Society

• Abolition and working class solidarity March 22 2007
  Official society celebrates the bicentenary of the ending of slavery as part of ‘our common British heritage’. Mike Macnair examines the class forces that underpinned anti-slavery
• Not the happiest of days March 1 2007
  Eddie Ford comments on Britain's 'youth crisis' and says: stop criminalising youth
• Crime and yet more punishment January 25 2007
  Prison doesn’t work, says Eddie Ford
• Some more equal than others January 25 2007
  There is no religious ‘right to discriminate’, says Jim Moody
• Prosecution warning to muslims January 11 2007
  At the end of last week, a protester against the publication of cartoons mocking Mohammed and islam (the ‘Danish cartoons’) was found guilty of soliciting murder and incitement to racial hatred at a demonstration held in February last year. He faces a lengthy prison term. Jim Moody reports
• Decriminalise sex work January 4 2007
  How should the left relate to sex workers? Following the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich, Peter Manson spoke to Ana Lopes of the International Union of Sex Workers (www.iusw.org)
• Multiculturalism: facing both ways December 14 2006
  Tony Blair’s December 8 speech on multiculturalism shows that his government has no coherent programme to deal with the fact that the majority of British muslims oppose his wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and are in general deeply alienated. Jim Moody looks at the issues
• Copyright or human need December 14 2006
  Communists are for the freedom of information, says Mike Macnair
• Sleaze is back July 20 2006
  But, argues Mike Macnair, it never really went away
• Rehabilitation, not irrationality June 29 2006
  Blair’s speech exposes the government's bankruptcy on crime, says Eddie Ford
• Not fit for purpose June 22 2006
  In the panic over sex crimes, communists emphasise the need for treatment, not revenge. Eddie Ford comments
• Banning bad ideas February 23 2006
  David Irving’s conviction for holocaust denial and three-year sentence in an Austrian prison is not good news for communists and democrats, say Tina Becker and Eddie Ford. It is in our own self-interest to oppose anti-free speech laws and proscriptions, as sooner or later they will be used against us
• Islamophobia: no! Free speech: yes! February 16 2006
  Peter Manson analyses the furore over the Danish cartoon controversy
  • Oppose all blasphemy laws
    Communists fight for the complete separation of church and state, says Eddie Ford
• Trouble on the beach January 26 2006
  A month after race riots in Sydney, Marcus Ström points to a crisis in official multiculturalism in Australia
• Authoritarian agenda January 26 2006
  Anne Mc Shane comments on Tony Blair’s latest anti-social crackdown
• Victims and victimisers January 19 2006
  Eddie Ford takes a look at the latest round of hysteria over ‘nonces’ and ‘perverts’ in the educational system
• Defend free speech January 19 2006
  Abu Hamza and Nick Griffin have more in common than they would like to admit: both are being prosecuted for their views and speeches - rather than their actions. Communists must take a firm stand against the chipping away of our civil liberties, because left critics of the government might be next in line, says Tina Becker
• Booze and moral panics December 15 2005
  How should communists view the new '24-hour-drinking'-legislation? Eddie Ford says that alcohol and drugs are class questions
• A full life for the elderly December 1 2005
  Eddie Ford looks at the long awaited Pensions Commission report and puts forward the communist programme: for retirement at 60, for the tripling of pensions
• Anti-working class control-freakery November 3 2005
  Eddie Ford takes a closer look at Tony Blair's 'respect' agenda
• Working class unity - not multiculturalism October 27 2005
  The rioting that broke out in the Lozells area of Birmingham over the weekend of October 22-23 offers a disturbing insight into the fragmented nature of many working class communities in this country - and the pathetically inadequate response of the left. Eddie Ford reports
• Rehabilitation, not revenge October 20 2005
  By any rational, humane and social standard, prison does not work. Self-evidently, the UK criminal justice system is itself criminal. Eddie Ford comments on the decision to give prisoners the right to vote
• Legalise all drugs October 20 2005
  Carey Davies comments on the 'drugs scandal' surrounding Tory leadership hopeful David Cameron
• Rolling back multiculturalism September 8 2005
  Of course multiculturalism is not to 'blame' for the London bombings, as reactionaries like Norman Tebbit suggest. But communists also condemn Tony Blair's plans for more religious schools and increased separation along ethnic and religious lines - instead arguing for voluntary and democratic assimilation from below, says Eddie Ford
• Alienation personified June 9 2005
  Michael Jackson obviously needs treatment, not punishment. His trial tells us a lot about today's alienated society, argues Eddie Ford
• End the drugs war May 19 2005
  The established parties continue to criminalise millions of casual drug-users and unfortunately, Respect does not stand out of the crowd. Dominic Smith instead calls for the legalisation of all drugs
• Towards a socialist pensions policy May 5 2005
  According to bourgeois economists, demographic changes mean that the state is no longer able to fund adequate pensions, and so workers must make their own arrangements for the future. Nick Rogers looks at the truth behind the myths
  
• Right to choose, right to die March 31 2005
  Communists must stand firm against right-wing moralism and support the right of human beings to make an informed choice at every stage of life, argues Eddie Ford
• Stench of bigotry and intolerance March 17 2005
  Communists must defend travellers against Howard and Prescott, says Eddie Ford
• Their countryside and ours February 24 2005
  February 18th marked the day fox hunting with hounds was banned in the United Kingdom, but with the bourgeosie set to rebel against the ruling the controversy is far from over. Eddie Ford reflects on the bill and the sort of countryside communists actively fight for.
• For the right to offend January 6 2005
  The drama on and off stage at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre poses important questions for working class politicians, argues Ian Mahoney
• Binge-boozing Britain December 16 2004
  Blair and his government tell us that we should all be very concerned about the excessive drinking habits of the British population, particularly at Christmas. Mark Fischer reckons they are trying to police more than our alcohol intake
• Ironic unpredictability June 24 2003
  Philip Bounds marks the Orwell centenary
• Alienation and irrationality January 23 2003
  Pete Townshend is the latest to be tarnished with the tag of paedophile. Ian Donovan calls for a rational attitude to sexuality, abuse and consent
• Legalise all drugs January 9 2003
  Too many arms in Britain? In fact, a ‘gun culture’ is just what the working class needs, argues Mark Fischer
• Mobilisation for reaction September 26 2002
  Ian Donovcan dissects last weekends 400,000-strong 'Liberty and livelihood' demonstration
• This sick society August 29 2002
  Renee Marsden takes a look behind the Soham murders
• Lifting the lid on MI5 May 30 2002
  Michael Malkin reviews the BBC's spy drama, Spooks
• The right to offend March 14 2002
  Establishment darling Joan Bakewell has fallen foul of the blasphemy laws. Eddie Ford calls for their abolition
• Fox-hunting: Humanising our environment February 21 2002
  Do communists support a ban on fox-hunting or do we defend the rights of fox-hunters? Danny Hammill examines the issues
• Open the borders February 14 2002
  Immigration controls should be opposed because they divide workers, argues Eddie Ford
• Victims and victimisers February 7 2002
  Danny Hammill calls for the abolition of the age of consent
• NHS disarray: Racism smear -cover for failure January 31 2002
  The NHS is not safe in Labour or Tory hands. Eddie Ford looks beyond the latest furore
• A Communist morality January 10 2002
  In the last of three articles Michael Malkin argues that our ethics must be based on the needs of the class struggle