15 April 2002

From the Editor…

Welcome to the New Statesman website. Whether you are a new reader or an existing one - online or via the magazine - I hope you'll enjoy the great writing, fresh ideas and provocative debate that make the New Statesman Britain's award-winning current affairs weekly

Jason Cowley, Editor, New Statesman

Cover story

Who does he think he is?

Middle East War - Is Blair backing Arafat or Sharon? Or does he just want to please Bush? John Kampfner unravels the mysteries of Britain's Middle East policies

By John Kampfner

Features

It's the turn of the kings and knaves

By Lindsey Hilsum

Middle East War - So peace is up to Arab leaders? Lindsey Hilsumin Bethlehem finds the prospect discouraging

No parking tickets for Jews

By Adam Sage

Middle East War - . . . and other myths flourish among young Muslims in France as the press warns of a Gallic intifada. Adam Sageon how Middle East tensions have hit Paris

The terrible lesson of Colonel Adams

By Andrew Stephen

As the US pursues a terrorist war, it looks all too likely to repeat the British errors that handed victory to Sinn Fein and the IRA, argues Andrew Stephen

The return of imperialism

By John Lloyd

Empire is no longer a dirty word: it is now a respectable debating point among thinkers and politicians. John Lloyd on a global U-turn

The socialist and the alchemist

By David Lawday

Most French voters can't tell the difference between Jospin and Chirac. Maybe, after the forthcoming elections, they will just swap places

The greatest folly of our age

By Clare Short

Clare Short believes that rural India needs more hi-tech. Wrong, wrong, wrong, argues Colin Tudge. The farmers themselves know better

Wear a vest, and cut the gaffes

By Annalisa Barbieri

Roy Hattersley in the forefront of fashion? Well, yes, according to Annalisa Barbieri

Thumbs up for the bright, white folks

By Hywel Probert

Eugenics has a loyal and respectable following in the US - especially on the right. Hywel Probertreveals some surprising links between Bush and Hitler

A bad case of judicial perversity

By Richard Colbey

Richard Colbey on another deplorable example of how we treat accident victims

Essay

The New Statesman Essay - Inside the pressure cooker

By John Sutherland

John Sutherlandon the fury and bitchiness of the London literary world

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

A bad hair week for republicans?

In memoriam, the Queen Mother

Paul Routledge

By Paul Routledge

Why the death of the Queen Mum failed to move blacks

By Darcus Howe

In memoriam, the Queen Mother - Why the death of the Queen Mum failed to move blacks

A death to care about

By Mark Thomas

In memoriam, the Queen Mother - MPs can do nothing about the death of a 101-year-old, but they could make firms liable for the deaths of young workers

What a great funeral

By Amanda Platell

The Queen should stick to Christmas broadcasts but, otherwise, the Brits give great funeral

Ministers think the Tories won the taxation argument in 1997 and 2001. But - phew! - Labour has won it now

By Robert Peston

Ministers think the Tories won the taxation argument in 1997 and 2001. But - phew! - Labour has won it now

When all the women in a family wear the burqa, five can share a bus pass

By Lauren Booth

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

Dream doll

By Gaby Wood

From feminist bugbear to forbidden cultural artefact, this contentious toy was, in fact, designed by a working mother for her daughter. Gaby Wood reveals the brain behind Barbie