Friday was declared ‘Departure Friday’ by democracy protesters in Egypt as a second Friday of mass protest was been called to drive president Mubarak from his 30 year reign. Huge numbers took part in these protests. Recent days have seen intense street fighting as protesters had to defend themselves from mobs mobilised in a desperate […]
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Review of Bakunin’s Statism and Anarchy
Statism and Anarchy is the first complete English translation of the last work by the Russian anarchist Michael Bakunin. Given his influence, it is surprising that this 1873 work was his only book and even this is technically incomplete (referring as it does to a second part which was never written). It aimed to influence […]
Review of Democracy and Economic Planning
Originally published in 1988 a few years before the crisis in Stalinism, Pat Devine’s model of a planned economy has been republished with a new preface during the crisis in neo-liberalism. He comprehensively discusses capitalist planning, central planning and market socialism before sketching his own economic vision.
The battle of Cairo – Feb2 2011
Following the refusal of Mubarak to resign a mob of his supporters attempted to fight their way into Tahir square in Cairo on February 2nd where anti-Mubarak protests demanding democracy have rallied over the last week. Some of the mob who have been captured were carrying police ID’s. The intention appears to be to either […]
Around two million demonstrate in Cairo demanding that Mubarak go – general strike declared
After a week of popular revolt two million people are demonstrating in Cairo today demanding that president Mubarak and his son leave the country and that the regime be changed. An indefinite general strike has also been called by organisers of the movement. The revolt which started last Tuesday with small groups in their hundreds […]
Snow way to run an economy
Surprise! Austerity is kicking in and, as predicted, the economy is continuing its downward trend. If anything, the speed is increasing with growth in 2010 falling from 1.2% in the second quarter, to 0.8% in the third quarter until, finally, negative 0.5% in the last quarter. Rest assured, though, there is a culprit at hand […]
Markets, Marx and Mutualism
A review of Socialism After Hayek by Theodore A. Burczak
A few comments on “Bakunin’s Statism and Anarchy: A review by Chris Gray”
Chris Gray’s review of Bakunin’s Statism and Anarchy is, in general, good. It covers the weaknesses of Bakunin’s ideas (namely his personal prejudices against Germans and Jews and for Slavs) and indicates its underlying strengths. As part of his review, Gray raises some serious political points which, I feel, need answering. We should thank Chris […]
A reply to Louis Proyect’s “A Marxist Critique of Bakunin”
Or "how not to critique anarchism." As in any social movement which is just beginning, the current "anti-globalisation" movement is a mixed bag with contradictory ideas. This is to be expected. Only by discussion and activity can those involved clarify and develop their political ideas. Part of this process is, by necessity, a critical evaluation […]
9 out of 10 want more liberal abortion law in Ireland
In the aftermath of the European court of Human Rights finding that the Irish state had violated the rights of a woman who was unable to get an abortion in Ireland a poll in the Sunday Times has confirmed that almost 9 out of every 10 people want abortion available in such cases. This result […]