Neo-Fascist Ascendancy and Education

Many thoughtful people believe that the dominance of a small English-speaking elite in the social and intellectual life of India that has continued long after decolonization has been an important factor in arousing the hostility of a segment of the vernacular proto-elite that has felt excluded and hence has gravitated towards the Bharatiya Janata Party; that the BJP in other words represents inter alia a revolt against the dominance of a small English-speaking elite in the affairs of the country.

Two Fractures Effected by Neo-Liberalism

The Indian government’s position on the US-Israeli war against Iran shows an unbelievable degree of pusillanimity. India attended the recent meeting of about fifty countries called by the U.K.

Oil and the World Economy

THE disruption in oil supplies that started with Iran’s closure of the Hormuz Strait in response to US-Israeli bombings, is playing havoc with the world economy. Oil prices have shot up in terms of US dollars, and this in turn has been accompanied by a depreciation of other currencies, especially Asian currencies, vis-à-vis the dollar, causing even higher inflation in the periphery compared to the metropolitan capitalist centres.

The Falling Rupee

Most Asian currencies have fallen significantly against the US dollar since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. Of these however the Indian rupee has been perhaps the worst performer, having fallen to as low as Rs. 93.73 by Friday March 20, from Rs. 91.01 on February 27 the day before the war started.

Imperialism, Oil Prices and the World Economy

World oil prices have finally crossed $100 per barrel this week-end and have even touched $110. Considering the fact that they were around $69 per barrel before the beginning of imperialist aggression against Iran, this represents a very steep climb in just the course of a week. It has been caused less by any actual shortage arising from Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz than by the anticipation of such a shortage arising.

Imperialism, Oil Prices and The World Economy

WORLD oil prices have finally crossed $100 per barrel this week-end and have even touched $110. Considering the fact that they were around $69 per barrel before the beginning of imperialist aggression against Iran, this represents a very steep climb in just the course of a week. It has been caused less by any actual shortage arising from Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz than by the anticipation of such a shortage arising.

Imperialism’s Assault on Third World Sovereignty

THE very concept of sovereignty of third world nations is now being sought to be abolished by imperialism in violation of all canons of international law, as is evident from the bombing of Iran by U.S. and Israel with the explicit objective of effecting a “regime change”.

Modi Government’s Gymnastics to Defend Indo-US Deal

IN its desperation to defend the utterly indefensible Indo-US Trade Deal, the Modi government has been using one absurd argument after another.

Can Europe Provide a “Third Way”?

WITH the Trump administration adopting brutally repressive measures not just against immigrants but even against US citizens, a tendency has emerged within American liberal circles to look towards Europe for providing a “third way”, a “model” different from both China and the US, the two major powers in contention in today’s world. American liberals of course were never enamoured with China; so their rejecting the Chinese “model” is not surprising.

An Unequal Treaty Reminiscent of the Colonial Era

THE Indo-US Trade Agreement, even leaving aside specific provisions, has two unusual features that mark it out as an Unequal Treaty, of the sort that imperial powers used to impose on countries of the global south that they did not directly rule. The first is the stipulation that, leaving aside commodities excluded altogether from the purview of the agreement, while the U.S. would impose 18 percent import duty on Indian goods, India would impose, according to Donald Trump’s rough description, zero import duty on American goods.

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Peoples Democracy

ECONOMIC NOTES