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Editor's pick: Articles of the week

A left guide to the Italian elections
Edited by Hilary Wainwright
Berlusconi's victory, the disastrous results for the 'rainbow left' and the increased number of abstentions present new yet anticipated challenges for the radical left in Italy. Key actors and commentators, just before the elections, share their perspectives.

 
Challenges and dilemmas of the public intellectual
Walden Bello
Truth is not just there, it is made real and ratified by action, but although to realize it and bring about a more just order one needs power, the truth cannot be allowed to be ensnared by power in the process. This is the role of public intellectual: to point out truths that are not convenient from the point of view of one's politics.
 

The new Himalayan republic
Achin Vanaik sets out the complex socio-historical backdrop to the Nepalese Second Democratic Revolution of 2006 that overthrew the monarchy and the tactical challenges that will face the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as they form a government.
See also: Dealing with Nepal's Himalayan shift by Praful Bidwai.

 
The mysterious chemistry of social change
Mike Marqusee
We shouldn't celebrate 1968 in the name of some abstract spirit of resistance. It was a year of contradictions and confusions, many of which continue to confront anyone who wants to take part in a movement for radical change.
See also: Workers of the World, Forgive Me! by Peter Waterman, and The year that changed the world, by Tariq Ali
 


New book

We the peoples of Europe
Susan George
The EU constitution may have disappeared from the headlines, but right-wing European leaders have not given up and are pushing through a binding EU text that is more neo-liberal and anti-democratic than the one rejected by the French and the Dutch. A detailed explanation of what is at stake for all peoples of Europe.

 


Global outlook stories

Britain's financial Guantanamo
Ben Hayes
A little known government legal order forces individuals merely "suspected of terrorism" to have all their assets seized and forced to appeal for funds to even feed themselves.

The World Bank's carbon deals
Janet Redman
The Bank's foray into the carbon market paves the way for business-as-usual, while short-changing clean, renewable energy, the poor, and ultimately the climate.

An intellectually exhausted right wing
Atilio Borón
The meeting of the Latin American Right in Rosario, Brazil which aims to put a stop to the Left's advances on the continent shows that with intellectuals like these, nothing will save the empire but its guns.

Even his own party realises the solution must come from out of Africa
William M Gumede
By not dealing decisively with Mugabe in Zimbabwe, South African President Mbeki's much vaunted African solutions for Africa's problems have been dealt a devastating blow.

Three amigos summit
Manuel Pérez Rocha and Sarah Anderson
The forthcoming secretive Security and Prosperity Partnership summit between Mexico, US and Canada will be attended by Wal-Mart, Chevron, and 28 other large corporations, while members of Congress, journalists, and ordinary citizens are excluded.

Bordering on deceit
John Gittings
Last year we were told that British naval officers were indisputably in Iraqi waters. We have to learn to be more sceptical.

No sanctuary this
Mike Marqusee
The current British policy aims to deter future asylum seekers by punishing those presently in the country.

Trading green
President Bush announces a "shift" in US policy toward global warming. Kevin Smith, of Carbon Trade Watch debates Veronique Bugnion of Point Carbon.

Dog Whistles and Guard Dogs: the race to be London mayor
Oscar Reyes
Londoners face a choice between Ken Livingstone, whose 'red' reputation has given way to pro-business cheerleading and Boris Johnson, a Conservative celebrity courting racism for electoral gain.

Petraeus-Crocker hearings: political theater on message
Phyllis Bennis
The single most important purpose of the Petraeus-Crocker hearing was to ratchet up tensions with Iran, to justify the "surge" and defend permanent occupation.
See also: Iraqi government fails in challenging al Sadr. Exchange with Tom Hayden on Obama's policies on the war, and by Saul Landau How to leave Iraq? Just go

Green with NATO envy
Boris Kagarlitsky
In the face of NATO expansion, Moscow should seek allies in the West, including those from the anti-war movement and be prepared to do its own self-critiques.

Dealing a blow to social inclusion
Praful Bidwai
By accepting quotas for socially disadvantaged classes in higher education institutions, the Indian Supreme Court has reaffirmed the Constitutional value of inclusion.

Three little pigs from the economy and finance ministries
Boris Kagarlitsky
The world recession will inevitably spillover to Russia, but the government officials' stubborn optimism reflects their blind faith in capitalism's self-regulatory powers.

Central planning and market freedom: manifestations of the same fundamentalist mindset
Walden Bello
The dogmatic adherence to the principles of centrally-planned economy ruined the economies of Eastern Europe, but the dogma of free market is doing even more damage.

Indian Left at a crossroads
Praful Bidwai
The congresses of India's two Communist Parties confirmed that they still represent a political current that speaks for the unprivileged, but lack clear policy strategy on critical issues.
See also: Rooted in prejudice - Advani's self justificatory biography.

Two feminist pioneers: Iranian, Lebanese, universal
Fred Halliday
The work of Mai Ghoussoub and Parvin Paidar embodies a humane and life-affirming engagement with the world that is needed today more than ever.

Saul Landau accepts the Bernardo O'Higgins Award from the Chilean Ambassador for his work in human rights.


En español


Selección del editor

Tony Blair: pésimo hombre para una pésima Europa
Susan George
Los referendos acabaron con la Constitución de la UE, un 'chantaje' que las elites europeas se plantean ahora evitar a través del Tratado de Lisboa sin ningún debate. Y Tony Blair es precisamente el hombre por el que apuestan algunos para ponerse al frente de esta nueva Europa.
 
La incógnita nepalesa
Praful Bidwai
El Partido Comunista de Nepal-Maoísta (PCN-M) será el primer sector de extrema izquierda en gobernar un país por el voto popular desde el fin de la Guerra Fría. Su acceso al poder pone a prueba la vocación democrática de la populosa Asia meridional.
 
Drogas y conflicto en Colombia
El programa Drogas y Democracia del TNI ha iniciado recientemente un weblog sobre drogas y conflicto en Colombia, dedicado a presentar y comentar la actualidad colombiana relacionada con estos temas.
 


Perspectiva global

El comercio de emisiones
Grupo de Durban por la justicia climática
Selección de artículos sobre comercio de emisiones realizado para el Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de la ONU, abril de 2008

Coca-Cola se inspira en el mercado de emisiones para limpiar su imagen
Kevin Smith
Inspirándose en los mecanismos de mercado del Protocolo de Kyoto, Coca-Cola propone compensar su sobreexplotación de los recursos hídricos de la India invirtiendo en proyectos 'sostenibles' en otros lugares.

Un código de trabajo que debe revisarse desesperadamente
Boris Kagarlitsky
Crece el convencimiento de que es mejor renegociar el pro-empresarial Código de Trabajo Ruso que enfrentar las consecuencias de las huelgas espontáneas e incontrolables.

La cláusula de no escape en Irak
Saul Landau
Por las palabras, los anuncios y los filmes, se podría llegar a la conclusión de que el ejército estadounidense es invencible, pero la guerra está volviendo a casa bajo la forma de incontables informes de abusos a cónyuges e hijos, divorcios, pérdidas de empleo, asesinatos, suicidios y pérdida de viviendas.

¿Cómo dejar a Irak? Simplemente marcharse
Saul Landau
Los demócratas, hastiados de Irak, se enfrentan a un formidable reto político. Si ganan en noviembre, ¿podrán librar al país de la guerra ilegal de Bush, que aparentemente no puede ser ganada por las fuerzas militares de EEUU y ha agotado recursos materiales y psicológicos?

La cláusula de no escape en Irak
Saul Landau
Por las palabras, los anuncios y los filmes, se podría llegar a la conclusión de que el ejército estadounidense es invencible, pero la guerra está volviendo a casa bajo la forma de incontables informes de abusos a cónyuges e hijos, divorcios, pérdidas de empleo, asesinatos, suicidios y pérdida de viviendas.

La indiferencia de la Administración
Joan Subirats
La conexión entre calidad y personalización de los servicios es algo claramente irreversible, pero los servicios públicos se deben personalizar sin perder valores como la equidad y el acceso universal a ellos.




New from our network

Elections in Paraguay: Change in the Air
Washington Office on Latin America >>

World Bank: Climate Profiteer (PDF)
Sustainable Energy and Economy Network >>

Reclaman intervención urgente sobre agrocombustibles para paliar crisis alimentaria
Ecolgistas en Acción >>

Segundo reporte sobre actividades de resistencia y rechazo de la ASC Centroamérica al Acuerdo de Asociación con la UE
Alianza Social Continental >>

From the archives

A Study on innovation in the Rifondazione comunista party
TNI New Politics Working Paper, August 2004

Estudio sobre las innovaciones en el partido Rifondazione Comunista
Proyecto Nuevas formas de acción política - Documento de trabajo, agosto 2004

Ricerca sull'innovazione nel PRC
Transform! Italia, agosto 2004

Events

26 April
Humans & Habitats: rethinking rights in an age of climate change
London, UK

13 May
The future and poverty reduction
Amsterdam, Netherlands

13 - 16 May
Linking Alternatives 3
Lima, Peru

13 - 16 mayo
Enlazando Alternativas 3
Lima, Perú

21 May
Tax Justice seminar
Lima, Perú

In the media

Latinoamérica se rompe por la droga
El Pais, 16 de abril

Experto afirma Washington prepara base en Amazonía peruana
Prensa Latina, 19 de abril

Plan Merida under fire
Inforpress Centroamericana, 19 March

Peru Refuses US Military Hot Potato
Prensa Latina, 22 April

More of TNI in the news>>

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