Upcoming EventsMay 25 Sligo And Castlebar Against EU Directive Banning S... May 25 March against Monsanto May 25th Dublin, Cork, Clar... May 25 Ken Loack's The Angels' Share May 26 Tour De Historia Política/ Political History Tour ... Jun 01 INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AGAINST AUSTERITY more >>Other Press
User Preferences
Blog Feeds
Cedar LoungeFor Lefties too Stubborn to Quit
Dublin OpinionLife should be full of strangeness, like a rich painting
Irish Left ReviewJoined up thinking for the Irish Left
NAMA Wine Lake
MediaBiteA shot at bias in the media
|
Seán Sheehan - Fri May 24, 2013 13:01 Book Review of three recent books by Jewish writers, Shlomo Sand, Jacqueline Rose and Judith Butler on Israel. Ideological Criminals This rose is red Red is a colour Therefore this rose is coloured There is an initial plausibility to such syllogizing but Hegel uses this example to show where such thinking goes awry. It associates a universal (red) with a particular (rose) but, because different universals can be associated with a particular, the form of inference being employed here allows for more than one conclusion to be drawn. Red can also be a representation of communism or, as the crowds recently celebrating Alex Ferguson demonstrated, of Manchester United but we cannot infer that this rose is communist or a Manchester United rose. A plurality of conclusions can be drawn, though, because the presence of one universal does not preclude the possibility of there being others. The rose is not just red. It has a certain aroma, shape and so on but these various features do not have any necessary connection to one another. A similar kind of understanding applies to the kind of dodgy syllogizing that goes along the lines of: Hostility towards Jews is anti-Semitism Israel is a Jewish state Therefore hostility towards Israel is anti-Semitic It might be thought to be a problem when Jews are hostile to Israel because an anti-Semitic Jew sounds a little odd ? but, no, this is not a problem because they are just self-hating Jews and as such they deserve a place on the Jewish S.H.I.T. list (?Self-Hating and/or Israeli-Threatening?). Not surprising, then, to find Shlomo Sand, Jacqueline Rose and Judith Butler on this list.
Darren Broomfield - Thu May 23, 2013 13:48 Book Review: Social Work and Social Theory- Making Connections by Paul Michael Garrett (Polity Press, 2013)
At the outset of this text Garrett outlines his view that there is a frequently unrecognised value in applying social theory to social worker?s day-to-day education and practice. In this book, he makes the case that theoretical engagement can help social workers to navigate those ?indeterminate zones of practice? (p.1). Garrett notes in his introduction that social work is often seen and represented as a practical, common sense profession- an ideal activity for ?retired City bankers and ex-insurance brokers? as Garrett notes, quoting a UK government official (p.2). The reality is, of course, far more complex than this and Garrett positions himself in opposition to the harmful, yet enduring, belief that social work is, or indeed can be, ?theory-less?
The book concentrates on critical social theory developed in Europe by contemporary thinkers and attempts to highlight where these theoretical positions and social work may meet, intersect and be beneficial to social work. At the outset of the book, Garrett explains two theoretical omissions from the text. The first of these being the work of Michel Foucault which he explains by way of noting that much has already been written linking Foucault?s work to social work. Furthermore, Foucauldian theory is thought to a greater or lesser extent on many post-graduate social work courses and I felt the omission could be justified. The second omission which Garrett addresses is around feminist theorists. Garrett acknowledges the absence of feminist theory in the text but states that the book itself is informed by a feminist analysis.
Garrett?s first chapter proper is focussed on the questioning theories of modernisation. He begins by questioning what happened to post-modernity, and its relationship to social work education. Garrett makes two important claims- firstly, that social work academia came to postmodernist thought much later than other disciplines and secondly, that the social work academy?s short engagement with postmodernist theorisation did not impact upon the day-to-day practice of social work professionals primarily because of the complex, sometimes impenetrable language of postmodernist theorisation. However, Garrett does acknowledge that the postmodernist turn in social work and the ?blurring of boundaries between professionals? (p.23) along with the move toward actuarialism in social work did change how services were delivered. In line with this shift toward counting, and drawing on the work of Fredric Jameson (2000), Garrett argues that ?a new kind of superficiality? (Jameson, 2000:196, quoted by Garrett) evident in late-capitalism was mirrored in the development of one-size fits all social work ?tools? which have become increasingly prevalent, particularly in child protection and probation practice.
Kevin Higgins - Thu May 23, 2013 10:09 Ode To The Minister For State Security - Kevin Higgins He likes being photographed with men in uniform who all work for him. The law is what he thinks appropriate any particular day. He?s the Traffic Cops. He?s the Army. He?s everything the Special Branch choose to tell him about his enemies. In his brief case: things about you even God?s forgotten. He sees your smiley face but heard tell of your sweating backside via a joke told him on the fringes of a classified national security briefing. He?s the glorious portrait of himself that, for now, hangs above the Commissioner?s thick brown desk. He doesn?t suffer fools except the journalist who writes the headline: Minister Mustn?t Resign, who in mitigation - it must be said - was far too hammered to make bad the promises and threats he threw the Polish barmaid?s way, as last night she assisted to the exit his absolute confidence in the Minister. Things remain whatever he prefers to call them, given every legally held Uzi submachine gun in the state is technically answerable to him.
Donagh Brennan - Wed May 22, 2013 18:13 So the US Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has declared that Ireland is a tax haven and Apple executives giving testimony to the committee have said that the Irish government gave them a special 2% rate. Rate in this context is irrelevant however, as the mechanism ensures that what Apple declares as taxable income is completely up to them. As many reports have suggested, Apple could pay as little as 0.05% on income earned and passed through Ireland, and the revenue appears to be sales tax on Apple products bought in Ireland. In addition they have also said that their Irish companies are not registered for tax anywhere, so that none of the $30 bn global income earned in the last number of years was taxed.The Irish government denies that it has provided special tax treatment to Apple, and that it is not a tax haven. This is the surest sign that it is one, according to Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK.
If you haven't already you could do worse than get one of the remaining handful of copies of the first issue of Irish Left Review, which includes a good interview with Ricard Murphy about the Irish system. There is also a long article about Ireland and corporation tax which deals this in a fair amount of detail.
However, with all the coverage I am drawn back to a post by Conor McCabe from July 2010 written around the time he was working on the chapter on the cattle industry in Sins of the Father. (Good news, the 2nd edition of Sins of the Father, with a new chapter on more recent developments will be published towards the end of 2013).
Irish Left Review - Wed May 22, 2013 13:32 The book Understanding European Movements, edited by Cristina Flesher Fominaya and Laurence Cox, has just been published and might be of interest to readers.
Cristina Flesher Fominaya and Laurence Cox, eds. (2013) Understanding European Movements: New Social Movements, Global Justice Struggles, Anti-Austerity Protest. London: Routledge (Advances in Sociology series).
304 pp. hardback, ISBN 978-0-415-63879-1, release date 21 May 2013.
List price $143 / £80; discount $114.40 / £64 (order via www.routledge.com using discount code ERJ67*).
A paperback edition will come out in due course but in the meantime we are encouraging people to try ordering this through university and public libraries.
Across Europe, social movements are resisting the onslaught of austerity politics and challenging the legitimacy of the neoliberal economic model. In Ireland, commentary from both sides often revolves around the relationship between Irish movements and those elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, much of this analysis is flimsy, restricted to English-language information and anecdotal accounts. Understanding European movements represents a collaborative project by participants in the Council for European Studies? social movements research network. Its 15 chapters include authors based in 11 countries whose analyses are all grounded in ethnographic and historical research on these movements ? in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Spain and the UK as well as transnational relationships ? and in keeping with the traditions of European movement research many are active, critical participants in the movements they analyse and the book is written for movement activists as well as researchers. The book offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary perspective on the key European social movements in the past forty years and sets present-day struggles in their longer-term national, historical and political contexts.
Irish Left Review - Tue May 21, 2013 13:56 Only a few days left but seats still available. The club needs this fundraiser to be a success, so that we can keep the wolf (pack) from our door. If you want to reserve tickets (?10 each) Please contact us at this email address or the club one at the end of the message.
As part of this fundraising drive we have a limited edition Bobby Ballagh print for sale at ?400. The print, which is framed, is one of a hundred print lot and depicts James Larkin. It can be viewed in Connolly Books, 43 East Essex St, D.2.
Venue: The New Theatre , 43 East Essex Street, Dublin 2
Date: Sat 25th May 2013
2pm - Irish Premiere Dear Mr Ken Loach (30 mins) a film by Nicola di Lecce and Rossella Lamina.
Irish Left Review - Tue May 21, 2013 13:46 Saturday 25 May 2pm Liberty Hall No2CrokePark2 Public Rally The trade union movement emphatically voted nearly 2-to-1 against CrokePark2. Grassroots members across several trade unions are coming together this Saturday to host a public rally at 2pm in Liberty Hall entitled 'No2CrokePark2 - No2Austerity' to remind the government and others of that vote and that "No Means No!". All are welcome. Please share for your friends.
Donagh Brennan - Mon May 20, 2013 23:41 In my long article in the first issue of Irish Left Review on Ireland?s corporate tax regime I made the point that Ireland in effect sells its abilities to make tax laws to profit hungry MNCs, in much the same way as it sells to the rights to our natural resources to large oil companies. That is, whatever economic benefit there is, and its small, goes to the ?agents? who negotiate the deal, with very little, if any, benefit appearing in the economy.
Still, with all the attention being on Google for a while now, there was one fact about the Irish government?s arrangements with the search engine company that I had missed.
Recently these arrangements, known as the Double Irish with the Dutch Sandwich have been given a lot of attention and are often explained. For example, see this New York Times info graphic. However, while listening to Jim Stewart?s interview on Morning Ireland last Friday in a conversation about Google?s ?grilling? before the UK?s Public Accounts Committee on taxation, I found out that the ?Dutch Sandwich? is no longer used, and instead Google?s earnings from its EMEA market goes from Google Ireland to Google Ireland Holdings, which is registered in a solicitor?s office at 70 Sir John Rogerson?s Quay and also in Bermuda. So, by passing these to the Bermuda registered company, the earnings go straight to Bermuda. Google Ireland Holdings has no employees and is ?owned? by Google Bermuda which also has no employees. Both are unlimited companies, so under Irish law, they do not have to publish accounts.
Irish Left Review - Mon May 20, 2013 10:50 Ireland?s leading magazine for progressive news, views and solutions ? available in Easons stores and selected newsagents across the country ? 48 pages for just ?2/£1.50 Features The G8 comes to town:Kevin Squires looks at the impact the 39th G8 summit will have. Learning Division: Fifteen years ago progressives recognised the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) as a positive development. However, fears that its structures would allow for communal politics to be institutionalised have been realised particularly in the provision of education, writes Justin O?Hagan. Mobilising a generation: Young Irish people facing sharply limited opportunities at home or emigration are beginning to mobilise, reports Dara McHugh. Precious few heroes: With his politically charged songs Dick Gaughan has inspired generations of Left activists, Kevin Brannigan caught up with the veteran Scottish folk singer during his spring tour of Ireland No turning back from here: The Venezuelan revolution has dramatically changed not only the politics of Latin America also but the globe, reports Paul Dillon. The tyranny of the credit rating agencies: Democratic accountability is being eroded by credit rating capitalism, writes Srinivas Raghavendra Of live dogs and dead lions: Following the death of Hugo Chávez, Richard McAleavey assesses the Irish media?s representation of the ormer Venezuelan President. Calling the bigots bluff: Do anti-choicers want follow through the with the logic of their argument and imprison women, asks Katie Garrett.
Raymond Deane - Fri May 17, 2013 17:46 This was originally published on Raymond Deane's blog, the Deanery on the 16th of May.
As everyone knows by now, The Gatekeepers is a 2012 Academy award-nominated documentary film made by the Israeli director Dror Moreh. Moreh succeeded in interviewing the last six heads of Israel?s General Security Services, better known by its Hebrew acronym Shin Bet. These gentlemen display considerable frankness about the nature of their past activities, their belated advocacy of a two-state solution to the Palestine issue and their negative views of successive Israeli governments.
It?s not my purpose here to write another review of this much talked-about but surprisingly uncontroversial film. Interesting articles, both of which discuss it in conjunction with the Israeli/Palestinian film 5 Broken Cameras, may be read here and here. Instead, I wish to reflect on some worrisome aspects of the film?s framing and reception in public discourse, and to suggest that its propagandistic effect is dependent on such framing. |
make this your indymedia front page
|
