This issue of Democratic Socialist is dedicated to continuing the discussions and debates raised by the ILP’s weekend school, held in Scarborough at the beginning of May. Entitled ‘The Challenge of Mutuality’, the school brought ILPers and non-ILPers together to discuss the politics of cooperation, mutuality and social enterprise, and examine their relevance to the [...]

Integrated education is vital to the future of a non-sectarian Northern Ireland, says Gary Kent

There was a time when Northern Ireland barely made any impact on mainland and mainstream British politics. It was, to use a phrase popularised by the Sunday Times, John Bull’s slum. After partition in 1921, which Britain accepted rather reluctantly, it [...]

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mike Peters takes issue with the whole concept of natural disasters

In January 2005 there was a programme on British TV about global climate change, in a series called ‘War on Terra’. Seven dates were selected to illustrate the recent alarming escalation in the number of ‘exceptional’ meteorological conditions:
4 November [...]

Doug Ireland traces the historic, social and racial roots of the violent rebellions which swept France this autumn.

The night of Saturday 5 November was the 10th day of the spreading youth riots that had much of France in flames this autumn. It was the worst night since the first riot erupted in a suburban Paris [...]

Greg Power pays tribute to Robin Cook, who died in August, and argues that his contribution to democratic socialism has been underestimated

The last chapter in Robin Cook’s memoir is entitled ‘Where do we go from here?’ It is essentially a plea for the party in government to be more explicit about the values that motivate [...]

Following Labour’s third election victory, Peter Hunt argues that mutuality should be at the heart of modern socialism

Months after the ballots closed, memories of the campaign remain fresh. Those of us with the experience of several general elections will have been struck by how under-whelmed the electorate was with Labour; how hard it was for [...]

Will Brown reports on Compass roadshows in Leeds and Gateshead

Following its successful conference in London last June, the centre-left Labour Party organisation, Compass, embarked on a series of regional ‘roadshows’ taking in Yorkshire and Humberside, the north east, Scotland and Wales, among other areas. Besides launching regional Compass groupings, the purpose of these meetings was [...]

BARRY WINTER interviews Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham, deputy leadership hopeful, and co-author of a new pamphlet on the democratic renewal of the Labour Party
You wish to stand for deputy leader of the Labour party, but not deputy PM. Also, you’ve recently co-authored a very interesting pamphlet on renewal of the party. Are these activities [...]

Barry Winter welcomes the call for Labour’s renewal in a new Compass pamphlet. But where are the forces to make it happen?
A robust dialogue about democratically renewing the Labour Party has never been more vital. That’s no guarantee, however, that one will take place.
Interest in party democracy is still overshadowed by the bitter political conflicts [...]

DEXTER WHITFIELD looks at the alternatives to neoliberal policies, and calls for city-wide alliances and coalitions of opposition
An alternative modernisation strategy needs to have key themes. It should restate public service principles and values, which should be embedded in all policies, programmes and projects. It should emphasise democratic accountability and transparency, and seek to revitalise [...]