Economics

Friday 3rd February

China’s big bet on green industry – and how it might green the world

John Mathews, 3 February 2012
After the failure of Durban, a promising plan B to reducing carbon emissions rests upon green development industrial strategies being pursued by individual countries. And here China is in the vanguard.

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.

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

Another summit, another bleak day for European democracy

Kirsty Hughes, 31 January 2012
The new 'fiscal compact' treaty agreed at Monday's summit aims to take vital economic policy choices out of the reach of democratic decision-making. Beyond that, there is no new thinking, nothing to stimulate growth, nothing to give some hope to the 23 million unemployed – and those who will join them as the recession deepens.

How to create political space for climate action?

Eivind Hoff, 31 January 2012
Greener politics should fit with more social politics. But as environmental policies have emerged in the neoliberal era, they have been shaped by it. Those fighting for a greener world must look beyond these narrow policies, to help create the pre-conditions necessary for radical change.

The long haul of solitary death: Michel Houellebecq and the decline of western sexuality

James Warner, 31 January 2012
A prophet-provacateur faithful to French traditions of lucidity, sensuality, and alienation, Houellebecq believes we are all doomed. The Map and the Territory continues his great project of exposing the limits of individualism.
Monday 30th January

Scotland needs a One Question Referendum. It is that simple!

Gerry Hassan, 30 January 2012
The Scottish independence referendum may be more than a question of 'in' or 'out'. Would a third option - devo max - empower the people through more choice, or muddy the waters?

The flaws of Capitalism - and how to fix them

Dennis Nottebaum, 30 January 2012
In the run-up to Davos 2012, Martin Wolf has outlined some essential aspects of an overhaul of Capitalism. But does he go far enough, or do we need a more holistic approach? Which points is he missing? openDemocracy writers reflect on the flaws of Capitalism.
(updated)

What “Great Transformation”?

Jakob Vestergaard, 30 January 2012
Martin Wolf’s suggestions for an overhaul of our economic system are sensible, but fundamentally insufficient for the Great Transformation we need.

The social union between Scotland and the UK: how would it fare with independence?

Cailean Gallagher, 30 January 2012
Crucial to the argument for Scottish independence is the idea that leaving the political union of the United Kingdom will not mean leaving the social union. But what is this 'social union'?

The shock-and-awe of mega sports events

Christopher McMichael, 30 January 2012
How mega sporting events bring the logic of war to host-city governance. The example of the football World Cup in South Africa highlights how security for mega-events has become a self-reinforcing feedback loop between state and corporate sector, taking the analogy between Sport and War another step closer
Saturday 28th January

Jimmy Wales or Kim Dotcom - is anti-SOPA about fundamental principles or competing commercial interests?

Tony Curzon Price and Albert Wenger, 28 January 2012
In this podcast, Tony Curzon Price talks to Albert Wenger, partner at Union Square Ventures, the venture capital fund behind a lot of the most innovative and visible web companies of today, to try to understand: is anti-SOPA activism more about principle or about the competing interests of big Tech vs. big Entertainment

A little rebellion, now and then...

Jeremy Fox, 28 January 2012
Martin Wolf recognizes many of the ills of our existing economic arrangements, but his solutions involve little more than tinkering.
Friday 27th January

How should 'political England' be recognised?

Lewis Baston, 27 January 2012
England has a political identity, but how can this be given an expression? English votes for English laws? An English Parliament? Let the discussion of practical solutions begin.

Britain needs a transformative budget

Oliver Huitson, 27 January 2012
Britain is on the brink of a double-dip recession. She needs to begin the fundamental reshaping of her political economy... and this is where I'd start.
Thursday 26th January

New faces of nationalism

Tom Nairn, 26 January 2012
Around the globe, new forms of governance are being sought to counter-balance the hyper-empire of global capitalism. Scotland is developing its own resistance, could England follow suit?
Syndicate content