Labor/Economics

Russia says it is Cuba’s strategic ally. They repeat it at every summit. In every communiqué. On every anniversary of our bilateral relations. But the oil is not arriving. The ships do not appear. And the electric power blackouts continue to happen.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the onset of the civil war and revolution in Spain. In this essay I suggest that the efforts of the Spanish working class in that epic conflict provide elements for building a model of socialism based on direct working-class control and participatory, democratic planning of a socialized economy.

Six months after the United States intensified pressure on countries supplying oil to Cuba, the island faces a deepening energy and economic crisis. Fuel shortages have contributed to prolonged power cuts, disrupted public transport, strained hospitals and water systems, and made it harder to move food from rural areas to cities. Vijay Prashad examines the unequal impact of the crisis and argues that humanitarian relief must be separated from political coercion. He outlines a path centred on predictable fuel supplies, international cooperation, negotiated de-escalation, diversified energy sources and investment in renewable, decentralised power systems that can strengthen Cuba’s energy sovereignty.

Review of Kim Scipes’ new (2026) book, which is a comparative historical study of the development of unionization in the steel and meatpacking industries in Chicago and Northwest Indiana between 1933-1955, and examines how each union addressed white supremacy and racism in workplaces, the union, and in the communities in which workers lived.

This article examines how debt, financial dependence, military alliances, and technological control continue to shape power relations across Asia long after formal colonial rule. Drawing on discussions at the Hands Off Asia conference in Colombo, it explores perspectives from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand on economic sovereignty, democratic struggles, and the enduring impact of international financial institutions and geopolitical competition. The authors argue that political independence alone cannot secure genuine sovereignty without control over economic policy, resources, technology, and democratic participation. The article situates these debates within broader movements seeking alternative paths for Asia’s future.

India’s expanding digital health infrastructure and insurance-based care have improved administrative reach, but they have also intensified pressures on healthcare workers. This article argues that an excessive focus on metrics, surveillance and standardized targets is eroding clinical autonomy, meaningful patient care and workforce wellbeing. Drawing on the experiences of doctors, community health officers and ASHA workers, the authors contend that sustainable healthcare requires balancing efficiency with empathy, fair labour practices and professional judgment. They call for reforms that value frontline workers, reduce administrative burdens and place human dignity at the centre of India’s public health system.

Fertility rates are falling across much of the world, with most countries now below or approaching replacement levels. This article examines the demographic shift through the lens of capitalism, gender relations, and changing social priorities. Drawing on research by Claudia Goldin, Julia M. Puaschunder, and others, it argues that declining fertility cannot be explained by economic costs or women’s empowerment alone. It explores how workplace demands, unequal domestic responsibilities, and market-driven lifestyles shape reproductive choices, and considers the implications for ageing societies, labour markets, and countries such as India that face demographic transition before sustained economic prosperity.

Parallels can be drawn between MAGA in the United States and retrograde elements domestically, as well as other Western imperialist states.

With Pete Hegseth’s claim that the war against Iran has now cost the US $37.5 billion, I wanted to tie this spending to the war against American workers, looking at the period from 1947 to 2005 in great detail, and general detail thereafter. The elites, under both the Democrats and Republicans, are killing us: from 2001-2005, under W, over 80% of all American families lost income! Well worth your consideration!