The Politics of the Pseudo-Left
21 January 2020
Spain’s new PSOE-Podemos government commits itself to austerity and war
By Alejandro López, 13 January 2020
Described by its architects as Spain’s most progressive government since the Second Republic (1931-1939), it is in fact committed to austerity, repression and militarism.
Bernie Sanders says “some wars are necessary”
By Tom Hall, 11 January 2020
Sanders’ stated opposition to Trump’s threatened war in Iran is a political trap being set for workers and youth.
999 French pseudo left appeal to Macron on austerity
11 January 2020
After Suleimani murder, New Anti-capitalist Party backs US war on Iran
By Alex Lantier, 9 January 2020
The NPA advances the lie that Iran, a former colonial country, is in fact an imperialist power attacking Washington and slanders Suleimani personally as a mass murderer.
Telangana Road Transport workers face harassment, contract-rollbacks after union surrender
By Kranti Kumara, 27 December 2019
Acting at the behest of the state government, TSRTC management is trying to force the workers to join bogus, state-sponsored “Workers’ Welfare Committees.”
Brazilian Workers Party joins Bolsonaro in imposing austerity, repressing strikes
By Tomas Castanheira, 27 December 2019
Relying on police brutality, Brazilian state governments, led by the PT, are imposing pension “reforms” that all but prevent workers from retiring.
Germany’s Left Party hails new SPD leadership and grand coalition
By Johannes Stern, 17 December 2019
The efforts to present Saskia Esken and Nobert Walter-Borjans as fighters for a “left-wing camp” that will introduce a new era of social democracy are patently absurd.
Bolivian trade union confederation enters far-right coup regime
By Andrea Lobo, 17 December 2019
Following massacres of workers and peasants and amid the continued hunting down of protest leaders and indigenous people, the COB’s decision is a criminal betrayal of the working class.
Recording reveals pseudo-left La France Insoumise collusion with Macron in 2016
By Francis Dubois, 14 December 2019
The manoeuvres of LFI deputy François Ruffin with the former banker and future president have recently been exposed.
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14 December 2019
Brazilian Workers Party backs Bolsonaro’s draconian “anti-crime” bill
By Miguel Andrade, 11 December 2019
The vote has shattered the year-long claim by Bolsonaro’s opposition that it represents some kind of democratic “resistance”.
Seattle schools propose race-centric “ethnomathematics” curriculum
By Kayla Costa and Nancy Hanover, 6 December 2019
The curriculum proposal for an Ethnic Studies-based math is part of a broader effort to inject identity politics into public schools.
Catalan nationalists negotiate over support for PSOE-led Spanish government
By Alejandro López, 4 December 2019
The Catalan nationalist parties are negotiating with the social democrats, even as the social democrats assault mass protests in Catalonia and target the nationalist parties.
The DSA on impeachment or: How the DSA learned to stop worrying and love Bolton
By Genevieve Leigh, 3 December 2019
The Democratic Socialists of America has given its full support to the impeachment campaign, lining up behind John Bolton and the other reactionaries promoted by the Democratic Party.
Podemos party backs Spanish internet censorship law
By Alejandro Lopez and Alex Lantier, 29 November 2019
The about-face of Podemos after the November 10 elections to back censorship is yet another bitter lesson in the treachery of this petty-bourgeois, “left populist” party.
Teamsters for a Democratic Union endorses ex-Hoffa lieutenant for union president
By Steve Filips and Tom Hall, 28 November 2019
TDU’s 180-degree turn behind the thuggish Sean O’Brien exposes the critical role it plays in propping up the authority the Teamsters bureaucracy.
999 DSA article on Bolton and impeachment
28 November 2019
Audio recording refutes Hannah-Jones’ claim that she was falsely quoted by the World Socialist Web Site
By Eric London, 27 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site publishes the audio of Hannah-Jones’ remarks.
Spanish pseudo-lefts try to block opposition to Podemos-PSOE regime
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 23 November 2019
Middle-class parties in Spain are peddling illusions in factions of Podemos even after it has agreed to govern with the Socialist Party on a program of austerity and repression.
Canada’s New Democrats and the coup in Bolivia—a reply to a reader
By Roger Jordan, 23 November 2019
With phony rhetoric about Canada’s role in promoting “democracy” and “human rights,” the NDP aids and abets Canadian imperialist intrigue, aggression and war.
Bernie Sanders dispenses with his “political revolution” at fifth Democratic presidential debate
By Niles Niemuth, 22 November 2019
Sanders declared at Wednesday night’s debate that he agreed with Obama that it wasn’t necessary to “tear down the system and remake it.”
Germany: Left Party parliamentary group elects new leadership
By Peter Schwarz, 16 November 2019
The trench warfare within the Left Party expresses tensions and friction stemming inevitably from the right-wing turn undertaken by the whole party.
The Spanish election crisis and the treachery of Podemos
By Alex Lantier, 15 November 2019
With its anti-worker policies, the “left populist” party Podemos allows the neo-fascists to grow by posturing as the only opposition to a corrupt political establishment.
“Opposition to slavery has also been an important theme in American history”
An interview with historian James McPherson on the New York Times’ 1619 Project
By Tom Mackaman, 14 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke to McPherson, professor emeritus of history at Princeton University, on the New York Times’ 1619 Project.
Podemos agrees to back Spanish social-democratic government
By Alex Lantier, 13 November 2019
Podemos is aware that the PSOE is organizing violent repression in Catalonia that strengthens the fascistic Vox party, and supports the PSOE on this basis.
Far-right Vox declares itself main opposition party as Spanish government talks begin
By Alejandro López, 12 November 2019
Sunday’s elections resulted once again in a hung parliament, the fourth in as many elections in Spain since 2015.
Amazon-led corporate purge of Seattle City Council fails
By Kayla Costa and Julio Patron, 12 November 2019
Five of six city council members targeted for supporting higher taxes on Amazon won reelection, including Kshama Sawant, a member of the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative group.
The Spanish elections and the rise of the fascistic Vox party
By Alex Lantier, 12 November 2019
Vox is part of a broad trend in European capitalist politics toward the promotion of neo-fascist parties, nationalism and the furious public legitimization of fascist dictators.
As contract vote approaches, DSA defends sellout by Chicago Teachers Union
By Kristina Betinis and Jerry White, 12 November 2019
DSA is seeking to block political discussion and opposition to the Chicago Teachers Union contract that meets none of the teachers’ central demands.
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11 November 2019
230 Pseudo-left and Chicago teachers
11 November 2019
Democratic Socialists of America “International Committee” denounces “reckless” withdrawal of US troops from Syria
By Genevieve Leigh, 9 November 2019
The response of the DSA to Trump’s announced troop withdrawals from Syria is indistinguishable from that of the Democratic Party and Trump’s critics within the military and intelligence apparatus.
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8 November 2019
Pabloites prepare new betrayal of the Chilean working class
By Andrea Lobo, 8 November 2019
The PTR, while rhetorically glorifying the spontaneity of the protests, has worked to channel them behind the Stalinist PCCH and the Broad Front.
Slavery and the American Revolution: A Response to the New York Times 1619 Project
By Tom Mackaman, 1 November 2019
This is the text of the lecture delivered by Tom Mackaman at the University of Michigan on October 22, 2019 as part of a series on the New York Times' "Project 1619."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backs internet censorship
By Kevin Reed and Andre Damon, 25 October 2019
At a hearing Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez demanded that Facebook “fact-check” political statements and “take down lies,” endorsing calls by the intelligence agencies for technology companies to censor the internet.
Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez use “left” demagogy to channel opposition to Trump behind Democrats
By Isaac Finn, 22 October 2019
At Sanders’ first rally since his heart attack, he did not mention ongoing strikes by autoworkers and teachers, or the impeachment inquiry against Trump.
Workers and students speak at Sanders rally in New York
By our reporters, 22 October 2019
The WSWS discussed issues of war, healthcare and the role of the Democratic Party in capturing and destroying social movements against capitalism.
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21 October 2019
Draconian verdict against Catalan politicians exposes bankruptcy of Podemos
By Alejandro López, 21 October 2019
This crisis is giving workers and youth internationally yet another bitter lesson in the reactionary role of affluent middle class, “post-Marxist” populist parties.
New Anti-capitalist Party demands military escalation against Turkey in Syria
By Alex Lantier, 12 October 2019
The Pabloite NPA bitterly opposes a struggle to unify the working class internationally in a movement against imperialist war and the Middle Eastern bourgeoisie.
Seattle Democrats endorse Socialist Alternative’s Kshama Sawant
By Julio Patron, 12 October 2019
As the working class moves to the left, Kshama Sawant and Socialist Alternative are even more fully integrating themselves into the Democratic Party.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's “Just Society”: Palliatives that will never be implemented
By Genevieve Leigh, 11 October 2019
Most of the proposals involve tweaks and adjustments to existing laws, with little new funding to address social needs.
Bernie Sanders halts campaign activities over health crisis
By Patrick Martin, 4 October 2019
The candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination was hospitalized Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada and received two stents in an artery.
After the Turkish elections: How the pseudo-left rallied behind the CHP
Part III: The role of the Revolutionary Workers Party (DİP)
By Ulas Atesci and Alex Lantier, 4 October 2019
The 2019 municipal elections and re-run of the vote in İstanbul were a milestone in the integration of a whole layer of middle-class parties into the ruling establishment.
After the Turkish elections: How the pseudo-left rallied behind the CHP
Part II: The dead end of the petty-bourgeoisie’s orientation to the CHP
By Ulas Atesci and Alex Lantier, 3 October 2019
The 2019 municipal elections and their re-run in İstanbul were a milestone in the integration of a whole layer of middle-class parties into the ruling establishment.
After the Turkish elections: How the pseudo-left rallied behind the CHP
Part I: A political liquidation into the capitalist establishment
By Ulas Atesci and Alex Lantier, 2 October 2019
The 2019 municipal elections and re-run of the vote in İstanbul were a milestone in the integration of a whole layer of middle-class parties into the ruling establishment.
In photo op at GM picket line, Sanders promotes nationalism, covers for Democrats and UAW
By Tom Hall, 26 September 2019
Bernie Sanders put in a brief media appearance on the picket line at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant Wednesday morning.
Labor Notes, DSA line up with UAW bureaucrats against GM strikers
By Shannon Jones and Barry Grey, 23 September 2019
In the face of the UAW’s strategy of isolating and betraying the powerful strike by US General Motors workers, middle-class “left” groups like Labor Notes and the Democratic Socialists of America are working to keep strikers chained to the union apparatus.
21 September 2019
Canada’s pseudo-left Fightback group covers for Steelworkers’ betrayal of ABI workers
By Félix Gauthier and Richard Dufour, 14 September 2019
Fightback’s miserable apologetics for the union bureaucracy goes hand in hand with its promotion of Quebec nationalism.
The Legacy of Syriza: Four years of austerity, privatizations, militarism and attacks on refugees—Part 3
By Katerina Selin, 13 September 2019
The intention of this series of articles is to depict what the four years of Syriza’s government policy meant concretely for workers, youth and retirees in Greece.
Democratic Socialists of America launches nationwide campaign for Bernie Sanders
By Genevieve Leigh, 12 September 2019
The DSA is a faction of the Democratic Party, which is backing the Sanders campaign as it seeks to divert opposition among workers and youth into safe channels.
The legacy of Syriza: Four years of austerity, privatizations, militarism and attacks on refugees—Part 2
By Katerina Selin, 12 September 2019
The Syriza government did not choose its coalition partner Anel despite, but rather because of, its reactionary nationalism, aggressive militarism and xenophobia.
The legacy of Syriza: Four years of austerity, privatizations, militarism and attacks on refugees—Part 1
By Katerina Selin, 11 September 2019
The intention of this series of articles is to explain what four years of Syriza’s government has meant concretely for workers, youth and retirees in Greece.
UAW apologists try to cover up corruption scandal
By Jerry White, 10 September 2019
Organizations and publications in and around the UAW apparatus have responded to the expanding corruption scandal by trying to buttress its political stranglehold over autoworkers.
215 DSA Sanders campaign
7 September 2019
035 Seattle teachers and social equity
3 September 2019
The New York Times’ 1619 Project: A racialist falsification of American and world history
By Niles Niemuth, Tom Mackaman and David North, 3 September 2019
PART ONE | PART TWO | COMBINED
The 1619 Project, launched by the New York Times, presents racism and racial conflict as the essential feature and driving force of American history.
The Democratic Socialists of America Convention: A marketing gimmick for the Democratic Party
By Joseph Kishore, 30 August 2019
The main resolutions adopted at the convention centered on the DSA’s political support for the Democratic Party and its dedication to bolstering the anti-working-class trade unions.
Whitney Biennial 2019: What this year’s “snapshot” of contemporary art reveals
By Clare Hurley, 26 August 2019
It would seem that artists have not responded profoundly, either directly or indirectly, to the social and political crisis that has increasingly gripped the US, particularly since the 2016 Trump election.
Blairites and Zionists escalate witch-hunt of Labour MP Chris Williamson
By Robert Stevens, 20 August 2019
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to issue a single public word in defence of his former shadow cabinet minister.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon hails Mexican government as embodiment of “citizens’ revolution”
By Will Morrow, 20 August 2019
Mélenchon’s hailing of the AMLO government speaks volumes about what type of government he would lead, were he to win the presidential elections in 2022.
Facial recognition technology and identity politics
By Kevin Reed, 17 August 2019
The Democrats are seeking to channel mass opposition to the wholesale invasion of privacy into a campaign to regulate and “equalize” facial recognition technology.
DSA candidate concedes Queens District Attorney race
By Josh Varlin, 15 August 2019
Despite the rhetoric of Democratic Socialists of America member Tiffany Cabán, the Queens election was a conflict between two factions of the right-wing Democratic Party.
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14 August 2019
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Wall Street financial vultures: Please be nice to Puerto Rico
By Genevieve Leigh, 10 August 2019
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has intervened to attempt to contain growing social unrest and anger.
Book Review: Red State Revolt – Part II
The Democratic Socialists of America shows its hostility to socialism
By Nancy Hanover, 10 August 2019
Part II of the review of a new book by Eric Blanc of the DSA. See Part I
Book Review: Red State Revolt – Part I
The DSA’s dishonest and self-serving account of the US teachers’ strikes
By Nancy Hanover, 8 August 2019
A new book by Democratic Socialists of America member Eric Blanc reviewing the role of the DSA during the teacher strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona aims to boost the credibility of the unions and the Democratic Party.
Bowing to House Democratic leadership, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez purges staff
By Genevieve Leigh, 7 August 2019
The purge came after staff members criticized Democratic Party leaders over the passage of a bill funding Trump’s war on immigrants.
Leading Pabloite Gilbert Achcar provided counter-insurgency advice to British Army
By Thomas Scripps, 6 August 2019
The pseudo-left groups are enlisting in the service of the military and security apparatus, providing their academic expertise on the nations of Africa and the Middle East targeted by imperialism.
As Mexican economy stagnates, ruling Morena party imposes state law to suppress social protests
By Don Knowland, 6 August 2019
The government of Mexican President Lopez Obrador is increasingly turning to authoritarian measures.
Spanish petty-bourgeois groups call on Podemos to install social-democratic government
By Alejandro López, 6 August 2019
Their call to back the PSOE from outside government is a cynical ploy to avoid taking responsibility for the right-wing policies of the PSOE regime they are supporting.
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6 August 2019
One year after its conference to “refound” the Fourth International
Argentina’s Partido Obrero splits with longtime leader Jorge Altamira
By Bill Van Auken, 5 August 2019
Amidst all of the charges and counter-charges within the PO, what emerges most clearly is that both factions base themselves entirely upon a petty-bourgeois nationalist orientation.
Berlin’s Jewish Museum director Peter Schäfer forced to resign
By Verena Nees, 2 August 2019
The campaign against alleged “left” anti-Semitism and the BDS boycott movement serves to suppress leftist movements and fuel genuine anti-Semitism.
French populist Mélenchon gives advice to AMLO in Mexico amid growing social unrest
By Andrea Lobo, 2 August 2019
While supporting his right-wing policies and crackdown on immigrants, Mélenchon advised AMLO on creating new nationalist traps to divert the movement of the working class.
The Democratic Party politics of the “Democratic Socialists of America”
By Joseph Kishore, 2 August 2019
Under conditions of a growing political radicalization of workers and youth, the DSA serves as a principal block to the development of a genuine socialist movement.
A reply to Die Zeit editor Jochen Bittner
By Johannes Stern, 1 August 2019
The following is a reply by WSWS editor Johannes Stern to a letter from Jochen Bittner, a New York Times contributor and the political editor of Die Zeit.
1 August 2019
220 Facial recognition and identity politics
31 July 2019
Social democrats fail to win Podemos support to form Spanish government
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 29 July 2019
Podemos took a calculated decision not to enter government with the PSOE, fearing rising opposition on its left in the working class in Spain and internationally.
Podemos, Catalan nationalists cover up role of intelligence in Barcelona attack
By Alejandro López, 22 July 2019
The reactionary forces promoted in the bourgeois media as the “left” in Spain are downplaying or ignoring Spanish intelligence’s complicity in the 2017 attacks.
A blow to the #MeToo sexual witch-hunt: The ignominious collapse of the case against actor Kevin Spacey
By David Walsh, 19 July 2019
Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe in Massachusetts announced Wednesday that his office was dropping its sexual assault case against Spacey.
Socialism 2019: The ex-International Socialist Organization embraces the Democratic Party
By Alexander Fangmann, 19 July 2019
Amid Trump’s threats of war, unprecedented assaults on immigrants and attacks on democratic rights, Jacobin and the ex-leaders of the ISO hosted an event promoting the Democratic Party and American imperialism.
Syriza’s election defeat: A balance sheet of a political betrayal
By Alex Lantier, 9 July 2019
Hailed as a “radical” alternative to capitalism by the middle-class left, the Syriza-led government of Alexis Tsipras spent four years carrying out austerity measures on behalf of the EU.
Syriza poised to hand over power to New Democracy in Greece’s July 7 elections
By Alex Lantier, 6 July 2019
Syriza called early elections to hand power to fascistic, right-wing forces amid growing opposition among workers to its reactionary policies.
"Socialism 2019" conference: A Democratic Party operation
By Alexander Fangmann, 4 July 2019
The featured speakers and panels at the Socialism Conference reveal an event devoted to channeling the leftward movement of workers and youth back into the confines of the Democratic Party.
DSA-endorsed “progressive” wins Democratic primary for Queens District Attorney
By Isaac Finn, 29 June 2019
Cabán had the backing of Representative Ocasio-Cortez, presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and the New York Times, voice of the Democratic Party establishment.
Artists, writers, film scholars protest Bowling Green State University decision to remove Lillian Gish’s name
By David Walsh, 25 June 2019
More than 50 filmmakers, actors, writers, academics and film scholars have signed a petition urging Bowling Green State University in Ohio to restore the names of famed actresses Lillian and Dorothy Gish to its film theater.
Leaders of dissolved International Socialist Organization openly embrace Democratic Party politics
By David Walsh, 24 June 2019
The demise of the ISO has permitted leading figures and the membership generally to integrate themselves more firmly and decisively into the bourgeois political set-up.
025 AOC attacked for commment on "concentration camps"
21 June 2019
London: Julian Assange Defence Committee lobbies Jeremy Corbyn’s Constituency Labour Party
“This is not a time for fence-sitting”
By our reporters, 21 June 2019
The Julian Assange Defence Committee urged rank-and-file Labour Party members in leader Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency to oppose US extradition proceedings against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
Video shows neo-Nazis attacking woman at Detroit Pride festival while police look on
By Muhammad Khan, 20 June 2019
The fascistic attackers openly carried firearms, which is legal under Michigan’s open carry laws, and threatened festival-goers and pedestrians with violence while police looked on.
Bernie Sanders and the myth of Franklin Roosevelt
By Tom Hall, 18 June 2019
Sanders’ speech last week at George Washington University exposed his effort to combine populist and “socialist” rhetoric with a defense of American capitalism and the Democratic Party.
Cuba conference tailors Trotsky to the politics of bourgeois nationalism
By Bill Van Auken, 13 June 2019
A collection of pseudo-lefts and Pabloite revisionists was invited to Havana to suppress the revolutionary content of Trotskyism.
Six months of AMLO: Jacobin defends the Mexican president
By Alex González, 8 June 2019
Jacobin claims that Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “progressive agenda” is being restrained by opposition parties and finance capital.
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7 June 2019
Bernie Sanders answers attacks on socialism with defense of capitalist “democracy”
By Tom Hall, 6 June 2019
In response to attacks on socialism from within the Democratic Party as well as by Trump and the Republicans, Bernie Sanders has published a cowardly op-ed piece in the New York Times that omits the “S” word and makes clear he was no intention of challenging the profit system or the property of the ruling class.
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