12 December 2005

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

We achieved next to nothing

On the eve of crucial world trade talks, Noreena Hertz argues that politicians and campaigners have failed the poor - again - by tackling the symptoms and not the causes of global injustice

By Noreena Hertz

Features

How to make him sweat

By Martin Bright

For the first time since 1997, Labour's inner circles sense there is a real opposition and, what's more, that tactics must change to deal with it. Martin Bright reports on the coronation of David Cameron . . . and its consequences

No sex, no drugs: wooing the Saffys

By William Higham

Human rights, not "trade justice"

By James Knight and Katrina Manson

WTO:Burkina Faso - One of the world's poorest countries is about to fight its corner against the big boys, write James Knight and Katrina Manson

Why Africa is angry

By Michela Wrong

WTO - Africa's verdict: Some are convinced that the Gleneagles summit actually fuelled misgovernment, writes Michela Wrong. But the solution lies in grass-roots action, not more debate at international conferences

Live 8: too late to say they're sorry

By Zoe Williams

We're all orientalists now

By Patrick West

Why are we so eager to believe that Sudoku hails from Japan when it doesn't? Patrick West explains

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Women's work that's never done

By Christina Zaba

Christina Zaba has been one of the many proofreaders who toil through the night for a pittance. At their expense, media corporations are making a killing

Traitors to the left

By Nick Cohen

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is tying itself in knots with its position on Iran. Stick to anti-fascist principles, advises Nick Cohen - even if that means agreeing with Bush

Pssst. How much to buy Washington?

By Andrew Stephen

The US capital is swarming with lobbyists who are paid absurd sums to do shady deals with elected politicians. Now, suddenly, the courts are lifting the lid on what they get up to

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Dave's here. Don't panic!

Commons Confidential

Village life - Kevin Maguire bets Dave downloads on his own

By Kevin Maguire

How Willy loses a fortune, Boy George has early night and Ali C puts on the frighteners

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

Razing the past

By Robert Bevan

Soldiers and civilians are not the only casualties of war. Aggressors also target the physical monuments to an enemy's existence and so attack their libraries, churches and schools. Robert Bevan reports on the destruction of memory

Film

Homo on the range

By Peter Swaab

Film - As Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain is released, Peter Swaab searches for earlier instances of male love in the Wild West

Television

Black humour

By Nicholas Wapshott

Television - In US comedy, race has often been taboo. Not any more

Radio

Radio - Rachel Cooke

By Rachel Cooke

Yes, Antony, you might be a star - but round this way we don't like a lot of splother, see?

Theatre

Michael Portillo - Chattering classes

By Michael Portillo

Theatre - Diners and waiters clash in a star-studded reading, writes Michael Portillo A Reading of Celebration by Harold Pinter Albery Theatre, London WC2

Film

John Lyttle - Gorilla warfare

By John Lyttle

Film - Epic tales of good versus evil must be shamelessly vulgar, writes John Lyttle King Kong (12A) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (PG)

Television

Andrew Billen - Tough at the top

By Andrew Billen

Television - The rigours of political life ease if you can cash in afterwards, writes Andrew Billen How To Be Tory Leader (BBC1) Married to the Prime Minister (Channel 4)

The Fan

The fan - Hunter Davies has lunch with Melvyn Bragg

By Hunter Davies

Even girls who've never been to a match can spot a footballer three blocks away

Books

The case for freedom. For a few on the left, Tony Blair's determination to take a stand against tyranny has been a source of admiration rather than despair. John Lloyd explains why, when it comes to foreign policy, he is no longer ashamed to be called a "neo-con"

By John Lloyd

Neoconservatism: why we need it Douglas Murray Social Affairs Unit, 220pp, £20 ISBN 1904863051 Anti-totalitarianism: the left-wing case for a neoconservative foreign policy Oliver Kamm Social Affairs Unit, 128pp, £13.99