October 2005 Archive 

An empire in denial Mike Marqusee looks at the long history of US politicians’ denial of their country’s imperial reach

Investors’ rights trump social justice in Iraq The drafting of Iraq’s constitution has been portrayed as a conflict between Sunnis and Shiites and Kurds. Herbert Docena explains how the US got its way in another conflict - that over Iraq’s oil and economy

Lula’s lament The success of the Brazilian Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), or Workers Party, acted as a beacon to the left worldwide. Now it has been revealed that it was governing on the basis of systematic corruption. Hilary Wainwright reports on how the quest for power perverted the PT and subverted democracy

A law unto themselves? The police shoot-to-kill policy that claimed the life of Jean Charles de Menezes was introduced without any democratic debate. Oscar Reyes asks where that leaves the notions of community policing and police accountability

Change-a-leujah! Jo Littler interviews Reverend Billy and Savatri D about the politics of anti-consumerism

Telling a different story Kim Longinotto was one of this year’s Cannes film festival prizewinners for her documentary about African women using the law to establish their rights. She talked to Mike Marqusee about making films that are on the side of those who stand up to tradition and authority