19 May 2008

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

Burma's tragedy exposes the world's lack of a disaster strategy

Forced intervention would be folly, but there are better weapons in the west’s arsenal than military planes

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Burma praying in the rain

By David Fullbrook

Millions are destitute, the death toll has already reached six figures. The inexcusable incompetence of the vicious regime is partly to blame. But so are the politics of aid

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Israel's secret fears

By Haim Baram

The nation that sees itself as the most misunderstood in the world celebrates its 60th birthday with deep apprehension about the future. Haim Baram finds anger and defensiveness among its politicians A deeply hidden diplomatic relationship between Israel and Jordan underpins the history of the search for peace in the Middle East

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Talking to the enemy

By Avi Shlaim

A deeply hidden diplomatic relationship between Israel and Jordan underpins the history of the search for peace in the Middle East

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The power network

By Charles Glass

Publicly, Israel will not do business with those who do not recognise it. But behind the scenes is a complex web of international contacts

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The great betrayal

By Martin Bright

The issue of Israel has become a terrible fault line on the British left but liberal opinion may soon be forced to change

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Essay

Labour must find its faith

By Roy Hattersley

One of the most damaging illusions of the "Third Way" has been that you can devise policies which disadvantage no one, argues the Labour ex-deputy leader

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Regulars

The Politics Column

The climb back of his life

By Martin Bright

Gordon Brown is still in deep trouble, and dreams of recovery. Will he weather the storm? There are historical precedents that may comfort him

Commons Confidential

Mr Pepys erupts

By Kevin Maguire

All the gossip from the Westminster Village

Religion must not block progress

By Robin McKie

The Commons has usually debated and voted sensibly over on issues such as embryology. Will members - particularly those who are Catholic - do the right thing?

Invading your own privacy

By Decca Aitkenhead

Even the cheap allure of voyeurism has its limit, and I think we might have reached it

Just get a grip No 4027

Philip Larkin’s poem “Aubade” prompted Kingsley Amis to speak out: “If you feel as bad as you say, then fucking get up, or if it’s too early or something then put on the light and read Dick Francis . . .” etc. We asked you for Amisian (or Grumpy Old Men) responses to “Intimations of Immortality”, “Ode on Melancholy”, “Dejection: an Ode”, “In Memoriam”, or other, similarly well-known dolorous poems

Culture

The way I see it

Murdoch is a member of the theatre company Cartoon de Salvo. Their new, improvised production “Hard-Hearted Hannah and Other Stories” is at the Lyric Hammersmith, London W6, until 7 June (http://www.lyric.co.uk).

The last modern architect

By Jonathan Meades

Richard Rogers's achievements as a maker of extraordinary buildings are in danger of being obscured by his status as a new Labour panjandrum

Better late than never

By Sue Hubbard

The art world has suddenly "discovered" Maria Lassnig at the venerable age of almost 90

Chasing the blues away

By John Wilson

Paul Weller was horrified to learn that the young David Cameron was a fan of the Jam

Performance

Truly a middle-class act

By Andrew Billen

An impressive debut, but the move to a larger stage amplifies its flaws

Film

Tales from the dark side

By Ryan Gilbey

Two directors explore less savoury aspects of human morality Terror's Advocate (12A) dir: Barbet Schroeder Heartbeat Detector (12A) dir: Nicolas Klotz