Democracy

Recent events have demonstrated the inextricable link between democratic demands and the fight for socialism, argues Lindsey German    

Israel's refusal of two US congresswomen is unacceptable but highlights the strength of BDS, writes Thomas Gibbs

The disgraced former minister Priti Patel is back in government with her own brand of toxic politics that must be opposed by the left, argues David McAllister

We can learn from the inspirational struggle of working-class women against a violent and corrupt Tory government 200 years ago in our fight against the Tories today, argues Katherine Connelly

Engels was a revolutionary democrat and a revolutionary realist, argues Dragan Plavšić

"If you try to have a war with Iran... you will create a mass movement against war in this country of the sort that you haven’t seen in more than a decade"

No new Tory Prime Minister, protest the Tory party conference, revolt in Sudan, does modern monetary theory work, stop the drive to war with Iran, the British state and what Engels said about revolution in this month's Counterfire freesheet

The left should be the champions of democracy, but Labour backing a second referendum lets the right claim it instead, argues Lindsey German

As a citizens' assembly to deal with climate change is announced, Elaine Graham-Leigh looks at the idea’s limitations

Boris cannot be allowed to take control unopposed - we must demand a general election, argues Chris Nineham

Sidgi Kaballo speaks to Counterfire about the situation in Sudan and the importance of international solidarity with the Sudanese people

With Theresa May slowly becoming something of the past, Katherine Connelly looks to the future

President Trump's incendiary interventions in British politics are completely unacceptable and must be called out, argues David McAllister

With results due to be announced on Thursday May 23, Susan Ram explores the mammoth voting operation in terms of issues, significance and possible outcomes

A new biography lauds William Godwin, but some contemporary radicals of the 1790s offer better inspiration for the modern left, argues Dominic Alexander

Following the resignation of President Bouteflika, Josh Newman interviews Lotfi Djouadi on the situation on the ground in Algeria

Giant popular uprisings in Algeria, Sudan and beyond are a fresh eruption of the processes that set the Arab world alight in 2011, reports Susan Ram

Algeria's revolutionary revival gives hope of reconnecting with the Arab Spring legacy, writes Eleftheria Kousta

Brexit is a crisis that cuts deep into the ruling class and Theresa May's failures have brought to the fore the cracks in Britain's political system, argues Sean Ledwith

Theresa May blaming Parliament for her failures reveals her distaste for democracy and inability to keep her ship afloat, argues Morgan Daniels

Venezuela must be defended from Trump's push for regime change and attempt to export his toxic brand of right wing politics, argues Sean Ledwith

US imperial adventurism is back with a vengeance and has to be called out clearly for what it is, argues Lindsey German  

This government is sustained by class hatred alone.  But they are weak and we must keep up the pressure for a general election

We must demand a general election to resolve this crisis, argues Chris Nineham

Only a general election can break the impasse, and to make it happen we need to get out on the streets and pile the pressure on, argues Martin Hall

Feyzi Ismail reports from Paris, where the Gilets Jaunes have been demonstrating for the fourth weekend consecutively, and with more protests planned

Even the Guardian's economics editor thinks staying in the EU is a bad idea

May and her party are completely incapable of delivering a viable deal, writes Chris Nineham

Re-running the EU referendum would be massively undemocratic and could spell the end of Corbynism, argues Susan Ram

Since Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party, the media attacks have been relentless. T. J Coles, author of new book Real Fake News, examines

The left surge at Labour conference was impressive - now, if we want to win, we need to mobilise the whole movement

The left has seen a number of defeats at Labour Conference, but on the ground, there is burgeoning resistance, writes Chris Nineham

Corbynism and the prospect of a Labour government are at risk if the NEC undermines the membership and democracy 

A statement from Solidarity with the People of Turkey on the recent attack against the Saturday Mothers

What we are seeing in the first elections after Mugabe is the deep state clutching to power, but can it hold on? Asks Shabbir Lakha

While the Labour right try to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, Israel just enshrined apartheid into law argues Mark Porciani

Chris Nineham argues why it is important that the movements go on to the offensive against Donald Trump in the next few days

Trump is scared of the UK protest movement; let’s make sure that his fear is confirmed, writes Lindsey German  

A People’s Brexit that unites the left is the only way to confront an increasingly bold neoliberal mafia, argues Lindsey German

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

The democratic shockwaves of women’s liberation can still create real problems for our rulers, writes Lindsey German   

We have a once in a generation chance for change, and must take it

Socialism and democracy belong together, and recent popular movements of the left make possible a fight for authentic democracy, argues Sean Ledwith

Major revolt is underway after the Spanish state imprisoned a further 5 ex-ministers (total = 9) and issued European Arrest Warrants on 6 others in exile, inc. the ex-President

Marching on the motorways and confronting police violence, the mass movement has returned with a new defiance, reports Jack Hazeldine

Escalating repression by the Spanish state has sparked huge anger and an appetite for militant action, reports Mathew Barton from Tarragona

As the wave of repression from the Spanish state continues, Catalonia needs our solidarity now more than ever, argues Chris Bambery

On the centenary of women winning the right to vote, Katherine Connelly explores how they fought for their rights and resisted war

Marking a hundred years of some women winning the right to vote, a statue of Suffragette Alice Hawkins was erected in Leicester. Jacqueline Mulhallen reports

Trump deflected is an object lesson in the power of protest but it is only a beginning, writes Lindsey German

The rollercoaster of polarisation was in full flow this year and shows no sign of relenting, writes Lindsey German

The national question has returned to mainland Europe and we have to choose a side, argues Dragan Plavšić   

Theresa May lost her majority in June, but she's trying to use the Repeal bill to undemocratically cling on to power argues Josh Holmes

The majority of the French electorate did not vote in the second round of France's legislative elections. Susan Ram analyses the implications

The victory of "the centre" is only temporary, argues John Mullen

All change - and things are shifting in our direction at last, writes Lindsey German

A look at the difference in this election on either side of the border, from Chris Bambery

Blairism is dead and the left are back, now the real work begins, argues Lindsey German

Political consciousness in Britain has shifted, argues Jamie Wright

The tumult of the last few weeks is an indicator of far deeper and persistent divisions, argues Lindsey German 

John Rees on how to assess the election result

The chickens are truly coming home to roost for Theresa May as she approaches the final hurdle, writes Lindsey German 

The tories are flapping: they have underestimated Corbyn and the class he represents, observes Lindsey German

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

The mainstream media's "facts" about this election are rapidly revealing themselves to be self-serving prejudices, notes Lindsey German

The Tories’ threadbare campaign has their jitters rising swiftly to the surface, observes Lindsey German

As the Tories flounder towards Plan B, Corbyn strides into the mainstream, notes Lindsey German

We should demand honest accounting when it comes to links between domestic terrorism and overseas military intervention, writes Lindsey German

Jeremy Corbyn is defying the media and chiming with the working class, writes Lindsey German  

People are cynical about politics, and with good reason, but this election is different, writes student Jamie Wright

Theresa May’s Poundland Thatcher isn’t convincing anyone, argues Lindsey German

This cruel and regressive Tory manifesto gives another spur to the left, argues Lindsey German

Labour have produced a class-based programme that we can all get behind, writes Lindsey German

Let’s start challenging inequality in the here-and-now, argues Lindsey German

Theresa May's pitch to working class voters is laughable, argues Lindsey German

There is every opportunity for the class to move forward with this clarion call, writes Lindsey German

There’s a whole system of power that needs to change here, writes Jonathan Maunders

Popular policies take centre stage and Labour forward with one serious misstep, writes Lindsey German

War, fraud and feather-nesting: business as usual for the Tories, notes Lindsey German

What’s behind Tory claims that privatisation cannot deliver fair energy prices, asks Lindsey German  

Fighting to win and shifting the terrain on to our issues are the left’s urgent tasks, writes Lindsey German

Tory imperial pretension cannot conceal their damage and weakness, notes Lindsey German

Is the interview with Diane Abbott really such big news, asks Lindsey German

What can possibly be motivating Tony Blair in this election campaign, asks Lindsey German

What are the Tories going to do about taxes, asks Lindsey German

As parliament rises until after the election, it's worth looking at where we are, writes Lindsey German

Labour's promises on the NHS will be popular, writes Lindsey German

The victory for the Yes campaign is far less than Erdoğan was hoping for and shows a country divided argues Shabbir Lakha

The liberal media is overplaying its hand in coverage of the Unite General Secretary election, writes the Angry Trucker

The hue, cry and bunting of devolved power holds no rewards for our side, argues John Westmoreland 

Are Lenin’s Bolsheviks still the template for radical socialists in the 21st century, asks Vladimir Unkovski-Korica

Matteo Renzi has resigned following a No vote in the Italy's Referendum, Chris Bambery analyses the vote and the opportunities for the left.

John Rees, author of the new book The Leveller Revolution, looks at the contemporary relevance of the Levellers

Is the stifling pro-western consensus that has dominated Balkan and eastern European politics for the last quarter of a century finally on the wane, asks Dragan Plavšić

Inappropriate use of the F-word misleads and disorientates at a time when clarity is key, warns Chris Nineham

Indignation and anguish against Trump from thousands of young school students, as they walk out of classes and militancy mounts

Resolutions passed for Counterfire Conference December 2016

We shouldn't believe that Trump's claims to isolationism will lead to a safer world, argues Lindsey German

Counterfire publishes more reactions to Trump's election, as world politics is thrown into crisis once again

How did America elect its most reactionary President ever, asks John Rees

Counterfire publishes more reactions to the US elections, as world politics is thrown into crisis once again

Clinton’s utter failure to inspire the growing movement in American society for real change has given Trump an opening

Join this crucial discussion about the left and the movements in the year ahead

Whoever wins the presidency, American society will be the loser if it cannot build a political movement based on a different ideology, explains Jude Fernando

Kevin Ovenden considers the aftermath of the brutal assassination that rocked domestic politics and identifies currents the mainstream is anxious to ignore 

In the run-up to to next month’s crucial standoff against the Tories in Birmingham, Mick Wattam assesses the balance of forces 

Opposing imperialism through the movement on the streets is imperative, argues Lindsey German

Sean Ledwith considers Donald Trump's ascendancy within the context of the history of the Republican Party and American power

Counterfire has gained exclusive access to the diary of Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith

This moment offers an opportunity for radical change, but the path to victory lies in political confrontation, argues Kevin Ovenden

President Erdoğan is using the defeat of the coup in Turkey to repress opposition, as this analysis from the Turkish and Kurdish Centre Day-Mer explains

Anti-imperialists must vote leave, argues Sean Ledwith

Alex Gordon, convenor of Lexit – The Left Leave Campaign and former president of the RMT trade union, talks to Counterfire about the upcoming EU referendum

The lower house of Brazil's parliament has moved to annul Rousseff's impeachment, but only the movements can stop the coup. Orlando Hill introduces and translates an official statement from CUT

John Rees explains why a secular, democratic state across historic Palestine has nothing in common with anti-semitism

As the Tories plan to turn every school into an academy, Alastair Stephens takes a look at the motives behind the drive

As the right attempts a coup, the workers and their allies are determined to fight back, reports Orlando Hill

As the Tories descend into civil war, we argue that a vote to leave the EU would be a blow against the neoliberal order 

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

The EU is fundamentally undemocratic and cannot be reformed, argues Chris Bambery

Mainstream economics mystifies the nature of money. Mellor’s Debt or Democracy explodes the myths, and provides the social alternative, argues Phil Armstrong

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

Many of those complaining fear greater accountability and the wave of anti-war feeling evident from Corbyn's election as Labour leader

Following the catastrophic earthquake that hit Nepal in April, the country is experiencing a new crisis, which this time is entirely political in nature, writes Fraser Sugden

Dorothy Thompson’s writing on Chartism showed early working-class politics as it really was, a real challenge to the ruling class of the time, argues John Westmoreland

William Andrews outlines the character of the new protest movements in Japan, as the government attempts to adopt new security legislation

The Tories' tax credits debacle in the upper chamber is just the latest episode in the continuing crisis of democratic legitimacy, writes Alastair Stephens

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

Suffragette is a compelling and moving portrayal of the courage of ordinary women who dared to challenge the power of the British state

A recently released Spanish thriller casts light on the country’s compromised transition to democracy. Marshland by Alberto Rodríguez is reviewed by Jim Aindow

Can the state be taken over because it is a neutral space or does it have to be overthrown? Paul Vernell looks at Lenin's answer

Jeremy Corbyn, the candidate who 'can't win an election', is currently winning the Labour leadership election observes Charles B Anthony

If we want to fight TTIP we need to confront the undemocratic and unaccountable European Union argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

We need a broad, progressive campaign against EU membership, based on internationalism and solidarity and in opposition to the British establishment. We cannot leave the anti-EU argument to the racist right

Demonstrations express political ambitions before the political means necessary to realise them have been created argues John Berger in this article by from May 1968

Unfortunately for David Cameron, the real lesson of the Magna Carta story is that only a determined mass movement can win political and social equality

Charlotte Gerada writes on the smear campaign against Rabina Khan that the media won't discuss

Foundation of British democracy or historical relic? Dominic Alexander looks at how the meaning of Magna Carta has always been shaped by class struggle and rebellion

Theresa May’s proposed new anti-terror laws further demonise Muslims and threaten the rights of everyone who opposes the government argues Elly Badcock

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

With both main parties retrenching their commitment to austerity, the crisis of representation will be met, for now, outside of Parliament argues James Meadway

As the 20 June demo approaches, it’s worth remembering that mass marches have been crucial to all the most important struggles - Chris Nineham looks at ten of them

With the Tower Hamlets mayoral election round the corner, Dilly Hussain questions whether another ‘coup’ awaits Lutfur Rahman’s successor

Caryl Churchill’s classic English revolution drama could not come at a better moment nor be performed in a better place, says John Rees

A government that got the votes of just 25% of the elctorate wants workers to jump through yet more hoops before being able to take lawful industrial action writes Richard Allday

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

Speeches from the public rally in Tower Hamlets called in support of former mayor Lutfur Rahman who was deposed after a controversial rulling by the Election Commissioner

In this statement from her election blog Rabina Khan explains why she is standing for Mayor of Tower Hamlets in the forthcoming election on June 11

The contradiction between capitalism and democracy, and the need for independent media, is well explored in McChesney’s Blowing the Roof off the 21^st Century, finds Peter Stauber

This is a whole new chapter in politics, for the British political system is in a state of deep crisis writes Alastair Stephens

John Rees on the outrageous dismissal of Tower Hamlet's first elected Muslim Mayor

The establishment's anti-SNP hysteria is aimed at the post election world - they want to nip in the bud any chance of real change

Counterfire is organising a series of meetings around the country to discuss the election, the implications of the new situation and to prepare for action after May

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

The government's new 'counter extremism' strategy is an attack on the very democratic values it claims to defend argues Tower Hamlets Deputy Mayor Oliur Rahman

Saturday 14 March sees the Lilburne 400 conference in London. The Leveller leader should be remembered for many reasons, not least his commitment to building revolutionary organisation, says John Rees

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

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

Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind can't see what they have done wrong because they swim in a sea of corporate influence

Magna Carta was a small but significant crack in the edifice of class oppression which remains to be fully torn down writes Sean Ledwith

Joshua Virasami writes about the current state of affairs with policing and the use of the term 'Domestic Extremist'

Dan Hind's new book on the constitution of the British state makes the radical case for a republic. Socialists should take up the argument for democratisation, says James Doran

An 'Election Petition' - a legal challenge to Lutfur Rahman's mayoral election victory - begins this week. Sean Rillo Raczka explains why it's an attack on democracy

A resolution on the crisis of British politics passed at Counterfire National Conference 2015. Submitted by the Steering Committee

Richard Allday responds to the latest Tory attacks on democracy, from curtailing trade union rights to eroding the powers of local authorities

The battle lines in Athens today are about more than the conventional politics of who will form a government, its policies and prospects, but of the transformation of politics itself

The whole of Europe's pro-austerity elite will try and scare and intimidate the Greek people into not voting the left wing Syriza into office. We have been here before writes Chris Bambery

Lindsey German looks at twelve features of last year that will shape politics in the year ahead

Owen Jones’ The Establishmentis a valuable dissection of the networks of power and ideology, but the concept of the ruling class adds a needed dimension, argues Sean Ledwith

Chris Bambery, Lindsey German, Liz Fekete and Danny Dorling discuss the crisis of the British regime, inequality and broken politics

An illegal, mass, civil disobedience movement has fought the Hong Kong government to a draw writes Lawrence Wong

The membership of mainstream parties is plummeting, but people are joining parties if they look as if they are going to take on the elite, argues John Rees

Chris Nineham makes five observations about the anti-establishment mood in austerity Britain

Kevin Ovenden looks at the history of race and class in London's East End and the current battle to beat back the Tory attack on Tower Hamlets

All the speeches from Wednesday's rally in Tower Hamlets called to defend local democracy. Video by Paul Hanes

Following the British establishment's undemocratic attempt to undermine the twice-elected mayor of Tower Hamlets it's clear whose side we should be on argues Reuben Bard-Rosenberg

Johann Lamont's sudden departure as Scottish Labour leader has brought Labour's crisis in Scotland - and beyond - into sharp relief

A video compilation of moments from this week's #Occupydemocracy protest by Shahrzad Shemirani

Matt Bonner reports from the #OccupyDemocracy protest in Parliament Square

Occupy digs in at Parliament Square despite huge police aggression and intimidation reports Matt Bonner

Chris Nineham on why we need to lead the fight against inequality and for democracy

Alastair Stephens: we need to democratise the state in all its aspects, but for now the battle lines are clear: we want democracy restored not jingoism revived

David Jamieson looks at the hard truths and the new opportunities after a No vote in the independence referendum

Alastair Stephens looks at how democracy in the UK is dying at the hands of the neoliberal ruling elite

Lindsey German's take on the changed political landscape in the wake of the Scottish referendum result

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

The Scottish referendum has demonstrated the centrality of the demand for democracy to working-class struggle, writes Alastair Stephens. This is a democratic revolt against neoliberalism and despair

A defence of the democratic function of militant protest in Stephen D’Arcy’s Languages of the Unheard provides rigorous and valuable arguments, argues William Alderson

The importance and coherence of Sylvia Pankhurst’s lifelong activism is revealed by Katherine Connelly’s grasp of her political commitments, making this book an important new account her life

It was perfectly fair to enjoy the World Cup and carry on fighting for a better future, argues Orlando Hill

An interview with John Rees about his book 'Democracy in the Age of Mass Movements'

The British political regime faces a crisis of confidence. This report presents empirical evidence for the democratic deficit, growing protest, the state of the trade unions and the strategic implications for the left

'The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics', declared suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst