The Political Vacuum at the Heart of ‘The Purge’
The ‘Purge’ franchise and its offshoot ‘The Hunt’ try to feed the appetite for dark social satire about the modern USA – but end up as little more than weak fantasies of resistance.
4346 Articles by:
Raven Hart
Raven Hart is co-founder of the Bristol Cooperative Alliance, an organisation that aims to promote a decentralised economy that empowers local communities and facilitates democratic self-determination.
Humanity Isn’t Burning the Planet – Capitalism Is
Not all humans are equally culpable in the ‘human-induced’ climate chaos outlined in Monday’s IPCC report – and acknowledging that is key to stopping further destruction.
Basildon Needs Municipal Socialism
First Labour New Town, then epicentre of Thatcher’s ‘Essex man’, Basildon has long been a political weathervane. Now, in the wake of the pandemic, its residents need radical change.
When the French Revolution Tore Down the Monarchy
On this day in 1792, French workers and revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace – ending the monarchical system and declaring a republic.
Airbrushing History
The plan to ban legacy prosecutions arising from the Troubles in Northern Ireland isn’t an anomaly – it’s part of a broader effort to erase Britain’s crimes from the historical record.
Keep Big Oil Out of Public Science
The gagging clause in the Science Museum’s sponsorship contract with polluting giant Shell makes one thing clear – we can’t rely on corporate profiteers to fund the pursuit of knowledge.
Against the IHRA: Why it’s Time to Adopt the Jerusalem Declaration
The IHRA definition has increasingly been deployed to shut down debate about Israel and attack Palestine activists, but a new definition offers a more effective alternative in the fight against antisemitism.
Alexei Sayle’s Radical Cycling
Comedian Alexei Sayle has spent his lockdowns making Cyclogeography – a delightful and quietly radical series of videos which celebrate the boredom and strangeness of our urban landscapes.
Bob Marley’s Fight for Political Change in Jamaica
In 1978, Bob Marley fought a campaign for peace after years of political violence in his homeland. For the reggae icon, it wasn’t just about ending the killings – it was about building a better Jamaica.
How Big Oil Is Waging ‘Lawfare’ Against Climate Activists
Oil giant Chevron’s campaign against environmentalist lawyer Steven Donziger exposes corporate polluters’ latest strategy for fighting climate activists – lock them up.
Remembering Hiroshima
On this day in 1945, the US dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The common narrative says it was necessary – but history shows that isn’t true.
The Fight to Save Sheikh Jarrah Isn’t Over
The Israeli Supreme Court’s verdict on the Sheikh Jarrah evictions was deferred this week – but the deal offered to residents shows the state is still intent on dispossessing Palestinians.
Gentrifying England’s Poorest Village
Jaywick Sands in Essex, known as England’s poorest village, is undergoing redevelopment – but its new homes fail to deal with the consequences of decades of neglect.
Friedrich Engels on Social Murder
Revolutionary socialist Friedrich Engels died on this day in 1895, after spending much of his life in England – and writing on the suffering inherent in its capitalist system.
How Structural Adjustment Paved the Way for Covid Crisis
The Global South’s pandemic response has been hamstrung by mountains of global debt – but also by the neoliberalism it had to accept to get loans in the first place.
Ten Years After the London Riots, Not Enough Has Changed
The riots of August 2011 occurred against a backdrop of deprivation, alienation and police violence. A decade on, little has changed in the communities set ablaze.
We Need a Wealth Tax to Rebuild
Key workers are facing real-terms pay caps while big banks pay out millions in bonuses and dividends. This kind of inequality isn’t sustainable – we need a wealth tax now.
47. The Right to Roam: An Interview with Nick Hayes
This week, Grace speaks to Nick Hayes, author of The Book of Trespass, about the relationship between enclosure and capitalism – and how we can protect our right to roam.
Liberals Don’t Understand the American Empire
The Trump presidency briefly made liberals critics of US actions around the world – but now he’s gone, they’re back to believing America is the solution to the destruction it creates.
Criminalising Solidarity
The government’s latest anti-migrant proposals would criminalise not only asylum seekers, but those who show them solidarity – there’s only one way to fight back: collective action.