About Anthony Barnett

Anthony Barnett (@AnthonyBarnett) is the founder of openDemocracy and a Co-Editor of its UK section, OurKingdom.

Articles by Anthony Barnett

'Three things happened' - Anthony Barnett

How did we make it to a better world? Three things happened: to state power, corporate power and human society. They came to a head in 2020 but had been building up over the decade after the great financial crash from 2008 to 2014, the long Egyptian revolution, the implosion of the Murdoch empire, and the last US troops fleeing Afghanistan. These events ended the ‘war on terror’ and ‘neo-liberalism’. Only scholars now recall these terms. The world’s 2020 revolution brought clarity to our democracy. What it began then took 25 years to complete.

The three were: 1) In 2018 after years of preparation an insider leaked all the files and codes on the “international deep state”. This was (and for you still is) the secret alliance of intelligence, police and security services who monitor and log citizens everywhere. It began with terrorist threats and was captured by its own logic into an unaccountable network of agencies linking Beijing and Washington. Exposed we broke the power of the deep state. 2) It existed in symbiosis with corporate power and after massive riots commercial confidentiality was abolished. All financial transactions are now published ending monopolies and ensuring markets serve humankind. 3) To achieve this double revolution we had to trust ourselves rather than political parties and leaders who are bought off by the deep state and corporate monopolies.

Networked politics created the peaceful, powerful self-organisation that ended fear, released potential and proved lasting. The Spanish were first, the Chinese were the biggest and Californians made it fun. 

The Spanish were first...

Cameron on Murdoch: how his language reveals the crisis in British democracy

British Prime Minister David Cameron gave a press conference on the scandal of Murdoch's tabloid hacking and suborning the police. In it he produced a new definition of democracy. What does it signify?

The Murdochs are not fit and proper people

It's a "truly dreadful situation" declares the UK's Prime Minister on learning of the latest revelation of the outrageous lawlessness of the Murdoch empire. The response should go further than criticism of journalists and editors, it is the proprietors, Murdoch senior and son, who should be held to account and removed from any say in the Britain media. Those inside the loop should not be outside the law.

Can the 'J30' strike move beyond the failures of March 26?

Trade unions and the anti-cuts movement are gearing up for a UK-wide strike over pension reforms. Yet the left still haven't worked through the failures of their last mass action against the Coalition. A central issue is the need for the unions to ally themselves with network politics

When it comes to the NHS, who speaks for Britain's voluntary sector?

It seems the British government is about to claim that the voluntary sector supports its plans to market the NHS out to "any willing provider". Those who actually give their money, time and effort to the voluntary sector should speak out against this if it isn't true.

New College disaster and the challenge of A.C. Grayling

In a bold new initiative, philosopher-proprietor A.C. Grayling has launched a for-profit university amidst a storm of opposition. Could it be that the prospectus is misleading, and the venture undemocratic and wrong in principle?

'No Confidence' in the Coalitions' policy for higher education

A campaign is launched to express 'no confidence' in the British government's policy on higher education. Does it go far enough?

We have broken the silence: Fresh from Madrid, a member of the Communications team of the 15 May Movement

This interview with Beatriz Pérez took place in the early morning of Thursday 26 May in English with additions from an interview she gave to radio Una linea sobre el mar (thanks to simultaneous translation by Mayte Carrasco). It was checked and finalised by Beatriz on Saturday 28 May.

How do we talk about Scotland?

How should we talk about Scotland and the coming referendum on independence? A non-partisan debate is needed that includes all the nations, acknowledges the English question, and exists outside of the Westminster circle. But how will this be achieved?

Lords reform must address both chambers; Clegg's proposals are a dead-end

The British are now being presented with a proposal to replace the Lords with a wholly, or partially elected Senate.... Here we go again is the general feeling. Rightly. The upper chamber cannot undergo democratic reform without addressing its relationship with the Commons

The AV debacle, the waste of nearly £2M and the Rowntree Reform Trust

The Yes to AV referendum campaign was a fiasco. Supporters of reform - activists, funders and voters - deserve an explanation. A public enquiry should be launched by JRRT, who took a leading role both in funding and organising the failed campaign

After AV - a debate on what next

A Lib Dem and an OK Co-Editor strike different notes as they respond to the ruins of Britain's AV referendum campaign

The world and the internet: influence, openness and community, a view from openDemocracy

On our tenth birthday, we republish the interview Haegwan Kim conducted in 2010 with founder, Anthony Barnett, on his past and future ambitions for openDemocracy.

This is democracy in practice

However ruthless monopoly forces may be in limiting freedoms, the Democracy Manifesto challenges us to consider if the unruly power of the market isn’t also a home of democratic freedom.

After Britain’s shocking Thursday, is the earthquake still to come?

The contrast between the SNP's resounding victory in Scotland and Britain's decision to embrace our current FPTP voting system suggests that we have entered an explosive political decade. The 'Scottish Spring' signals an opportunity for a genuinely democratic party south of the border

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

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