26 June 2006

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

Features

Hero of the people

By Allegra Stratton

She spends half her time with the president in Baghdad, and half in Iraqi Kurdistan. So who exactly is the latest member of the Arab leaders' wives' club? Allegra Stratton reports

It's a woman's job now

By Charlie Lee-Potter

The opponents of female ordination have lost the war: 50 per cent of those entering training for the priesthood are now women. Before long, they will be in the majority, reports Charlie Lee-Potter

Six months to save Labour

By Nick Cohen

The government looks doomed, and it may even be heading for its own May 1997-style catastrophe. If the left wants to save it, it needs to start answering some tough questions

Essay

The triumph of the east

By Niall Ferguson

It is a commonplace that the past hundred years saw the ascent of the west, even that it was the "American century". This is a mistake. What really happened was the rise of Asia, and the start of a momentous global shift

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Europe will soon emerge from its torpor

European institutions are now judged by our once-enthusiastic PM in terms of how little they can interfere, rather than what they can achieve

The Politics Column

Ministers no speaky nothing

By Martin Bright

Why does the government insist on following the ideas of a country which provides a terrifying model of how not to run a criminal justice system? The answer is simple: language

Commons Confidential

To bury Caesar

By Kevin Maguire

In a few words No 3934

Set by Peter Wyatt: Following William Empson's description of "Lady Chatterley's Lover" as being "like a daydream about a limerick", we asked you for further witty summings-up, in the same manner, of great books of your choice

Culture

Jewel in the crown

By Jerry Brotton

The Royal Collection is a treasure trove of Old Masters, bought with taxpayers' money. So why does the monarchy deny the public access?

The making of a Jew

By William Cook

Sigmund Freud's cultural identity was central to the man and his work, finds William Cook

Heart of the Amazon

By Peter Culshaw

Peter Culshaw meets the extraordinary composer bringing the music of Brazil's shamans to Europe

Theatre

Where did it all go wrong?

By Rosie Millard

European history gets a make-over in an uneasy marriage of politics and pop Rock'n'Roll Royal Court Theatre, London SW1

Film

Under the red, white and blue

By Ryan Gilbey

A partisan tale of the IRA fails to make its intended impact The Wind That Shakes the Barley (15) dir: Ken Loach

Television

As American as apple pie

By Andrew Billen

A subtle satire on polygamy reveals the secret oddness of every family Big Love Channel 5

Radio

Lessons from the convent

By Rachel Cooke

A religious reality series sounds a rare note of moral clarity

Books

Writing a good game

By William Skidelsky

Observations on the world cup

The war that will never be won

By Rodric Braithwaite

There is no such thing as a humanitarian intervention: if you invade a country you will always kill people. Rodric Braithwaite on the folly of our campaign in Iraq