Sixty years ago, the end began. It would take almost a full year for the Allies to batter the Third Reich into submission, but in the summer of 1944, the end was inevitable. All could see it. The combined might of the Allied armies was simply overpowering for whatever Germany
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Parchment in the Fire: EU Advisors Advocate use of Military Against Strikes and Protests | Global Research
EU Advisors Advocate use of Military Against Strikes and Protests | Global Research. Experts at a European Union (EU) think-tank are demanding that the EU prepare to put down strikes and protests with military force. Due to the deepening social inequality in a globalised economy and growing military conflicts
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Upstart party Podemos emerging as third political power, says new poll | In English | EL PAÍS
Upstart party Podemos emerging as third political power, says new poll | In English | EL PAÍS. New party Podemos has taken a further step toward becoming the third power on the Spanish political scene, according to the latest opinion poll from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS). The group
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Italy in period of stagnation – Istat – English – ANSA.it
Italy in period of stagnation – Istat – English – ANSA.it. (ANSA) – Rome, July 31 – Italy’s recovery from its longest postwar recession is turning out to be harder than expected and the country’s economy is currently enduring a phase of “stagnation”, national statistics agency Istat said Thursday. Italy
Continue readingCanadian Dimension | Articles: Russia and the war in eastern Ukraine
This piece was originally published on A Socialist in Canada. The following article was written in the days before I departed Moscow on July 17, 2014 following a two week visit to Crimea and Moscow. Moscow, Russia, July 17, 2014–Bombardments of cities and towns in eastern Ukraine by the Ukraine
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Important Challenges to Investor-State Dispute-Settlement
In my many years documenting and critiquing the overblown claims of free trade proponents about the supposedly self-regulating efficiency-promoting mutually-benefiting effects of globalization, I’ve encountered some real doozies. (My Ph.D. dissertation consisted of a critique of the theoretical and empirical basis of neoclassical CGE trade models, and the construction of
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: The Radical Left at the 2014 EP Election – Transform Network
The Radical Left at the 2014 EP Election – Transform Network. The publication of the final results of the 2014 European Parliament (EP) election of 22-25 May finally permits to draw a first assessment of the performance of the radical Left.[1] By Paolo Chiocchetti The election marked an important electoral advance for
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Social movements in Spain – 15M
Social movements in Spain – 15M. From Revolution News Many things have changed and we need to know how to read reality and celebrate our triumphs. The emergence of the 15M movement did not result in an organisation which currently has a significant number of members. The 15M movement is
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Paolo Pini: How Matteo Renzi’s Jobs Act Will Sink Italy
Paolo Pini: How Matteo Renzi’s Jobs Act Will Sink Italy. Italy’s new PM Matteo Renzi has pledged to slash the country’s record unemployment with his American-branded ‘Jobs Act’. But his labour reforms, which will see short term job contracts extended for up to 3 years, are more of the same
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Beyond the European elections, another left-wing force is growing in Europe | Red Pepper
Beyond the European elections, another left-wing force is growing in Europe | Red Pepper. Pascoe Sabido However you interpret them, the European elections have challenged the mainstream’s business-as-usual way of doing politics in Brussels. But while many commentators ignore progress on the left, focusing exclusively on the rise of the
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: It’s Time To Stand Up To Troika Austerity Part II
It’s Time To Stand Up To Troika Austerity Part II. Thomas Fazi In the first part of this article I looked at the mounting evidence against austerity by organisations as varied as Caritas, the ILO, the Council of Europe and the IMF. So why is the European establishment pushing for more of
Continue readingCanadian Dimension | Articles: Greece: The Dilemmas of Democratic Socialism
Greece is experiencing a triple crisis which has a profound impact on the economy, society and political system. The economy has experienced a deep, prolonged depression lasting six years and continuing. Workers and employees have suffered a 40 per cent loss in income and a commensurate decline in medical, pension,
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Thomas Fazi: It’s Time To Stand Up To Troika Austerity Part I
Thomas Fazi: It’s Time To Stand Up To Troika Austerity Part I. In my book, The Battle for Europe: How an Elite Hijacked a Continent – and How We Can Take It Back, published some months ago by Pluto Press, I argued that the austerity policies imposed on European member
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Andrea Horwath’s Debacle
I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud when I saw election results. I almost spat a mouthful of my breakfast across the room. Almost nobody expected Ontario’s Liberals to win a majority, least of all the NDP’s Andrea Horwath. Her decision to pull the plug on the
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Capital, Labour, and the Eurozone Crisis
Most of the coverage regarding the Eurozone crisis has understandably focused on the politics of austerity. Less attention, however, has been paid to the longer term trends in the industrial relations of those countries hardest hit by the crisis: Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain; the so-called PIIGS countries. Recent
Continue readingCanadian Dimension | Articles: Popular rebellion deepens in eastern and southern Ukraine as NATO and the Kiev step up attacks
This piece was originally published in Truthout. A political crisis over the future of Ukraine has exploded in the past two months. It’s being driven by the longstanding efforts of the big imperialist countries to assert economic and military domination over the republics of the former Soviet Union and to
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: After The Elections The Real Battle For Europe Begins
After The Elections The Real Battle For Europe Begins. by Thomas Fazi Taking stock of the results of the recent European elections is not an easy task. Many commentators have described the outcome as an ‘earthquake’, citing the surge in ‘anti-establishment’ parties, with voters supposedly lured by two ‘extremes’: the
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Financialization and the Collapse of European Social Democracy – Costas Lapavitsas on Reality Asserts Itself 7/8
Financialization and the Collapse of European Social Democracy – Costas Lapavitsas on Reality Asserts Itself 7/8. Filed under: Europe, Social Democracy Tagged: Europe, financialization, social democracy
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Europe’s Brutal Discipline » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Europe’s Brutal Discipline » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names. The European utopia is turning into a system for delivering punishment. As Europe’s regime gets tougher, there is a growing sense that interchangeable elites are taking advantage of each crisis to tighten their austerity policies and impose their federal fantasy
Continue readingParchment in the Fire: Hundreds of protesters arrested in Brussels as business leaders debate ‘maintaining citizen’s trust’ | EurActiv
Hundreds of protesters arrested in Brussels as business leaders debate ‘maintaining citizen’s trust’ | EurActiv. Filed under: Capitalism, Democracy, Europe Tagged: Eurozone, TTIP
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