As the western world winds its way through the 40th anniversaries of 1968 and the ‘summer of love’, Steve Platt looks back at the role of cannabis in the ‘counter culture’ and how people on both sides of the political and cultural divide believed that a hardy psychoactive plant could change the world. He wonders how it could ever have aroused such passions – both for and against its use – and asks why it’s still illegal

Tom Griffin comments on the creation of Standpoint, a new neo-conservative magazine published by the right-wing think tank the Social Affairs Unit.

Soundings – a journal which publishes a lot of very good material, some of which you can find on UK Watch – are running an online debate on class and culture.

Gordon Parsons gets to grips with the history of humanity from a Marxist viewpoint, taking in the Stone Age to the new millenium.

Ann Pettifor’s prescient ‘The Coming First World Debt Crisis’ is essential for readers interested in understanding how and why the world is facing, and actually experiencing, financial crises as a result of global economic liberalisation.

Peter Oborne says that Robert Peston’s new book brilliantly shows how New Labour, hand-in-hand with a rapacious capitalist class, have created the conditions for our present crisis.

Julian Petley reviews Nick Davies’ Flat Earth News, and suggests that the reception of the book in the mainstream predictably fails to identify the deeper issues raised by the problems with contemporary journalism documented by Davies.

Music as a form of political protest has catalysed anti-racist and progressive forces in the UK into action since the first Carnival Against the Nazis, writes Alexander Billet .

Launching an online petition on the Downing Street website is not as easy as we might hope, writes Charles Thomson.

We are reproducing in two parts a chapter on Enoch Powell from Jonathan Rutherford’s new book, Forever England. Using a mixture of political, historical and psychological analysis, Rutherford offers a rich account of the interaction of masculinity, empire and race in the development of Powell’s notorious but undoubtedly significant brand of politics. This part focuses in particular on Powell’s relationship to the British Empire and the development of his character through his austere and isolated childhood and education. Part 2, following shortly, draws upon this backdrop to develop an account of his political career.

Award winning social documentary photographer Larry Herman spoke to Simon Basketter about his new project capturing the lives of hourly paid workers in the capital.

Rupa Huq argues that we need to reconceptualise suburban life.

Stuart Hall talks to Bill Schwarz about the questions and issues posed by difference in contemporary society. This discussion locates these issues in the context of neoliberalism, discourses on multiculturalism and the concerns of cultural studies. Exclusively available online at ukwatch.net.

Published in Soundings and exclusively available online at ukwatch.net, Gerry Hassan discusses the contemporary city, both in fact and discourse, and argues that we need a different model of a city than what is currently on offer. Some elements of an alternative that renews an idealistic, optimistic and forwardlooking idea of humanity and the future, can be found in the innovative Glasgow 2020 project.

Ian Sinclair offers a sympathetic but critical review of Sinners/Scroungers/Saints – an exhibition on lone motherhood currently showing at the Women’s Library in London.

Rebecca Gordon Nesbitt with a provocative review of ‘Realizing the Impossible: Art Against Authority’, ‘Do it Yourself: A Handbook for Changing our World’, ‘Rebel Alliances: The Means and Ends of Contemporary British Anarchisms’, exploring the critical urgency and shortcomings of the creative dissent they express.

Ann Talbot on how Martin Amis has helped make Islamophobia acceptable within British cultural and political discourse.

Award-winning director Ken Loach spoke to Berit Kuennecke about his new film, It’s A Free World, an exposé of the exploitation of migrant workers in Britain.

Dan Swain is impressed by a museum that unravels the links between Liverpool and the slave trade.

Leon Rosselson recounts his journey from 1960s folk singer to activist and author…