Corbyn the Reactionary?

As Jeremy Corbyn surges towards the leadership of the Labour Party his foreign policy has been put under increasing scrutiny. What has particularly drawn the media's attention is Corbyn's tendency to associate himself with ghoulish anti-Semites such as Dyab Abou Jahjah and Raed Salah. Now, of course, Jeremy Corbyn is no anti-Semite- he is the embodiment of an old fashioned humanitarian. So what drives such a vehement anti-racist into the the company of pond life like Abou Jahjah?

John McTernan: Labour's Prince?

                                                                           

Librarian turned political strategist John McTernan did a short piece for the Daily Politics about a year ago. In it he talked of his admiration for Niccolò Machiavelli and the relevance of Machiavelli's philosophy today. 

Justice and reconciliation: The trial of the Khmer Rouge

My piece for Development in Action on the Khmer Rouge Trial.

You can read the original piece here.

On 7 July 2015 International Co-Investigating Judge Mark Harmon became the fourth international judge to resign from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia. The Tribunal is investigating the role played by former Khmer Rouge officials in systematic violations of international law, including genocide and crimes against humanity.

War in the Middle East: Why the left should support the revolutionary Kurds

A recent statement in Parliament by Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon confirmed that the UK Government are seriously looking at the prospect of extending airstrikes from Iraq into Syria.

Putin and his Western apologists

For more than a decade now sections of the British left have been fawning over reactionary tyrant Vladimir Putin. From Ukraine to FIFA there are certain members of what some may describe as the Chomskyite left who will parrot Russian propaganda word for word. I personally am uncomfortable with throwing Professor Chomsky in with George Galloway and the like- his writings tend to contain a degree of nuance and empiricism which are lacking from his self appointed disciples.  Nevertheless what is clear is that there is a very obvious yearning for the Cold War certainties of the 20^th century. I can very well understand the impulse to defend, rightly or wrongly the actions of the Soviet Union against Western capitalism but that’s all finished now. The wall came down and in preceding 2 decades Yeltsin and Putin have set about creating an authoritarian form of Russian nationalism, which has abandoned free services for the free market.

the snp and the repeal of the hunting act

today it was announced that our 56 newly elected radical, nationalist mps would be abstaining from voting on any tory legislation which seeks to repeal the fox hunting ban in england and wales. 

hope over fear: the ugly side of scottish nationalism

thousands massed in freedom square (george square), glasgow today for an almost comical outpouring of nationalistic fervour. the gathering was organised and led by flag waver in chief, tommy sheridan. of course, it's a great thing that politics north of the border has become so energised but this, i'm afraid, was a demonstration of all the ugliest aspects of political patriotism. sheridan is a notorious ego maniac, who was willing to lie in court and throw old comrades under the bus in the process. therefore any attempt by him to resuscitate his failed political career must be viewed with suspicion. to be fair to the snp, they do realise this and it's why nicola sturgeon and the majority of the party distanced themselves from todays goings-on.