UK

Friday 10th February

Whose network?

James Butler, 10 February 2012
Reflections on Paul Mason's new book, 'Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere'.

Prime Minister as a mid-career job: what consequence for Britain?

Trevor Smith, 10 February 2012
The office of Prime Minister, once the apex of a political career, has become a stepping stone for a new generation of ambitious young politicians.
Thursday 9th February

Pavement injustice: the tyranny of on-the-spot fines

Josie Appleton, 9 February 2012
What does it mean for justice in Britain when criminal offences that were once tried in a court room are now dealt with on-the-spot, with the supposed 'offender' unable to argue their case?

Europe’s radical right: recognising and managing the ‘threat’

Vidhya Ramalingam, 9 February 2012
Safeguarding communities and nations from the potential threats of radical right narratives is not about controlling or prohibiting their political parties: but about bridging gaps between political leadership and communities.

Uneconomics: a challenge to the power of the economics profession

William Davies, 9 February 2012
The fall-out from the financial crash is continuing to destroy lives around the globe, yet the power of economists is being entrenched, rather than questioned. In this debate, we bring together anthropologists, sociologists, historians and heterodox economists to ask and answer the big questions.
Wednesday 8th February

The Left and Israel: a tortured path

Colin Shindler, 8 February 2012
The attitudes of the political left, including left-wing Jews, to Israel have varied greatly across the state's six decades. Loyalties acquired before or independent of Israel's foundation - to the Soviet Union, or to the idea of revolution - have often played a part in shaping them, says Colin Shindler.

Benefit cap: a divide-and-rule tactic

Deborah Padfield, 8 February 2012
26K per family in hand-outs is the limit. Reasonable, isn't it? How else do we get Britain off benefits? A Citizens Advice Bureau adviser gives her views from the ground.
Tuesday 7th February

Liberty is at stake: Commons, Lords and the Welfare Reform Bill

Stuart White, 7 February 2012
If the claim to financial privilege over the Welfare Reform Bill stands, little stops the Coalition from forcing through a broad range of laws. Say goodbye to checks and balances! Scrutiny, farewell!

When is a victim not a victim?

Frances Crook, 7 February 2012
Criminals are to be stopped from making claims for injuries, but criminals may be victims too.
Monday 6th February

So who will speak for a better Scotland?

Gerry Hassan, 6 February 2012
The debate over the Scottish independence referendum plays into the old labels: unionism versus nationalism. Scotland needs to reach beyond these and ask difficult questions if there is to be real change.

Heterosexual privilege in higher education

Matthew Ripley and Eric Anderson, 6 February 2012
True equality can only be accomplished if all teachers, of all sexual orientations, talk about sexual minorities and use the experiences of LGBT lives to illustrate curricular content in class.
Sunday 5th February

Lords Spiritual: a problem of transparency and legitimacy

Scot Peterson, 5 February 2012
There are twenty-six English Bishops in the House of Lords. How are they appointed? Recent events have shown the procedure to be secretive and flawed. Any future reform of the Upper House must question the legitimacy of the Lords Spiritual.
Friday 3rd February

Britain won’t have a good society until we revive the ‘public interest’

Joe Cox, 3 February 2012
The pressure group Compass is taking action to place the public interest back at the heart of Britain. Joe Cox of the group's campaigns team reports on their latest event, a citizen's assembly.

Tory Feminism: the quest for high power

Zoe Stavri, 3 February 2012
The ascendant 'Tory feminism' is not about equality for all British women. So what is it about?

Is there such a thing as ethical capitalism?

Kerry-anne Mendoza, 3 February 2012
In response to a growing realisation that neo-liberal capitalism is morally and literally bankrupt, Britain’s political leadership have provided three visions of ethical capitalism for us to aspire to. So, is there such a thing as ethical capitalism? And why is this question being asked now?
Thursday 2nd February

Less bank-bashing, more action: time to Move Your Money!

Louis Brooke, 2 February 2012
A call is going out to every British citizen who wants the financial sector to clean up their act. Move your money from the big banks to local, ethical or mutual alternatives and send them a message in a language they'll understand.

‘Epic Win’ for Anonymous? Hacktivism and the 99%

James Mackay, 2 February 2012
The Anonymous 'V for Vendetta' mask is an icon of the Occupy movement. But how does this band of deviant web pirates fit with the Occupiers ethics of responsibility, transparency and democracy? Cole Stryker's new book goes some way to deconstruct the generalisations.
Wednesday 1st February

The hole at the heart of the Labour Party

Stuart Weir, 1 February 2012
Ed Miliband’s sortie against Stephen Hester and City bonuses is a sign of life in Labour. But Labour’s position on the benefit cap reveals a deep-seated weakness.

The English conversation has finally begun. What took so long?

Sunder Katwala, 1 February 2012
Englishness is finally finding a voice, after more than a century. Why has it been muted this long, and is it time now for a strong civic nation, or will an England of blood and soil emerge?
Tuesday 31st January

War with Iran? How should Britain proceed?

Trevor Smith, 31 January 2012
Conflict with Iran is looming, with the US and Israel circling around the possibility of a pre-emptive strike to prevent the manufacture of nuclear weapons. What course should Britain take? And what is the role of the Liberal Democrats?
Syndicate content