The war in Ukraine is only one phase of a world-wide conflict that began earlier. In international relations, the driving forces are often obscured by surface occurrences, such as immediate military events and the din of apologetic or denunciatory rhetoric. What is at stake in Ukraine is not Ukraine: it is the future of globalized, neoliberal, financialized, US-ruled capitalism.

November 28 marks the 200th birthday of Russian philosopher, naturalist, and economist Nikolai Danilevsky. Relatively unknown in the West, Danilevsky is extraordinarily influential in modern Russia, and understanding his ideas is essential to grasping the essence of the current political conflict between Russia and the West.

The right-wing Greek colonels seized power in Athens on April 21, 1967, shortly before a scheduled election that would likely have brought Andreas Papandreou of the social democratic Centre Union to power. Following the coup, Greece became the second openly fascist member of NATO, and it was supported by alliance powers including Canada.

Sovereignty and self-determination are important concepts to keep at the heart of left analysis—and can help orient us in the confusion and misinformation surrounding Russia’s war on Ukraine. In this interview, Bill Fletcher Jr. and Elly Leary help navigate the left’s Ukraine debate, dispel misconceptions and historical delusions, and a point a way forward for the anti-war movement.

It’s becoming commonplace to suggest that a multipolar world order is emerging, one that will replace the US-dominated world system that has reined since the end of the Second World War and faced no serious challengers since the fall of the Soviet Union. As Greg Shupak writes, what is certain is that the old order will not fall without a great deal of struggle.

Biden believes that American credibility depends on NATO expanding to Ukraine, and if necessary, defeating Russia in the Ukraine war to accomplish that. Biden has repeatedly refused to engage in diplomacy with Russia on the NATO enlargement issue. This has been a grave mistake. It stoked a proxy war between the US and Russia in which Ukraine is being devastated.

The Ukraine war is the third of these great pan-continental conflicts sucking in the rest of Europe and the US. Most European states are not directly involved in the military conflict, but they are fully engaged in political and economic warfare against Russia which is as important as anything happening on the battlefields.

It remains to be seen whether it is legally possible to confiscate and redistribute Russian funds. But even if it is, one may doubt whether it is wise. Little by little, such acts have the effect of sending a message that the international financial system is subservient to Western political interests, writes professor Paul Robinson.

Resistance is essential, but at the moment the anti-war movement is not in a position to bring large numbers into the street to protest NATO expansion and Canada’s role in prolonging the conflict in Ukraine. But we should at least be challenging politicians where we can and chipping away at progressives supporting the continuation of this horrible war.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there are growing efforts to weaponize international criminal justice and human rights. Considering the wide ranging calls for the indictment of Russian political and military leaders by the ICC, it is important to remember where these international criminal courts came from, writes publisher and author Robin Philpot.