Class Struggle
n°39
July 2001
- 1
Britain - After June 7th - Blair's second term, the revolutionary left and the working class
The general election results should leave no doubt in anyone's mind. Despite Labour's re-election, it was unquestionably a vote of no confidence against Blair's policies in government. Significantly, Blair had his share of the vote reduced by nearly 7 points in his own Sedgefield constituency and so did Prescott in … - 2
Britain - NHS - emergency measures required.. against privatisation
In the last weeks of Blair's election campaign, his repeated references to "more investment in schools and hospitals" took a sudden, if predictable turn. Blair announced sweeping public sector reforms which would bring the private sector into the heart of the NHS (and further into education as well). According to … - 3
Northern Ireland - Politicking, gang war and social dereliction
The resignation of Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble as Northern Ireland First Minister, on July 1st, was a well-rehearsed, long- awaited non-event. This kind of ritual gesture, always under the same virtuous pretext - the decommissioning of IRA weapons - has been a feature of the "peace process" ever since … - 4
Turkey - The financial crisis sparks off an economic and social crisis
On the 19th of February a serious altercation between the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signaled the start of the Turkish financial crisis. Within hours several billion dollars left the country. The central bank attempted to stop the outflow by offering exorbitant interest rates, but … - 5
USA - Utility deregulation - from the era of Silicon Valley to the Dark Ages
Over the past year, the state of California experienced a series of major power cuts. How is it possible that such events, usually associated with the poorest Third World economies, can still happen in the world's richest country and, what is more, in the most affluent part of this country? …