red pepper issue146 october 2006

contents

features

Globalisers with guns 17The heady, optimistic days of the 1990s, when the end of the cold war seemed to usher in a new era of peaceful transformation across the globe seem a long way off now. Sergio Yahni looks at the rise of ‘armed globalisation’, before and since 9/11, and the special role of Israel in the so-called ‘clash of civilisations’

Imagine there’s no leaders. It’s easy if you try… 20Three leaders representing parties of different shades of the left – Tony Blair, Tommy Sheridan and President Lula – have each arguably all but destroyed the parties they were elected to represent. What is it about the left and its leaders? What kind of leadership do we want? By Hilary Wainwright and Steve Platt

A different kind of leader 22Left-wing MP John McDonnell says that he wants to ‘reclaim the Labour Party’ and is standing as leader under the campaign slogan ‘Another world is possible’. Why does he think it’s worth the effort and what’s the ‘new politics’ he’s talking about? Interview by Hilary Wainwright

Cover by Martin Rowson

regulars 04Letters Agony Subcommandauntie

06Activision Around the left in 30 days: UK Guerilla Guides: (Un)funny money Natural Born Rebel: Millet Morante A Day in the Life: Doubly Tough Asylum Watch: Because you’re ‘special’ Know Your Enemy: Business buys the G&Ts

13World Around the left in 30 days: World Democratic Republic of Congo: Plunder and war Brazil:Through gritted teeth

38Infra Red David Osler: Hasta la democracia siempre

39Rear view Johan Oldekop : mUSlims

No more heroes 24The Scottish Socialist Party, one of the most successful political initiatives of the British left in decades, has been torn apart by its former convenor Tommy Sheridan’s libel action over sex allegations in the News of the World. Here, Roz Paterson tells the story from the perspective of those who have remained with the SSP

A tale of two meetings 24At the beginning of September two rallies took place in Glasgow – one for the renewal of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and one for Tommy Sheridan’s breakaway grouping, Solidarity. Jim Jepps was present at both

Solidarity forever 28Tommy Sheridan says he wants to build a different kind of organisation, not continue to fight internal battles in the SSP

iPods and idealogues 30There is something old and something genuinely new about David Cameron’s Conservatism. If the left is to help shape the post-Blair political climate, it will have to engage with its ideas, and not simply dismiss them, writes Oscar Reyes

‘Glad to See the Back of Them’ Social Event and Cabaret 28 September 8.30pm Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DD Join Red Pepper and friends to say goodbye to the warmongers as the Labour leaders leave Manchester. Pay on the door. Tickets £5 waged, £2.50 concessions More info:www.redpepper.org.uk,020 7281 7024

review

The art of cultural resistance 32From Banksy’s street art to the subvertising of Adbusters, ‘culture jamming’ is an increasingly popular means of reclaiming our public spaces from the signs and symbols of global capitalism. Gemma Galdon Clavell reports

34Book reviews Arts reviews

october 2006 red pepper

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