Category Archives: World Events

There are genuine concerns among many people about the effects of a prolonged lockdown on jobs, mental health, education and domestic abuse. But here, as in other countries around the world, it is big business and their representatives in government who are baying the loudest for a way out of lockdown – and their main concern is not the health and welfare of working people but preserving their profits.

Nothing will ever be the same again after this crisis. But we know from the 2008-09 world economic recession, the bank bailouts and the vicious austerity that followed, that the capitalists will be looking once again to make us foot the bill.

Presently, there is no escape from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The world is going through a huge turning point. Tens of thousands have died and tens of millions have lost their jobs and livelihoods, often plunged into debt or left without money to buy food and other essentials. In country after country, life and the economy, especially in urban areas, have almost come to a complete halt. As the virus continues to spread its impact on health, economic and social life deepens.

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. On the other side of the coronavirus pandemic crisis, things will never be the same again. This will be similar to the situation after the two world wars of the twentieth century. The general situation has already unmistakably “changed,Continue reading “As coronavirus crisis intensifies, class antagonisms deepen”

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. Even during a global pandemic, profit is the top priority for capitalists. On the one hand, our freedom of movement is restricted, and, on the other hand, we are supposed to continue working with numerous colleagues in offices andContinue reading “Coronavirus crisis…strikes and workers’ protests”

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. All that seemed solid now seems to be melting. This is the effect of the coronavirus crisis. The governing Tories in the UK cut – but now they spend. They privatised – but now they nationalise. Many are askingContinue reading “Coronavirus: State intervention shows what is possible”

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. Coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, with new confirmed cases in West Virginia completing the virus’ spread to all 50 states and three U.S. territories. As the crisis seems to plateau in China, the number of confirmedContinue reading “Coronavirus crisis deepens in USA, challenging neoliberal business as usual”

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. A newly spreading virus is a danger that can befall any society. The question facing the world today, however, is what kind of society can best meet such a challenge. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, capitalism is being exposedContinue reading “Coronavirus: Socialist planning, not capitalist chaos!”

This article was originally written for socialistworld.net, the website of the Committee for a Workers’ International. Nine weeks after the first Covid-19 coronavirus patient was identified in Wuhan it had spread to 98 countries. This is much faster than the 2003 Sars coronavirus outbreak, which eventually spread to 37 countries. However, so far Covid-19 isContinue reading “Coronavirus: International cooperation needed, not capitalist competition”