Empire not only made the colonies. It made the unequal Britain we see today

openDemocracy’s new film BOOMERANG, exploring the legacies of empire through Liverpool’s docks, is available online Kojo Koram Lenin’s famous quote that “there are weeks where decades happen” would be a suitable epitaph for the tombstone of the Liz Truss premiership. As commentators focus on her obvious personal limitations as a politician to explain her spectacular… Read More Empire not only made the colonies. It made the unequal Britain we see today

Ayodhya ‘endorsements’ of Rahul compel BJP to grab credit for Ram Temple

Bharat Bhushan Contrary to popular perception, Hindutva forces have not endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY). However, such a public perception prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to announce that the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple at Ayodhya would be ready on January 1, 2024. Champat Rai, Vice President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and… Read More Ayodhya ‘endorsements’ of Rahul compel BJP to grab credit for Ram Temple

Indian Big Business

Jairus Banaji The evolution of India’s corporate sector from 2000 to 2020 “The systemic, long-term nexus between the political elites and big business will not go away anytime soon,” wrote journalist M. K. Venu in 2015. Writing in the aftermath of Obama’s second visit to India, Venu suggested that “crony capitalism” had to be grasped in… Read More Indian Big Business

Weimar Themes. By Jairus Banaji

In 1926, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) finance minister Rudolf Hilferding published an article in Die Gesellschaft which considered the significance of industrialist Paul Silverberg’s speech to the Dresden meeting of the country’s leading business association—the Reichsverband.1 Silverberg was the first industrialist to suggest that German capital could reconcile itself to the Weimar Republic instead of seeking… Read More Weimar Themes. By Jairus Banaji

Is Facebook losing its $100bn gamble on virtual reality?

After decades of spectacular “move fast and break things” growth, Zuckerberg’s empire is now looking a little fragile. Meta’s share price has fallen by more than 70% this year. Moneyspinners Facebook and Instagram are losing market share and Gen Z users to fresher rivals like TikTok and Snapchat. Apple’s changes to data privacy last year also decimated revenues – its introduction of an… Read More Is Facebook losing its $100bn gamble on virtual reality?