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Published bimonthly since 1986, AGAINST THE CURRENT is a Solidarity-sponsored analytical journal for the broad revolutionary left. The January/February 2012 issue features fourteen articles on the Occupy movement, its strategies, and actions in a number of U.S. cities. ATC’s Black History feature: Paul Ortiz on C.L.R. James’ Visionary Legacy and Derrick Morrison reviews a study of the least-known slave uprising. Hisham H. Ahmed writes about the Arab Spring, the West and Political Islam and ATC interviews Atef Said on Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution. Additional reviews by Bruce Levine, Kathlene McDonald, Susan Dirr and Tessa Echeverria and Michael Löwy. Subscribe today!
I'd be interested in seeing a 5 days 13 hours
The Socialist Party has not folded 5 days 19 hours
The Obama administration and the Poor 1 week 1 day
YES! yes! YES! 2 weeks 3 days
Thank you for writing this. 2 weeks 3 days
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International Viewpoint is the monthly English-language magazine of the Fourth International. IV is a window to radical alternatives world-wide, carrying reports, analysis and debates from all corners of the globe. Correspondents in over 50 countries report on popular struggles, and the debates that are shaping the left of tomorrow.
02/12/12 01:51
Since the beginning of the Greek public debt crisis three different demands have been put forward by the left and the workers' movement: either to restructure (and so reduce), to audit or to cancel the debt. This is not just a matter of slogans, but it also implies different political strategies. OKDE-Spartakos, as well as ANTARSYA, despite its contradictions, have opted for the third choice.
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IV445 - February 2012
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Greece,
Debt
02/10/12 02:15
On February 1, 2012, Robert Fisk ended his article in the British daily newspaper “The Independent” as follows: “But there is one unasked question. Just suppose the regime [of Bashar al-Assad] did survive. Over what kind of Syria would it rule?” In other words, the revolt has reached a point of no return.
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IV445 - February 2012
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Syria,
Arab Revolutions
02/9/12 10:04
"Prosecute the Cabal!" With millions of on strike and crowds singing Solidarity Forever, Occupy Nigeria has shut down the most populous country in Africa. Here in New York, the diaspora is rallying in support as well, and on Saturday, Jan. 14, I went to the second rally at the Nigerian Embassy and the UN this week. Though big labor actions might be more common in Nigerian than in the US, folks are saying this one feels different. Maybe it's the wave of protest against neoliberalism around the world in 2011, maybe it's the corruption—facilitated by neoliberal deregulation — or maybe it's the high unemployment rates (over 40% among young workers), maybe it's that oil is so central to the economy; or maybe it's all of this together.
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IV445 - February 2012
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Nigeria,
Trade unions,
Global Justice
Order these eye-catching buttons to spread the demand for social and economic justice. If you don't have paypal, email us!
Reads Bail out People, not Wall Street!. Around the edge, these 2 1/8" buttons read "Free Health Care," "Defend Public Services," "Living Wage Jobs," "Free Higher Education," "Troops Home Now," "Rebuild the Gulf Coast," and "Affordable Housing."
Brown and black buttons demand: "Bring all the Troops Home Now!" Wear one everywhere to start a conversation about why US occupation can never be a force for liberation, and people's needs should come before the massive military budget.
These 2 1/8" buttons read, in Spanish and English: ¡Alto a las deporaciones - Legalización para todos! Stop the deportations - Legalization for all!
Third parties, electoral politics, watercoolers
I think this is possibly the best thing that Solidarity has said about electoral politics this go-round. I appreciated your last thoughts about Obama-Clinton-McCain, etc... but I am heartily tired of debating Nader/McKinney when neither of them is going to generate the slightest interest among people who are new to socialism this time around. The buzz for independent politics this national election will obviously be lower than ever. I still think that we should work on the ground where we are active in the Greens, yes. But debating supporting every single independent socialist ticket, and wringing our hands about who will have a higher profile, Nader or McKinney? Ugh. Also, I am so tired of hearing the retreaded argument that "when the Democrat wins, people will become disillusioned that he doesn't fulfill his promises". Bullshit. I've very rarely seen that lesson learned. If ever. I'm only saying rarely in case someone can point me to an example, because I can't think of any, en masse, since the Populists. Not in terms of individuals, obviously that happens. I *do* think that third parties like the Green Party offer an alternative that throws politics-as-usual into question -- when they or independent groups like them TAKE OFFICE, as Ashok did.
So I'm glad that you chronicled a local experience with a very specific dynamic and very specific, concrete gains. Among the lessons that seem evident here are some ones that might seem so obvious as to escape comment: 1) we should do this where we can. We should try -- IF we have an activist base and local credibility, and not otherwise -- to get elected to local positions, for both propaganda and actual ameliorative purposes. 2) It's a damn good idea to be able to operate naturally in the normal world, whether that is membership in a frat, or being on your local PTSA, or defending local libraries from budget cuts, or (well, I probably won't be doing this, but all y'all should) joining city sports leagues, be it bowling or softball or soccer. 3) Oh, man, I am so impressed that Ashok was self-aware the entire time and could FEEL the reformist impulse getting stronger. That seems like an almost heroic struggle against Marx's "being determines consciousness".
maeve66 is a middle school teacher in a working class suburb of Oakland.