Whose revolution is it anyway?

The revolutions and attempted revolutions that have swept the Arab world have demonstrated the power of ordinary people, but also the adaptability of imperialism, writes Ultán Gillen.
The western media have a clear, simple narrative of the events that have swept the Arab world. Oppressed people suddenly demanded access to westernstyle democracy, and have succeeded in [...]

Listening to Máirtín Ó Cadhain

The name of Máirtín Ó Cadhain is better known than his work and political activity. Here his biographer Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh discusses a writer and fighter worth listening to.
Máirtín Ó Cadhain (1905- 70) is someone many people have heard of, but usually only one aspect of him. People might speak of him as a leading [...]

New LookLeft in shops now

LookLeft – in Easons countrywide and good independent book and newsagents
In this issue of LookLeft -
Can trade unions lead a fight back? Paul Dillon examines the strategic choices which face the trade union movement North and South —-
Health
LookLeft looks at how class defines health outcomes——
NAMA: So why was it created?
Nama plays no constructive economic role [...]

Going it alone

Kevin Brannigan meets former Progressive Unionist Party leader Dawn Purvis to find out what made her finally break with the UVF-connected party and why she believes it is important the Loyalist working class has its own voice.
It’s May 28 2010, and Dawn Purvis MLA, the new leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), is attending [...]

Never waste a crisis

Reactions to the current financial crisis have produced a number of initiatives and proposals that don’t necessarily arise from a desire to solve the problem, according to Brian McDermott.
Let’s go over this just one more time. The current financial debacle has been caused by the greed, selfishness, short-termism and fraudulent practices of banks and major [...]

Give my head politics

The ‘peace process’ starkly changed Northern Ireland’s media portrayal but Stephen Baker and Greg McLaughlin ask did these developments assist a depoliticisation that may leave people vulnerable to the renewed conservative onslaught.
Symbols in Northern Ireland have always been politically loaded. In December 2007, Northern Ireland’s newly elected First and Deputy First Ministers, Ian [...]

Time to criminalise sectarianism

John Lowry
Sectarianism should be made a criminal offence in Northern Ireland and a summit involving all sectors of society held to draw up an action plan to combat the problem.
The Workers’ Party has written to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister to demand an early ‘Summit on Sectarianism’ and the immediate introduction of [...]