red pepper issue135 november 2005

contents

features

21st-century socialism 16The outcome of the political struggle in Venezuela is likely to determine the future direction of Latin America as a whole. Pablo Navarrete reports on the battle between the socialism of Hugo Chávez and the neoliberalism of George Bush

A shaken subcontinent 18While desperate rescuers tried to dig through collapsed mountains of concrete with picks and shovels, Pakistan refused badly-needed aid from India because of ‘sensitivities’. The subcontinent has been badly shaken by the Muzaffarabad earthquake, writes Praful Bidwai

Go home, George! Go home! COVERSTORY 20Politics is edging closer to the point at which politicians will have no choice but to pack up and get out of Iraq, writes Robert Dreyfuss

G8—Africa nil 22Four months on and with the ‘historic G8 deal for Africa’ already in tatters, the Make Poverty History coalition is as silent as it was once ubiquitous. Ahead of December’s World Trade Organisation summit in Hong Kong, Stuart Hodkinson investigates

Politics isn’t a pop concert 26After four years on Labour’s national executive, Tony Robinson says he’s been radicalised by the experience. Now he wants the people to seize back politics from the politicians

Cover image by Martin Rowson

regulars 04Letters& Agony Subcommandauntie

06Activision Around the left in 30 days: UK Natural born rebel: Walter Wolfgang A day in the life: Badger | Red Hot: Stencilling Living in fear: new anti-terror laws Know your enemy: Gordon Brown Guerrilla guides: Downloading music Harold Pinter: 2005 Nobel Prize Temperature gauge: Global warming

14World Around the left in 30 days:World | Germany: Prospects for the left

38Infrared David Osler

39Rear view Gandhi in London’s East End

review 34Book reviews

36Arts reviews Preview

Free beer and other recipes 29A revolution is taking place, and it is being led by people who operate behind computer screens and over the internet. Open-source and free software is challenging the corporate control of information, knowledge and creativity. This is Red Pepper ’s guide to what is happening and how to join in the action

red pepper is...

... a magazine of political rebellion and dissent. Influenced by socialism, feminism and green politics, it is a resource for all those who imagine and work to create another world – a world based on equality, solidarity, and democracy. We tell the truth about the world as we see it. We promote and debate the most creative new thinking and practice about achieving radical change. We see our readers not as ‘customers’ but as critics and collaborators from whom we seek to learn.

29 The commons touch 30 Open source and free software top 10 The future is geek Give it up for creativity 31 The canary in the mine

coming soon John Gittings on globalisation, Chinese style Wang Chaohua on China's political system How to be rich: the comic book Ruskin Murder and poverty in the UK on the web Celebrating Pinter's Nobel prize: Hilary Wainwright, Michael Kustow and others Surveillance and fiction

november 2005 red pepper

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