Next Year, Help us Fight On Against the Establishment
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at Conter!
If you have enjoyed our work this year, we encourage you to support us by becoming a subscriber on Patreon.
You will be helping to develop a unique voice in the Scottish media landscape, and one that will be needed in the coming year as the ‘de facto referendum’ approaches, recession deepens, and competition intensifies between the west and a rising China. A subscription will also give you access to exclusive content and events.
Our first article of 2022 predicted that the 2023 independence referendum was a ruse that would fall apart in short order. We’ve never chased the SNP leadership’s latest carrot just to attract tribal pro-indy opinion. While consistently advocating a meaningful movement for independence based in popular democracy, we’ve been honest that the SNP leadership has manipulated hopes and attached independence to a conservative prospectus.
In 2023, the SNP will dangle a ‘de facto referendum’ before voters. We’ll be producing special coverage leading up to the SNP special conference on this strategy, providing critical commentary as the national question enters a new phase.
This year, we have been a unique voice of opposition to war and its dangers of escalation. We warned against beating the drum of war before the February invasion, and have consistently called for a negotiated settlement, hosting public events to advance this perspective. We aren’t afraid to take controversial stances when we believe them to be right. We end the year with a long read examining the global implications of the war.
Nor have we been afraid to hold the Scottish Government to account in a civic sphere over-populated by hangers-on and critics who oppose the SNP on narrow party political grounds, but support the substance of their pro-establishment policies.
We’ve highlighted the failures of the Scottish Government in face of the cost of living crisis and the recession, and stood by workers fighting to protect their interests against private employers and the government alike. We’ve exposed blackleg operations that have grown across Scotland in a bid to undermine the strike wave.
We’ve also provided incisive commentary of the meltdown of the Conservative party and the crisis of the British state.
This year we launched a new range of podcasts with ConterRadio – covering debates in contemporary ideology, the state of global capitalism, interviews with key thinkers and activists and international affairs among much else. We’ll have yet more podcasts to launch in the new year, and much more special content for our subscribers.
We’ll have exciting new projects for 2023. We hope to meet you all at in-person events next year as well, as we seek to build a critical voice against the establishment.
New For Subscribers
How the War of 2022 Changes Everything
We spoke to Conter editorial board member and historian Chris Bambery about his long read on Conter.scot.
What is the long run historical meaning of the Ukraine war of 2022. And what does it tell us about the future of power and war.
Scottish Capitalism and the Crisis
In a bonus episode for our Patreon subscribers, David and Gregor talk to George Kerevan about how the economic crisis specifically impacts the model of Scottish Capitalism developed since devolution.
On Conter Radio
Enemy Within: After Judgement Day
On this edition of Enemy Within, James and Pete are joined by Conter editor David Jamieson to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling against the Scottish Parliament's right to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.
Scotland After Britain: Ep 2 - Internationalism from Above
We spoke to Ben Wray and James Foley, co-authors with the late Neil Davidson of Scotland After Britain: The Two Souls of Scottish Independence, about the complex relationship between empires, nations and transnational institutions.
Enemy Within: The Brilliance of Mike Davis
Pete and James examine the life and works of Mike Davis, the great US Marxist writer, scholar, urban theorist and activist who died in October.
They explore their favourite Davis books and the penetrating insights that make them landmark texts.
Sunday Sermon: The Decline of Christianity and its Meaning
In this weeks Sermon, David examines the decline of Christianity in the UK, compares it to the decline of socialism, and investigates the ideology that has replaced both.
ConterCapital: The Economic Crisis of 2022
For this episode of Conter Capital, David and Gregor are joined by economist George Kerevan to take a look at the big picture of the crisis of 2022.
What's driving inflation, how is it interacting with recession, and what does the future hold for global capitalism.
Free on Conter.scot
Long Read: 2022 – The Year Europe Lost Control
Chris Bambery takes a detailed look at the huge shifts in global competition since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He finds that the world system is lurching towards further conflict, and that the US has re-asserted its dominance, to the cost of Europe.
‘Future Gig Employer’: Posties Rage Against Royal Mail Run-Down
Posties have protested outside the Scottish Parliament with trade union allies in a display of unity, determination to resist attacks from Royal Mail, and stop the running-down of the service. Alice Kinghorn-Gray and Lewis Akers report from the demo.
Time to Judge the SNP Leadership
Jonathon Shafi examines how the strategy of the SNP leadership is beginning to show its failures. Coming months will show the independence cause is at a dead end.
Why Have the Tories Done this to Themselves?
By throwing an already weak economy into chaos, the Tories have simultaneously damaged their authority with the ruling elite and pushed Labour closer to power. Why have they made this unforced error? David Jamieson looks at the class antagonisms behind the car crash.