Book Review from the May 2024 issue of the Socialist Standard Blood and Power. The Rise and Fall of Italian Fascism. By John Foot. Bloomsbury, 2023. 416pp. It has become common for the cry of ‘fascism’ to go up, from both right and left, every time a government or political party enacts or proposes policies which seem destined to increase state control over the system we live under. Some even argue that western capitalism itself is in fact fascism, if a cleverly dissimulated form. One thing historian John Foot’s new book on Italian fascism does is to give the lie to all this. I ..read more

From the May 2024 issue of the Socialist Standard The Fund for Peace, as it is called, is supported financially by a number of donors, including various US government agencies and companies such as Exxon and Chevron. Each year it publishes a Fragile States Index (fragilestatesindex.org). A total of 179 countries are assessed on the basis of a range of criteria, with four kinds of ‘indicator’ being employed, in order to measure their supposed vulnerability to collapse. Cohesion indicators deal with areas such as the extent of organised crime and how much trust people have in domes ..read more

From the May 2024 issue of the Socialist Standard In the nineteenth century there were conflicting views in Jewish communities as to how their best interests might be served. Some opted for a liberal view that assimilation was possible in an increasingly enlightened Europe. Those favouring a reformed Judaism considered it best for the religion to be confined to the private sphere. The resolutely orthodox strove to maintain a traditional faith. However, Europe was witnessing the emergence of an ideology that appealed to an increasing minority of Jews: nationalism. Wider Europea ..read more

Book Review from the May 1946 issue of the Socialist Standard "Report on Russia” (Cresset Press, 6s.), by Mr. Paul Winterton, long known as an advocate of British-Russian friendship, is an interesting and useful book, but one that will be of most use to the reader who approaches it with an alert and critical mind and remembers its limitations. Mr. Winterton first visited Russia in 1928, when he lived with a Russian family for nearly a year. He speaks Russian, has made many subsequent visits, and from 1942 to 1945 was there as correspondent for a London newspaper, the News Chronicle. As, du ..read more

Letter to the Editors from the May 1946 issue of the Socialist Standard In our issue for November, 1945 (“The Simple Life Under Socialism"), we replied to a correspondent who had asked whether, under Socialism, a man of simple tastes would have to work for as many hours as those whose needs are greater. We have received a further letter. London, E.11. Editor, Socialist Standard, 2, Rugby St, W.C.1. Sir, “Common Ownership"  Surely it is not the intention of the S.P.G.B. to ghetto-ize, or put in a concentration camp, all those who resent giving extra labour time to produce a standar ..read more

From the May 1946 issue of the Socialist Standard With one Capitalist war just over, and the prospect of yet others looming up in the future, various politicians are bursting into the news with their ideas on how to prevent another war; or to be more accurate, their ideas on how to make sure of being on the winning side in the event of another war. Chief among them, of course, is that arch-enemy of the working class, Mr. Winston Churchill. His recent effusion, from across the Atlantic, put leader writers over here in something of a dither as to what the great man actually meant. They did ..read more

From the May 1946 issue of the Socialist Standard During strikes, as during wars, many significant details are obscured by more dramatic happenings. When considering the situation at a later date certain features are thrown into sharp relief, or a passing reference to some action may awaken interest and reconsideration of that fiction. A radio programme of Thursday, February 7th, had this effect Speaking in a weekly programme, “What are the Churches Doing," the clergyman speaker related, with evident pride, the intervention of two Liverpool clergymen in the recent dock strike. Whether his ..read more

Blogger's Note:  The article below by Socialist Party member and regular Socialist Standard writer, Howard Moss, first appeared in the 1986 Freedom Press anthology, Freedom: A Hundred Years 1886-1986, which, as the title suggests, was a special book published by Freedom Press to mark its centenary. I remember buying the anthology in Freedom Bookshop in Aldgate in the early 1990s, and it was a surprise at the time to see Howard's name within its pages — I perhaps applied my hostility clause a bit too literally back in the day — but it's a good piece of succinct writing and, I thi ..read more

From the Socialism or Your Money Back blog Crossing the Floor Divided, it seems, by just two sword lengths Are green benched Capulets and Montagues, Who, in vitriolic rivalry stew As vexed ambition flexes its strength. Whether feeling neglected, rejected Or some bitter sense of injured pride, One crosses the floor to the other side, Where greater rewards might be expected. This act of principle or betrayal Is mitigated by the growing sense That it makes little or no difference, As every Commons cause is doomed to fail. No matter what the rivals do or say, Capital profits ..read more

An even quieter month than last month. Only 5 Socialist Standards "done and dusted" in April.  In fairness to myself, I have been trying to do other 'Party work' elsewhere in the last month. But that other stuff is a work in progress, and it's too soon to say anything more at this point. However, it is disappointing that I didn't finish more April Standards, as there's not that many Standards from the month of April to complete now. It possibly could have been the first month in this digitisation project to be fully finished. The finished Standards are broken up into separate deca ..read more