Young people are abandoning democracy for dictators. I can understand their despair

Fascism in power in the 1930s brought the world to genocidal war. But memories have faded, as has the stigma attached to the far-right – and that’s dangerous… Democracy under capitalism has always been heavily curtailed by corporate interests and plutocrats who have enjoyed far greater power than the average voter. When capitalism falls into… Read More Young people are abandoning democracy for dictators. I can understand their despair

Forget talk of defending workers, the US visa feud is about the market’s needs

Whether in America or Britain, working-class people only matter when immigration is an issue Kenan Malik On the one side stand Silicon Valley moguls and leaders of corporate America; on the other, longstanding Donald Trump loyalists and supporters of the Maga (“Make America great again”) movement. One side claims to be building America’s bright new future by… Read More Forget talk of defending workers, the US visa feud is about the market’s needs

Bhagat Singh, Kanpur lit fest, and the culture of hasty comment

NB: It could also be called the standardisation of thought; the co-option of history by ideology, and the elevation of outrage to an art form. DS Apoorvanand Historian Aparna Vaidik is under attack on social media. A controversy arose following a discussion on her new book at a lit fest in Kanpur. It was alleged that Vaidik… Read More Bhagat Singh, Kanpur lit fest, and the culture of hasty comment

Albert Einstein on Jews in Palestine (1932-49)

Letters and excerpts from Albert Einstein’s writings in which he repeatedly reiterated his opposition to the creation of a state for Jews, preferring the formation of a simple spiritual and cultural centre to serve the Jewish world and all humanity. Addresses on reconstruction in Palestine (1932) The crisis which the work of construction has had to… Read More Albert Einstein on Jews in Palestine (1932-49)

Defending Dhankhar but eroding dignity of vice president

Jagdeep Dhankhar has eroded the stature of the position, which was once occupied by stalwarts like Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Zakir Hussain, Gopal Swarup Pathak, M Hidayatullah, and K R Narayanan Bharat Bhushan The fallout of the Opposition’s unprecedented move to bring a resolution for the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has undermined the dignity of the constitutional… Read More Defending Dhankhar but eroding dignity of vice president