11 June 2007
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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
Cover story
Russia: The beggar becomes the belligerent
From threats over weapons systems to blame for the Litvinenko murder, President Putin is adopting a hostility towards the US and Europe not seen since the end of the Cold War. But, as Bridget Kendall reports from Russia, the west shares much of the blame through the arrogance it showed in the 1990s
Features
Fundamental flaw of the Blair project
By flirting with the anti-liberal prejudices of the right-wing media, new Labour has alienated its core voters at its peril. Peter Hain urges Gordon Brown to change tack
Learning the Islam lessons
In one of Tony Blair's last public acts, Downing Street assembled an impressive conference on Muslim extremism. But where, asks Martin Bright, does Gordon Brown stand?
Rules of the game
Investigative journalists are being picked off one by one in Russia. Their "crime", says Roman Shleinov, is not so much criticising Vladimir Putin as exposing the corrupt nexus between business and politics
''God doesn't need my vote''
When the New Statesman hosted a debate at the Hay festival and asked a representative of Hamas, a Tory MP and a Palestinian atheist the question: "Is Islam incompatible with democracy?" the discussion was predictably stormy. It was also witty and thoughtful
Regulars
New Statesman Leader
Only a Bill of Rights can save the citizen from the prying state
The New Statesman will campaign for a full Bill of Rights to underpin a new written constitution.
No 3981 Publish the bans
Set by John Crick You were asked to say what else you would like to see banned, besides smoking
Culture
Not quite the gentleman
Remembered as an icon of imperial Britain, Elgar has long been misunderstood
Getting out of the ghetto
Dizzee Rascal breaks down barriers in an increasingly segregated music scene
Theatre
Taking on the Jewish shtick
Well-meaning folksiness isn't good enough for dealing with anti-Semitism Fiddler on the Roof Savoy Theatre, London WC2
Film
Strictly glum dancing
The characters might be miserable, but this rom-com is warm at heart Not Here to Be Loved (15) dir: Stéphane Brizé
Television
In praise of stately homes and giant carrots
Alan Titchmarsh and David Dimbleby create a celebratory frenzy of Britishness How We Built Britain BBC1 The Great British Village Show BBC1
Books
Party politics
Communism destroyed millions of lives, but its critics are now branded "neocons". Why has the left's poisoned love affair with it endured?
The leader's leaders
Courage: Eight Portraits Gordon Brown Bloomsbury, 288pp, £16.99 ISBN 0747565325
Every day in every way
Queuing for Beginners: The Story of Daily Life from Breakfast to Bedtime Joe Moran Profile Books, 288pp, £14.99 ISBN 1861978367
The Torah code
The Seventh Gate Richard Zimler Constable & Robinson, 400pp, £7.99 ISBN 1845294874
Missing persons
In Search of the Missing Eyelash Karen McLeod Jonathan Cape, 224pp, £11.99 ISBN 0224080822
Bringing up baby
Mamarama: A Memoir of Sex, Kids and Rock’n’roll Evelyn McDonnell Da Capo Press, 253pp, £12.99 ISBN 0738211079
A natural wonder
Wild: An Elemental Journey Jay Griffiths Hamish Hamilton, 384pp, £20 ISBN 158542403X
Mom's the word
You’re Not the Boss of Me: Adventures of a Modern Mom Ericka Schickel Kensington Books, 256pp, £6.50 ISBN 0758215371
