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Castells on Alternative Economic Cultures

ANALYSIS: Alternative Economic Cultures RADIO 4  Monday 8.30pm

Paul Mason interviews renowned sociologist Prof Manuel Castells about the
rise of alternative economic cultures since the financial crisis. Recorded in
front of an audience at the London School of Economics on Monday 8th
October.

The financial crisis which has unfolded since 2008 marks more than an
economic downturn, according to Prof Castells. The problems which caused the
crisis are so deep rooted that they have provoked a profound reassessment of our
economic beliefs and institutions. They have also given rise to social movements
such as Occupy and alternative economic cultures opposed to financial
capitalism. These ideas are explored in "Aftermath: The Cultures of the Economic
Crisis", a book edited by Prof Castells.

Rebel Cities: The Urbanization of Class Struggle

David Harvey at LSE Thursday 10th May

Harvey explores the contemporary reality of cities as the arenas for revolutionary politics. To what extent can current movements be described as 'calss struggle'? How do these movements draw on 'right to the city' discourse in thier attempts to tranform societies as well as the streets?

See also

Hatherley on Harvey

 'For Harvey, the left must be modern and urban or it will remain powerless.'

Violence and disorder: the heart of the far-right

From voting to violence? Far right extremism in Britain by   Matthew Goodwin and  Jocelyn Evans.

This groundbreaking study looks into who supports the far right in Britain, and why, and their attitudes towards violence and disorder.

See alos

Ukip shares more with the far right than it admits

Far right hardcore 'willing to prepare for armed conflict'

Time for us to challenge the idols of high finance

Article by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, published in The Financial Times.

The Church of England and the Church Universal have a proper interest in the ethics of the financial world and in the question of whether our financial practices serve those who need to be served – or have simply become idols that themselves demand uncritical service.

 

March and grow

The EDL: Britain’s Far Right Social Movement

A report from Northampton University's Radicalism and New Media Research Group highlights the factors contributing to the growth of the English Defence League as an increasingly vociferous force on our city streets.

"Without resolving underlying economic and social tensions within areas identified with EDL and new far-right support, it is likely the movement will continue to find fertile conditions in more deprived pockets across the country … to combat this, a more relevant and empowering politics is crucial to tackling support for extreme nationalisms."

What might a fair future look like?

Islington Council has published the report of its Fairness Commission.

"No-one in Islington should do a hard day’s work for less than they can live on."

The Islington Fairness Commission was set up to improve the quality of life in the
borough by making it a fairer place for all who live and work in it. Islington is marked
by some of the starkest contrasts in wealth and poverty in the country.

The report details other ways in which Islington Council and its partners will try to
reduce income differences and inequality, such as in employment opportunities,
housing and children’s educational opportunities. It also outlines some of the
principles which will guide any further reductions it is obliged to make to its own
services in the years ahead as a result of reductions in its grants from the
government. But if Britain is ever to halve its income differences to reach the level
found in the more equal of the developed market democracies, what Islington can do
should be regarded only as the first steps in a campaign which will have to involve
the whole country and be sustained for ten or twenty years.

 

Archbishop of Canterbury guest-edits the New Statesman

In this week's New Statesman the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, calls the  coalition government to account, warning about the speed with which it is committing the country to "radical, long-term policies " which will have a deep impact on the most vulnerable.The Archbishop writes that the "anxiety and anger" felt by voters is a result of the coalition's failure to expose its policies to "proper public argument".  Full text

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

London planning futures

Just Space - Urban Salon Conference flyer June 2011

Thursday 9th June 2011
10am-5pm
Venue: UCL Department of Geography,
University College London,
26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 6BT
This year over 50 community organisations played an unprecedented role in challenging the strategic plans for London, encouraged and supported by the Just Space Network. One aspect of this work has been to enlist support from the academic and research communities in London. This has connected with debates about the role of academics outside the academy.

50 years of Death and Life

Jane Jacobs : seer of the modern city

Jane Jacobs' classic book on urban living is 50 this year. Our current leaders would do well to read it.

"Jacobs was there first, and with a hard-headed, modern understanding of the sort of relationships that are needed in modern life, and the sorts of community that contemporary cities can offer. Her belief that urban planners and architects should not be realising visions, but creating and preserving resilient, inclusive and adaptable neighbourhoods – places which can largely look after themselves – still resonates."

Far-right challenge to community cohesion

A report by the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo), Far Right Electoral and Other Activity: The Challenge for Community Cohesion, shows that while the BNP failed to make headway in its target seats in 2010 its overall support was much greater and more broadly spread than in previous general elections.

The report also looks at the recent growth and impact of the English Defence League   - an organisation with high sounding principles but a record of hatred and provocation which has raised community fears and tensions on the ground. Many now see the EDL as a greater threat to community harmony than the BNP.