29 September 2008
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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
The great crash of 2008
The world's financial institutions are gripped by fear, yet policymakers can do nothing. They are ignorant of how banks now work and have to take poacher-turned-gamekeeper Henry Paulson at his word
Features
Cameron's Achilles' heel
Can the Conservatives handle the economy? The current opposition front bench is the least financially savvy for a generation
One step forward . . .
The government has announced a new commitment to equal rights for asylum-seeking children. Now they must put it into practice
Who are the British Asians?
There is no such thing as the "Asian community". The label was imposed on a generation of migrants after they arrived in Britain, and holds no hint of how they see themselves
Truth and war mean nothing at the party conferences
The media turns the other way, or perverts the truth, while an increasingly imperialist United States, with Britain in tow, pursues its expansionist interests
Regulars
New Statesman Leader
Mr Brown silenced his opponents, but not for good
He said he intended to defend the interests of the weakest from now on. It was a statement of a new political direction
The Politics Column
Brown’s big moment
The Prime Minister faced down his enemies and won back Labour's confidence. Now comes the difficult part: delivery
Gordon's path to redemption
To seize the moment, Gordon Brown has to change course; not a U-turn or swerve to the left, but a prudent adjustment of direction, writes Labour's former deputy leader
A sporting chance No 4045
In the London Olympics of 1908 Great Britain won 146 medals (56 of which were gold), largely by excelling at sports that no other, or only a few, countries played and whose rules they did not know - for instance rackets and water motorsports made their first and last appearance at the 1908 Games. We asked for more such sports with the particular skills required, not forgetting their rules, to boost our medals tally in 2012 Set by Joy Hosker
Culture
Dedicated follower of fashion
When he accepted a job at Condé Nast, Edward Steichen was criticised for "selling out" - but he turned commercial photography into a true art form
Playing the game
Aimé Maeght, master manipulator of the art market, could have taught Charles Saatchi a thing or two
Treasure in them there hills
A remarkable theatre company has created high art in an impoverished, conflict-battered Rio favela
Performance
In leaps and bounds
Juliette Binoche makes an impressive foray into the world of modern dance in-i Lyttelton Theatre, London SE1
Film
Talent that doesn't spoil
Kristin Scott Thomas is austere, while Ed Harris pulls out all the stops I've Loved You So Long (12A) dir: Philippe Claudel Appaloosa (15) dir: Ed Harris
Television
Values and the market
Has money stripped art of all meaning? Yes, argues the sage Robert Hughes Mona Lisa Curse Channel 4
Books
Death of the book?
These are early days for the e-reader; but that doesn't mean it isn't already being widely discussed
The dynamics of power
In his new study of British democracy in the 20th century David Marquand identifies four strands of political thought whose interaction - far more so than the party labels of Labour, Conservative or Liberal - has shaped, and still shapes, our history.
The original sex manual
The New Joy of Sex Alex Comfort and Susan Quilliam Mitchell Beazley, 288pp, £18.99
Observations
Israel's illegal outpost
The extremist children of the settlements who have turned their backs on what they regard as their parents' caution to live in a twilight world of illegality
A lack of Solidarity
Lech Walesa has angrily dismissed claims he was a double agent - codename 'Bolek' - as "a bunch of crap". Ask him about it and he'll walk out of the interview
