Portside

As wealth becomes concentrated in fewer hands, so does political and social power via foundations and non-profits. In the January issue of the New York Review of Books, veteran journalist Michael Massing noted that, in the past 15 years alone, “the number of foundations with a billion dollars or more in assets has doubled, to more than eighty.” A study by the watchdog organization Global Policy Forum, finds that foundations are so powerful they bypass governments and UN.

Ultimately, the blame for the state of American electoral politics can be laid at the feet of both major parties. Most ordinary Americans are frustrated with the status quo, evidenced by the majority of voters who call themselves “independent.” It should not surprise leaders from either party that voters are rejecting establishment candidates. But given the perils of Trump’s politics, the stakes are higher than they have ever been.

We crafted the essay below from personal and historical experiences for a series of talks on Jewish radicalism in the United States. Rather than survey a growing literature on labor and leftwing politics we chose to write about four Jewish radicals representing different twentieth century moments. The Jewish experience in twentieth century America helped shape sectors of liberal, progressive, socialist, and communist politics, right up to the present day Sanders campaign

The greatest hope for a peaceful and democratic Syria is its civil society, now in tatters as a result of regime repression and the rise of the militias.

In the same weeks that astronomers sighted the brightest supernova and the sound of a radiation wave confirmed Einstein's gravitational theory, the poet Maggie Clark turned her eye to the human dimension and noted the death of a great poet C.D. Wright.

The critics of Bernie Sanders' economic plan fail to reckon with the long-term benefits of a single-payer health care system.

Will the eight years of America's first black president lead to more political voice for black citizens—or less?

Republicans spent decades paving the way and priming the party base for a candidate just like Donald Trump. They were never going to stop him. That job falls to progressive movements.