An Open Conversation on Compass with Jeremy Gilbert
An Open Conversation on Compass with Jeremy Gilbert Gerry Hassan Open Democracy, January 14th 2011 Gerry, When I was at Sussex Jonathan Dollimore used to have a great riposte to ever carping postgrad who complained that he hadn't mentioned x y or z issue in his latest paper - "Great point - now why don't YOU go and write about that?" Gerry you've been complaining for more than a year now that Compass doesn't address these issues, but I have three points to make in response: 1) You've never given more than the vaguest hint as to what it would
Continue Reading An Open Conversation on Compass with Jeremy Gilbert
An Open Letter to Compass: The Problem with the British State
An Open Letter to Compass: The Problem with the British State Gerry Hassan Open Democracy, January 12th 2011 After Neal Lawson and John Harris wrote a call for ‘New Socialism’ in the ‘New Statesman’ (1) I responded (2). Now Neal has posted a note about what I said (3). He feels that I am being uncomradely and this upsets him as I have long been complementary of Compass’ work and have collaborated with them in a number of ways. I consider myself a friend and admirer of Compass and its work. In these challenging times they are one of the
Continue Reading An Open Letter to Compass: The Problem with the British State
The End of the Revolutionary Line: The Demise of Tommy Sheridan
The End of the Revolutionary Line: The Demise of Tommy Sheridan Gerry Hassan Open Democracy, December 24th 2010 The jury in the Glasgow High Court has found Tommy Sheridan guilty of perjury. His political career and hopes, whatever his rhetoric, lie in ruins, as does the party he helped found – the Scottish Socialist Party – which he briefly made a semi-potent electoral force. This is the end of a long journey for a revolutionary dream, illusion and fantasy – in which Scotland for a period had the world’s most electorally successful Trotskyite party. It has been three years since
Continue Reading The End of the Revolutionary Line: The Demise of Tommy Sheridan
After New Labour, the Limits of the New Socialism and the Need for a Radical Politics
After New Labour, the Limits of the New Socialism and the Need for a Radical Politics Gerry Hassan Compass, December 20th 2010 British politics are in a strange place – one where while some of the landscape remains the same so much is different. All of the three main parties have been disorientated by the result of the election and coalition along with the scale of the crisis. One response to this from parts of the left is to retreat into the hoary old slogans of opposition and struggle, of shouting ‘Tory cuts’ without strategy or the need for rethinking.
