterBlast
The sacking of Boris Johnson’s chief of staff has deeper roots than mere office tensions in Downing Street, argues Alex Snowdon
Imperialism is driven back in Bolivia
The return of Evo Morales to Bolivia symbolises the defeat of the Washington-driven coup following the election last month, writes John Clarke
Australia: Covid, neoliberalism and the labour movement
For the Australian labour movement, the government's failures present an opportunity to organise to save lives and for an alternative to neoliberalism
Crossing red lines: why the establishment wants to destroy Corbyn
Corbyn's anti-war principles and their popular appeal are the biggest threat to the establishment, says Chris Nineham
The attack on Jeremy Corbyn is baseless – there is nothing to support it in the EHRC report
The EHRC report does not uphold claims that Labour under Corbyn was institutionally antisemitic and does not justify the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn, argues Chris Nineham
Why Black History Month matters
Floyd Codlin responds to right wing attacks on Black History Month
US torn by crises as election looms
Ahead of the US elections, John Clarke considers the balance of forces, the dangers of a second Trump term and the intensifying crisis whatever the outcome
Counter-revolution in the Labour Party and the coming storm
John McInally, long-standing activist and former member of the PCS executive, contributes to the ongoing discussion on the future of the Labour Party and the prospects for the wider left
Refugee crisis is one of the major legacies of Britain’s recent interventions
'Wars are welcome, refugees not' seems to be the only mantra the media and politicians want to repeat, says Lindsey German
The Starmer restoration is only just getting into stride
Starmer's transformation of the Labour Party by attacking the left and pulling the party to the right is only just beginning, argues Kevin Ovenden
Authoritarian neoliberalism shows its ugly police face in Serbia
Police brutality shows shallow support for Serbia’s government, reports Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
The global picture: Covid cases and deaths continue to rise sharply
World leaders like Trump and Johnson trying to get back to business as usual while the virus continues to spread are deliberately sacrificing public health, writes John Clarke
Serbia’s quagmire: 7 conclusions from Europe’s first Covid-19-era election
The ruling party wins a landslide, but it faced an opposition boycott, reports Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Don’t let cynical ploys derail BLM - CounterBlast 13 June
The Black Lives Matter movement in the UK is coming under pressure from a number of directions, writes Alex Snowdon
Teachers tell Johnson to follow the science - CounterBlast 31 May
Scientists speaking out against the government put pressure on Boris Johnson to delay school re-opening, writes David McAllister
Not until it's safe: stay away on 1st June
Many primary schools will re-open for large numbers of children on Monday. This is too soon, argues NEU activist Tony Dowling
Labour’s new Gen Sec proves the right have taken over
David Evans's rise to General Secretary shows the return to Blairism by Starmer's Labour, says Lucy Nichols
Laura Smith: why we should listen to our teaching unions
Teaching unions are right to set tests for the government to meet to protect their members, children, and families, says Laura Smith
Conspiracies and capitalism: why we shouldn’t end the lockdown
Responses to the Covid-19 crisis that jeopardise the working class have to be rejected, asserts Shabbir Lakha
Corona and the food crisis: how the markets failed us
Corona crisis has exposed how market forces cannot be trusted with our food production, says Kevin Potter
Toby Young is wrong again: the threat to free speech comes from the right
Right wingers like Toby Young are no friends of free speech and the left must fight back, argues Chris Nineham
No socialist should vote for Keir Starmer
In the aftermath of Corbyn, candidates understand the need to be seen to tack left. Kier Starmer's career offers an insight into why we should examine the facts, argues Jonathan Maunders
2017 - 2019: what changed?
We need to analyse the last 2 years and place events in their proper context, argues Richard Allday
Corbyn is not to blame
Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister was unthinkable for the Labour right, and demanding a second referendum was about destroying the Corbyn project, writes John Westmoreland
Dearlove's recycled attack on Corbyn exposes the right's increasing desperation
Dearlove's allegations of Corbyn's sympathies are wrong and completely baseless argues Chris Nineham
Corbynism from Below – book review
Corbynism from Below
is a wide-ranging collection of thoughtful essays on this historic opportunity for the left to transform society, finds Kevin Ovenden
Flawed transition: why the Spanish state is repressing the Catalan independence movement
Chris Bambery explains that Spanish repression of the Catalan independence movement, and the impending trial of its leaders, is rooted in the concessions made to right-wing nationalism in aftermath of Franco’s dictatorship
Johnson’s rottweiler: the toxic tactics of Dominic Cummings
Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s senior advisor, is a fake anti-establishment figure cut in the mould of Steve Bannon, argues Sean Ledwith
The refugee crisis: the situation worsens in Greece
Attacks on refugees in Greece are indicative of the situation throughout Fortress Europe, argues Eleftheria Kousta
The Millbank Militants: the forces behind People's Vote
From Mandelson to millionaires with vested interests, the People's Vote campaign is run and funded by those who want to destroy the left, argues Martin Hall
‘I am not what I am’: why the left must take action against ‘Iago’ Watson
Tom Watson has made it clear that he will stop at nothing to remove Corbyn and it's about time the left stands up to him, argues Sean Ledwith
Adopting the IHRA definition didn't end the attacks, it accelerated them
Apologising for an epidemic of antisemitism in Labour that isn't there and giving in to the right's demands has only accelerated the attacks, argues Lindsey German
Greece elections: the right is back in government
The conservative right won the Greek election but didn't do as well as predicted, and the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn were wiped out, reports Kevin Ovenden
The poverty of anti-corruption politics
A politics based on anti-corruption obscures class and tends to benefit one side. It's not the left, argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg
Iago Watson strikes again
Watson wants to wreck the Corbyn project. The left mustn't let him, argues Martin Hall
Boris Johnson as Prime Minister should not be tolerated
Boris cannot be allowed to take control unopposed - we must demand a general election, argues Chris Nineham
Trump and Farage: gruesome twosome of the resurgent right
Trump is feeding a toxic resurgence of the pinstriped populist right, argues Sean Ledwith
There is something happening here but you don’t know what it is, do you Mr Centrist?
It’s the failure of centrist politics that fuels the rise of the populist right, but the centrists just don’t get it, argues John Rees
Remain and reform? European Parliament elections suggest otherwise
Promises of progressive reforms within the EU will ring hollow, with the hard right set to gain from polarisation. The left here can challenge this trend, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
A slow coup against Corbyn has started. We must stand up against it.
A coordinated campaign against Jeremy Corbyn is underway and the left inside and outside the Labour Party must stand against it, argues Chris Nineham
The attack on Chris Williamson is an attack on Corbyn and the left
The decision to suspend Chris Williamson is a capitulation to the right that only gives more ground for attacks on the left, argues Shabbir Lakha
Labour backing a second referendum is a mistake
Labour announcing it will support efforts to push for a second referendum is a mistake, here's why:
The left should take note: attack is the best form of defence
When the right is attacking you, going along with it is not the solution, fighting back is, argues Chris Nineham
Good riddance… but the left must face up to this new danger
Good that the splitters have gone, but this is a dangerous moment for the left, argues John Rees
Luciana Berger and the plot against Corbyn: this is no time to retreat
From the antisemitism smears to the threats of splitting from the party over Brexit, the PLP are still at war with Labour's leadership, argues Alex Snowdon
7 things you need to know about the Venezuela coup attempt
As Western leaders impose more sanctions and ultimatums, Robin Winkel explains why we must oppose foreign intervention in Venezuela
O efeito Bolsonaro: e agora Brasil?
À medida que as eleições do Brasil avançam para o segundo turno, Orlando Hill examina as perspectivas para a esquerda derrotar a candidatura presidencial da extrema-direita Jair Bolsonaro
Kavanaugh, Trump and the degradation of US politics
Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court marks a shift to the right, and Trump's antisemitic rhetoric shows the rot at the core of the US state, argues Sean Ledwith
Brazil’s election and the Global South’s debt trap
The media present today’s Brazilian elections as a special case but, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, Brazil’s troubles reflect the troubles of the world economy
Sweden’s elections and the mounting far right threat in Europe
The far right Sweden Democrats didn't do as well as commentators anticipated, but the fascist threat must be confronted across Europe, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
National Unity Demonstration against Racism and Fascism: unite against the right
With the far right gaining strength at home and across the continent, this demonstration provides the left with a crucial opportunity to fight back, writes David McAllister
The fightback is on: hundreds rally behind Corbyn in London
Hundreds of Londoners rallied against the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn and Palestine on Tuesday, Shabbir Lakha reports
How did socialists respond to the advent of fascism?
As the far right gains energy across Europe, John Riddell reminds us of how the emergence of fascism was met by socialists
Stand firm in attacks against Corbyn, or lose the fight
Right wing attacks on Corbyn have intensified. If we lose ground now, we will pay heavily in the future, argues Alex Snowdon
The attack on Bookmarks was an attack on us all
The attack on Bookmarks shows how emboldened the far right are and why the debate on how to stop them is so urgent argues Pete Morgan
Hodge case shows why Labour Right needs to be confronted - and defeated
The only appropriate response to Margaret Hodge and her co-conspirators is to take them on politically and defeat them argues Alex Snowdon
The rise of the far right - and how we stop it
As fascist organisation grows across Europe, assisted by the populist right, our history of struggle directs us to a path of united resistance led by socialist ideas, argues John Westmoreland
Far right celebrate Tommy Robinson's release from prison
Tommy Robinson's release pending a retrial has been received with jubilation by the far right. Anti-racists need to be prepared to take them on, argues Steph Pike
The new forces behind the fascist right
A changed threat has emerged in Tommy Robinson's street movement, supported by the international populist right. John Rees looks at how we meet it
Together we can defeat Trump, and the Tories too
Opposing Donald Trump can play a role in bringing down our own vicious government
Only a united movement can defeat the far right
Saturday's far right demonstration in support of Tommy Robinson must be opposed directly on the streets
Europe's Fault Lines: Racism and the Rise of the Right - book review
In
Europe’s Fault Lines
, Liz Fekete exposes the links between neoliberal centrism, EU economic policy, and the rise of the far and fascist right, finds Martin Hall
Populism and polarisation in Ontario: election analysis
The Tory victory shows a missed opportunity for Ontario's labour party, but the left must organise now and fight en masse against Doug Ford's ugly party of the bosses, write activists Doug Nesbitt, Gerard Di Trolio and David Bush ('Fight for $15' campaign)
The Italian coup and the growing crisis in the EU
The unelected Italian President has carried out a soft coup which is highly undemocratic and which has thrown the country and the EU into mounting chaos, argues Chris Bambery
Basic Income: progressive cloak and neoliberal dagger
BI is not an answer to inequality under neoliberalism. Social transformation will come through collective struggle, argues John Clarke
Organised workers in Germany massively reject AfD
It is unity amongst the working class that can keep the far right at bay
The rise of fascism in Italy?
The gains made by the far-right in Italy are worrying, but there is time to turn the tide, argues Chris Bambery
Italian elections roundup: The centre can hold, but it is weakened
With the possibility of another far-right leader in a European government, the left needs to get its act together
Berlusconi's back: Things are not looking good in Italy
The hatred the elite in Italy have inspired, is, for the moment, flowing rightwards, finds Chris Bambery
The second coming of the referendum
Calls for a second Brexit referendum, from the unholy confluence of establishment Remain and Farage, must be resisted by all the left, argues Martin Hall
Darkest Hour - film review
Darkest Hour
offers some truths on ruling class contradictions, but retells the myth that the people were fighting for Empire, argues Chris Bambery
Toby Young: How deeply has the rot set in?
The allegations of sexism and homophobia are piling up, and his time is running out
Corruption and Crisis in Peru
As the Peruvian establishment reels, the left must seize the moment, take to the streets and strike a blow, argues Jonathan Maunders
What does the Austrian election tell us about Brexit?
The formation of a right wing government in Austria shows us that the European Union is not a bulwark against racism – and that the left would do well to turn against its institutions in order to prevent a far right resurgence, argues Vladimir Unkovski-Korica
Trump: one year of waking hell
Donald Trump was elected just over a year ago. In that time, he has wreaked havoc
The truth about the Football Lads Alliance
The demonstrations of the organisation are dominated by Islamophobia and far-right extremism
The politics of 2017 catch up with the economics of 2008
In a time of the rebirth of mass politics, the right is fighting back. The left must meet this challenge, argues Kevin Ovenden
AfD breakthrough: the threat of fascism never went away
After the far-right party's success in the German election, we must look at the root causes of their rise, if we are to know how to fight back
German elections: 'The first time in decades that a party with a fascist wing is going to enter parliament'
Mark Bergfeld talks to Counterfire about Merkel‘s popularity and the deeper roots of the rise of the right-wing AfD
The people of Liverpool send the EDL packing
The EDL's visit to Liverpool ended in humiliation, reports Madeline Heneghan
The road to impeachment? Trump’s first 100 days
The US president has turned out to be as divisive and disastrous as many feared
Hungary: huge protests in defence of academic freedom
Prime minister Orban's attack on the Central European University has inspired strong opposition
The Dutch dog that didn't bark
The election in the Netherlands didn‘t bear out the media‘s prediction of a right-wing surge, writes Alastair Stephens
Dutch lessons: time to fight for our alternatives
The mainstream media is peddling a destructive lie that we have to crush, asserts Lindsey German
Trump: the new face of fascism?
Is Trump a fascist? What is fascism anyway? Chris Bambery takes a look
Trump's new Horsemen of the Apocalypse
As President-elect becomes President, Sean Ledwith takes a look at the Trump administration
The centre cannot win
Donald Trump should have been the dream opponent. A narcissistic blowhard opposed by his own party. He should have been a walk over
Jo Cox murder: terrorism and double standards
Why Thomas Mair, the white supremacist terrorist who murdered Jo Cox MP, should have been prosecuted for terrorism
Make America hate again? Trump, the Republicans and US decline
Sean Ledwith considers Donald Trump's ascendancy within the context of the history of the Republican Party and American power
Socialist Register 2016: The Politics of the Right
The rise of the populist right shows that the centre cannot hold, and a socialist alternative is the only solution, argues Elaine Graham-Leigh
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
Close down the space for the far right
Writer and activist Kevin Ovenden discusses the rise of racism across Europe and the struggle against it
The Right in Greece: cornered, but fighting for its life
In his second dispatch from Greece, Kevin Ovenden looks at the extremism of the mainstream Right