26 May 2012

Greek ruling elite prepares for showdown with working class

By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 26 May 2012

As Greece prepares for elections on June 17 amid an overwhelming popular rejection of austerity, the ruling class is making secret preparations for a military crackdown against the workers.

Mounting signs of deepening global slump

By Andre Damon, 26 May 2012

New economic figures point to a renewed downturn of the world economy amid a growing debt crisis in Europe and the threatened breakup of the euro zone.

Quebec student strike: Government excludes fee hikes, Bill 78 from proposed talks

By Keith Jones, 26 May 2012

One week after criminalizing Quebec's 15-week-long student strike, the provincial Liberal government is apparently about to summon leaders of the student associations for talks.

More on the Quebec student strike »

US bank profits soar while lending drops

By Patrick Martin, 26 May 2012

US bank profits rose sharply during the first quarter of 2012, according to figures compiled by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Chinese leadership turmoil continues

By John Chan, 26 May 2012

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the CCP’s top Politburo Standing Committee and the man in charge of state security, is reportedly being sidelined.

Sri Lankan president releases jailed rival

By Sampath Perera, 26 May 2012

Rajapakse announced Fonseka’s release in a bid to ease tensions with the US, just days after Sri Lanka’s foreign minister visited Washington.

Serbian presidential vote indicates growing disaffection from the EU

By Ognjen Markovic and Stefan Steinberg, 26 May 2012

The Serbian presidential vote reflects increasing disillusionment with all of the official parties.

Russian government cracks down on opposition

By Andrea Peters and Clara Weiss, 26 May 2012

President Vladimir Putin has responded with force to anti-Kremlin protests in recent weeks, as the new government prepares to implement a right-wing agenda.

Reports cite killings, disappearances and torture by Mexico’s security forces

By Bill Van Auken, 26 May 2012

Reports issued this week by the US State Department and Amnesty International charge Mexico's army and police with crimes against the Mexican people, even as Washington continues to funnel aid and arms to these forces.

Detroit city council approves brutal cuts

By Shannon Jones, 26 May 2012

The Detroit city council has approved a new budget slashing 2,566 jobs and shredding much of what remains of city services.

UK student Richard O’Dwyer’s extradition appeal scheduled for July 30

By Liz Smith, 26 May 2012

An appeal by Richard O'Dwyer, the 23-year old Sheffield Hallam University student facing extradition to the US on charges of copyright infringement, is slated for July 30.

New in Greek

Η Ελλάδα και η παγκόσμια κρίση του καπιταλισμού

Του Κρίς Μάρσντεν, 27 Μάιου 2012

Η πολιτική, οικονομική και κοινωνική κατάρρευση στην Ελλάδα εκφράζει με οξύτητα την ευρύτερη κρίση του Ευρωπαϊκού και παγκόσμιου καπιταλισμού.

Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και η Ελλάδα

Του Πέτερ Σβάρτς, 26 Μάιου 2012

Θα πρέπει κανείς να γυρίσει σε τέτοιες στρατιωτικό-φασιστικές δικτατορίες όπως εκείνη του Πινοσέτ στην Χιλή για να βρει κάτι ανάλογο των επιθέσεων που επιβάλλονται από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση στους Έλληνες εργαζομένους.

Ελληνικό πακέτο λιτότητας: Προανάκρουσμα της κοινωνικής αντεπανάστασης στην Ευρώπη

Του Πέτερ Σβάρτς, 25 Μάιου 2012

Στις 29 Ιουνίου η Ελληνική βουλή, με τις ψήφους του σοσιαλιστικού κόμματος του ΠΑΣΟΚ πέρασε ένα περαιτέρω μέτρο λιτότητας. Η ψηφοφορία αυτή σηματοδοτεί ένα πολιτικό ορόσημο για ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη.

New in Chinese

南海的危险争端

作者: 陈骏，2012年5月26日

原本由一艘菲律宾船只向一艘中国渔船发警告而开始的轻微事件竟升级到有可能发生军事冲突的外交争端。

New in French

Les Etats-Unis préparent une guerre par procuration et sur plusieurs fronts contre la Syrie

Par Chris Marsden, 26 mai 2012

Depuis la parution, le 16 mai, de l'article du Washington Post sur un afflux d'armes aux forces d'opposition syriennes, le projet du gouvernement Obama d'une guerre par procuration contre la Syrie est devenu encore plus évident.

Grève étudiante au Québec
La police commence à faire respecter la draconienne loi 78

Par Keith Jones, 26 mai 2012

Les autorités québécoises ont commencé à avoir recours aux vastes pouvoirs de répression contenus dans la loi 78 : la loi spéciale que le gouvernement libéral provincial a fait passer à l'Assemblée nationale la semaine dernière pour réprimer la grève étudiante.

Québec: Une immense manifestation soutient les étudiants en grève et dénonce la loi 78

Par Keith Jones, 26 mai 2012

Plus de 150 000 personnes sont descendues dans les rues de Montréal mardi pour appuyer la grève étudiante au Québec.

Grèce: Le Front de Gauche français soutient l'appel aux banques lancé par SYRIZA

Par Antoine Lerougetel, 26 mai 2012

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, candidat du Front de Gauche (FG) à l'élection présidentielle française a organisé un meeting à Paris lundi dernier avec Alexis Tsipras, dirigeant de la Coalition de la Gauche radicale en Grèce.

New in German

Lafontaine und die Rechtsentwicklung der Linkspartei

Von Ulrich Rippert, 26. Mai 2012

Eine Woche vor ihrem Parteitag in Göttingen tobt in der Linkspartei ein erbitterter Führungskampf.

Geringe Wahlbeteiligung bei Präsidentschaftswahl in Ägypten

Von Johannes Stern, 26. Mai 2012

In der ersten Runde der ägyptischen Präsidentschaftswahl war die Wahlbeteiligung gering, und es kam zu zahlreichen Verstößen gegen das Wahlrecht.

Ägyptens Revolutionären Sozialisten loben die Präsidentschaftswahlen der Militärregierung

Von Johannes Stern, 26. Mai 2012

In ihrer jüngsten Erklärung feiern die kleinbürgerlichen Revolutionären Sozialisten zynisch die Wahlen der ägyptischen Militärregierung als Weg, um gegen das "alte Regime" zu kämpfen.

Polizei von Quebec führt Massenverhaftungen durch, um den Bildungsstreik zu brechen

Von Keith Jones, 26. Mai 2012

Nach den Massenprotesten zur Unterstützung der streikenden Studenten in Quebec hat die Polizei ihre Unterdrückung verstärkt.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, einer der großen Sänger des 20. Jahrhunderts, starb im Alter von 86 Jahren

Von Dorian Griscom, 26. Mai 2012

Der deutsche Bariton Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau war berühmt für seine Schubert-, Schumann- und Brahms-Lieder, aber sein Repertoire umfasste auch Opern und Oratorien.

Die historischen und internationalen Grundlagen der Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka)
Teil 2

Von der Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 26. Mai 2012

Die World Socialist Web Site veröffentlicht das Dokument "Die historischen und internationalen Grundlagen der Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), das auf dem Gründungskongress in Colombo vom 27. bis 29. Mai 2011 einstimmig angenommen wurde.

Other Languages

Perspective

The Egyptian junta’s fraudulent elections and the tasks of the working class

26 May 2012

Egypt's elections have exposed the sham character of the so-called “transition to democracy” organized by the Egyptian ruling class in conjunction with Washington after the overthrow of US-stooge Hosni Mubarak.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party (US) Election Campaign

WhiteSEP candidate speaks with Detroit Chrysler workers

By a WSWS reporting team, 26 May 2012

Socialist Equality Party candidate for US president Jerry White campaigned at the Chrysler Jefferson North Assembly Plant on the east side of Detroit.

videoSEP presidential candidate Jerry White demands release of jailed Quebec students

25 May 2012

Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Jerry White denounces Wednesday's mass arrests of students in Quebec and calls for the building of a socialist movement to defend the social and democratic rights of all working people.

Visit the Socialist Equality Party campaign site »

Arts Review

AvengersThe Avengers: Not at all the way truths can be explored

By Joanne Laurier, 26 May 2012

The Avengers is one of Hollywood's biggest spectacles to date. It has already brought in more than one billion dollars at the box office worldwide. But what does it have to offer?

DuckDonald “Duck” Dunn, legendary bass player, dead at 70

By James Brewer, 26 May 2012

Longtime Memphis bass player for Booker T. and the M.G.'s, Donald “Duck” Dunn, died suddenly while on tour in Tokyo on May 13.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, one of the great vocal artists of the 20th century, dies at 86

By Dorian Griscom, 25 May 2012

Survey of contemporary art
The 2012 Whitney Biennial in New York City

By Clare Hurley, 24 May 2012

Commentary

The Democrats and the Bain Capital affair

By Patrick Martin, 25 May 2012

Filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow offered access to US military death squad

By David Walsh, 25 May 2012

Harry Belafonte provides an historical insight into the civil rights movement’s decay

By Fred Mazelis, 25 May 2012

A revealing look at Murdoch’s influence on British politics

A review by Dave Hyland, 25 May 2012

Quebec police mount mass arrests in bid to break student strike

By Keith Jones, 25 May 2012

US prepares multi-front proxy war against Syria

By Chris Marsden, 25 May 2012

Iranian nuclear talks on brink of collapse

By Peter Symonds, 25 May 2012

The pseudo-left unmasked in Greece

By Alex Lantier, 24 May 2012

New: Greek translation of “Greece and the global crisis of capitalism”
Η Ελλάδα και η παγκόσμια κρίση του καπιταλισμού

Two additional new Greek translations available. See “New in Greek” section in left column.

Workers Struggles

Australia: New South Wales teachers’ stop-work against devolution agenda

By our reporters, 25 May 2012

Canadian Pacific railway workers strike

By Carl Bronski, 24 May 2012

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

26 May 2012

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Socialist Equality Party

Sri Lanka: SEP holds plantation workers’ congress

By W. A. Sunil, 25 May 2012

The SEP plantation workers congress in Hatton last Saturday reflected important political shifts in the Sri Lankan working class.

History

“Of course, Trotsky was an alternative to Stalin”
An interview with Professor Mario Kessler on the Trotsky biography by Robert Service—Part two

Kessler

By Wolfgang Weber, 22 May 2012

This is the second part of a two-part interview with German historian Professor Mario Kessler on the 2009 biography of Leon Trotsky by Robert Service. Part one was posted on Monday, May 21. Professor Kessler is a co-signatory of a letter sent by 14 European sociologists and political scientists to the Suhrkamp Verlag publishing house raising grave reservations about its plan to bring out a German edition of Service’s book.

This Week in History: May 21 - May 27

25 years ago: US Supreme Court rules in favor of prison without bail

On Tuesday, May 26, 1987, the US Supreme ruled to allow a criminal defendant to be jailed without bail if the prosecutor and the judge agreed that the suspect was a threat.


More »

50 years ago: AFL-CIO announces drive for 35-hour workweek

On May 23, 1962, AFL-CIO President George Meany announced that the US trade union federation would launch a drive for a national 35-hour workweek.

More »

75 years ago: Spanish child refugees arrive in Britain

On May 23, 1937, the decrepit ocean liner the SS Habana docked at Southampton in southern England, carrying 3,681 mainly Basque child refugees fleeing the barbarity of Spanish fascism.

More »

100 years ago: Reichstag votes to expand German navy

On May 21, 1912, the German Reichstag, or parliament, passed an amendment that called for an expansion of the size of the German navy.

More »

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

26 May 2012

A selection of recent letters to the World Socialist Web Site.