red pepper issue147 november 2006

contents

features

Veiled threats 20Multiculturalism has been getting the blame for the lack of integration of minority groups into British society. It isn’t beyond criticism, but neither is it the main cause of division. That’s down to racism and economic inequality, writes Mike Marqusee

OurSpace: the new frontier 22The left needs to do much more than simply oppose the marketisation of public services – it must promote a positive alternative. Hilary Wainwright sets the scene

The £4 billion rip-off 23It’s like putting Enron in charge of the power grid. That’s how US businessman Phil Zweig describes the privatisation of NHS procurement. Alex Nunns reports

Making the case against consumerism 24In order to argue effectively against New Labour’s consumerist approach to public services, campaigners must avoid several political cul de sacs, says Catherine Needham

In search of the good life 26During the past year the pressure group Compass has undertaken a thoroughgoing attempt to rethink a democratic left politics of freedom, equality and solidarity. The first of three publications, The Good Society, was published in September. Jonathan Rutherford , the chair of Compass’s Good Society working group, argues that at its heart must be a new set of values and a new idea of the individual

Beyond the public sector 29Support for the ‘third sector’ of social enterprises, charities and the like has never been stronger. Martin McIvor considers how to prevent it turning into backdoor privatisation

The end of the internet? 30The way the internet works at the moment, you can access a blog by an anti-war teenager from Utah on an equal footing with the website of the US defence department. But all that could change if some of the big internet service providers get their way, warns Leigh Phillips

Cover by Tom Lynton www.tomlynton.com

regulars 04Letters Agony Subcommandauntie

06Activision Around the left in 30 days: UK Natural Born Rebel: War On Terror – The Boardgame Asylum Watch: Misjudging rape Guerrilla Guides: Exit strategies A Day in the Life: Shell shocked Know Your Enemy: Britain’s global power empire

13World Around the left in 30 days: World Temperature Gauge: Kyoto – a false consensus? North Korea: Nukes for all Thailand:A new Siamese tragedy Hungary: Frank, as in honest

38Infra Red David Osler: Bameronism

39Rear view Pablo Navarette : Cuba

review

Good wholesome punk 32Anti-Flag, the latest dose of anti-capitalist rock from the USA, are being touted as the new Rage Against the Machine. Matt Bright examines their political credentials

34Book reviews Arts reviews

coming soon

Red Pepper Christmas Cards

Make sure you cards reflect your views. Check www.redpepper.org.ukto order this year’s Red Pepper Christmas cards

Cable Street, cabbing and the Costa Brava: Aubrey Morris tells his tale Dual power in Mexico? Rob Newman on what’s wrong with carbon offsets Principles for a new politics The revival of a political trade unionism on the web Diary from Faslane Blogs from the Venezuela frontline

november 2006 red pepper

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