Soundings

Editorial 

This issue of Soundings offers some explorations towards new kinds of socialism more adapted to the emerging global modernities of the twenty-first century. What might be the basis for a socialist politics today? We could certainly start from the premise that capitalism in general and neoliberalism in particular, while globally hegemonic, could hardly be described as successful forms of social organisation. But we also need to rethink many of socialism’s traditional forms.

Zygmunt Bauman puts forward some foundational principles for a socialist politics; Michael Rustin argues for the enduring relevance of the ideas of Raymond Williams; and Kate Soper proposes new forms of hedonism. David Purdy discusses a strategic approach to Citizen’s Income, showing how it could help to solve some of the economic and distributive problems inherent in a steady-state economy, and also play a role in a wider project to change popular views on the nature of work and pleasure. James Marriott presents new ways of mapping business connections, and Patrick Curry argues compellingly that ecological concerns should be at the heart of left politics.

The issue also includes Michael Kenny on the Compass programme for renewal; Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim on individualisation and family lives; Priscilla Alderson on childhood and the economy; Jacky Law and Anna Coote on the future of health politics; and Stewart Lansley on the rich.

Contents

Editorial: left futures Sally Davison
Has the future a left? Zygmunt Bauman
'The Long Revolution' revisited Michael Rustin
The other pleasures of post-consumerism Kate Soper
The complexity of the social Jeremy Gilbert
Citizen's income: sowing the seeds of change David Purdy
Green ethics and the democratic left Patrick Curry
The end of the empire of Gog and Magog James Marriott
Progressive politics after Blair Michael Kenny
From 'The Family' to 'Families': How individualisation and globalisation are changing our personal lives Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim
Childhood, youth and the economy Priscilla Alderson
Resisting Big Pharma Jacky Law
Labour's health policy: the cart before the horse? Anna Coote
Britain's wealth explosion Stewart Lansley
Poems Robin Robertson, Iman Mersal, Khaled Mattawa