Solidarity 165, 7 January 2010

Worker-communists eventually decide not to contest Iraqi elections

Iraq will hold a general election on 7 March 2010 - later than the previously-planned date in January because of delays in finalising the electoral law. Six large coalitions have been announced to contest the election. "State of Law" is organised around current prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party. The Iraqi National Alliance, around the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, the Sadr movement, and Fadila. Iraqiyya, around former prime minister Iyad Allawi, former Iraq Islamic Party leader Tariq al-Hashimi, and some ex-Ba'thists. Tawafuq, around "soft" Sunni Islamists. There is a coalition of...

Yemen: a state falling apart

Since a Yemen-based al-Qaeda group was blamed for the foiled Christmas day plane attack calls for foreign “intervention” have grown. But, as Dan Katz explains in this background article, such intervention has already begun. Yemen’s population is predominantly rural (73%), young (most are under 15), and poor (National Income per capita was $950 in 2008; only 40% have access to electricity). Its oil sector provides 90% of export earnings, and 75% of government revenue, but oil production has passed its peak and output is declining. Oil revenue is expected to dry up completely by 2017 (BBC). The...

No Shelter Here

Reading the lyrics of the rock band, Rage against the Machine, was probably my first real exposure to radical ideas. My 13 year old self would doubtless have viewed the victory of the band’s ‘Killing in the Name’ in a chart race for Christmas number one against manufactured karaoke drivel like the X Factor as a triumphant prelude to the imminent revolutionary destruction of capitalism. Assuming there still are some 13 year olds somewhere in Britain who feel the same today, I am happy for them. I don’t, however, feel the same sense of euphoria that it seems many friends of my generation do. The...

Bob Spink MP on the People's Charter

The People's Charter, a document launched mainly by people around the Stalinist Communist Party of Britain/Morning Star, has succeeded in securing the backing of a substantial section of the labour movement bureaucracy; indeed, it has now been officially endorsed by the TUC. Workers' Liberty has already explained many of our criticisms of the Charter; we think its demands are timid and limiting, and we think the entire conception of a "People's", rather than workers', charter undermines the very necessary and immediate tasks of reasserting the notion of the working class acting in politics as...

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.