16 August 2004

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

Stalin's British victims

A new book reveals the extent to which members of Britain's Communist Party knew of Stalin's Terror - and how, even when their families were among the targets of the Soviet leader's bloodthirsty regime, they still defended his actions for the sake of "struggle"

By David Aaronovitch

Features

The story of four women who trusted Uncle Joe

By Francis Beckett

Where have all the children of the left gone?

By Nick Cohen

Those who used to burn with anger against oppression and were united in fraternity with the vulnerable are today all too happy to whitewash Saddam's regime and applaud Michael Moore's films

America's own goal in Iraq

By Becky Tinsley

The Coalition Provisional Authority failed to establish a structure for peaceful democracy

Essay

Men remain stuck in cages of their own creation

By Richard Reeves

Women's changing lives have been examined closely by academics, the media, and even the Pope. But, argues Richard Reeves, it is how men cope with these changes that will shape the future

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Time to keep up with the Blairs

Darcus Howe on colour-coded Britain

By Darcus Howe

The hierarchy of skin colour presumes that Caribbean folk are at the bottom of the pile

Mark Thomas writes a letter to Michael Howard

By Mark Thomas

The government will charge prisoners "bed and board" if their appeals succeed. That's the spirit. That'll teach them to be innocent while looking guilty and to sponge off the state

Mark Kermode - Bourne to run

By Mark Kermode

A thriller that's full of the chase and the new wave from Korea. By Mark Kermode The Bourne Supremacy (12A) A Tale of Two Sisters (15) Memories of Murder (15)

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

The final act

By David Benedict

With more shows every year, you might think that Scotland's annual arts bazaar was alive and kicking. But quality has plunged, and the average size of a Fringe audience is just 11. There's no doubt about it, writes David Benedict, it's curtains for this festival

Suffer for your art

By Michael Coveney

Edinburgh epics - Don't waste your time on mediocre comedy or a 90-minute play, advises Michael Coveney. Lock yourself away with an 11-hour blockbuster

Not playing fair

By Timothy Clifford

Edinburgh funding - Raising money for the arts is never easy. In Scotland, it's torture. Timothy Clifford, director of the National Galleries, explains why

High price to pay

By Wendy Buonaventura

Edinburgh living - Thousands of performers are descending on the Scottish capital in search of fame and fortune. What a pity they will be utterly ripped off, laments Wendy Buonaventura

Theatre