Disaffection with democracy and what political parties must do about it
Disaffection is a perennial problem for politics; the way democracy is understood contributes to that problem
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Did we ever really abolish the slave trade?
This week the international society remembers the slave trade and its abolition. However, with an estimated 20-30 million victims subject to modern-slavery, this crime is still all too present in our societies.
How Labour can seize the initiative on food policy
Food will be one of the major challenges of the 21st century – and one on which the UK Labour party can lead on
The Left must confront its unintentional anti-Semitism
While the aims of many pro-Palestinian campaigners are admirable, the left must look at the wider context of Israel and Palestine today
In defence of the four day working week
At the moment the four-day week is a mere pipe dream: but it should be secured as part of a wider package of progressive ideas
Is Alex Salmond really the best man to speak for Scottish independence?
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of the Standard, where the Scots under King David battled Norman English forces. Fast forward to 2014 and Alex Salmond claims to lead the Scots. They could do better.
Why we need to think again about suicide since Robin Williams’ death
Taking your own life is not easy. I know I’ve tried, and obviously failed. When you commit suicide you haven’t lost a battle with depression or illness or whatever it maybe. No, you have won – you have taken the final step away from an insoluble problem.
With the threat of IS are we Chamberlain or Churchill?
Islamic State are clearly a threat to the West, argues Edisa Korugic and Robbie Travers, but the question is what do we do about it?
Alex Salmond’s oil predictions aren’t so slick after all
Has Alex Salmond wildly overestimated the part of oil in his independent utopia?
Private rents are soaring: is it time the state stepped in?
Market fundamentalists say to leave the market, it will fix itself – but that experiment has been tried and it has failed. We need more statecraft to fix the problem.