Democracy

Articles

What is Britishness? Citizenship, values and identity by David Beetham (June 2008)

The legacy of the British state militates against democratic citizenship, says David Beetham. Any discussion of ‘Britishness’ that ignores this reality is bound to be incomplete

The commons, the state and transformative politics by Hilary Wainwright (December 2007)

Hilary Wainwright examines how new technology and new forms of organisation are coming together to transform the left and labour movements, political representation and democracy

Democracy diary by Hilary Wainwright (December 2007)

Hilary Wainwright reports from Caracas on Venezuela’s referendum – and the next steps towards reform

Power to which people? by Steve Kingston (October 2007)

The government is promising ’devolution right to the doorstep’ as a means of reinvigorating local democracy. A pilot participatory budget making project, whereby people can ’have a direct say’ in how their taxes are spent, has been running in Salford. Stephen Kingston questions its democratic credentials

Fresh Spice: Red Pepper old and new by Hilary Wainwright (August 2007)

In October 2007 Red Pepper moves to a bigger, new-look bi-monthly format, at the same time as greatly expanding its web presence. Here co-editor Hilary Wainwright reviews its role in providing a platform and a voice for all those whose hopes of change in 1997 have been deflated by the Blatcherism that followed, but who still share a real sense of possibility for the future

Another magazine is possible by Oscar Reyes (August 2007)

My first copy of Red Pepper was sold to me at a political meeting about the Afghan war in December 2001, writes Oscar Reyes

The ministry of fear by Stefan Skrimshire (May 2004)

The exploitation of terrorism as a pretext for suspending democratic rights needs to be resisted - not only for the protection of civil liberties and demonised ethnic groups, but also to defend political participation itself.

The warfare state by David Beetham (June 2003)

Now that the fog of war has lifted and the post-war triumphalism has proved short-lived, it is time to assess the implications of Blair’s drive to war for British democracy writes David Beetham

Ten tumultuous years by Fiona Osler (May 2003)

‘Red Pepper, breaking a decade; New Labour, broken and decayed,’ suggested a wit in the office. But now is not the moment for narrow triumphalism (beyond celebrating the larger font size and the monthly miracle performed in getting the magazine out at all).