IC holds out a continuing invitation: We undertake to print any statement of up to 1,000 words carrying the approval of this party, or one of its branches. Letters from individual members will appear if they are cogent, interesting and concise, and if space permits. If you want your letter to appear unedited or not… read more »
It is becoming increasingly clear, both from the fossil record and laboratory work, that the picture of biological evolution as moving mainly by gradual and continuous change, with mutation as an occasional irregularity, has to be severely modified; sudden discontinuities play a larger part than had been allowed for. This raises a question: If neither… read more »
In the Domain of Ideologies Walsby speaks of a process by which the conformity of the great majority of members of a large group, such as a nation, is ensured: “If… there arises a comparatively strong, critical faction… which threatens the group with dissension and disruption, the mass suggestion will increase in strength, volume, intensity… read more »
In the early Nineteenth Century the Polynesians were fighting among themselves and Europeans were setting up power-bases in the area, both directly and by way of Australia. In his History of the Pacific Glen Barclay describes the position as “fraught with peril for the independence and natural development of the Polynesian people.” (p.83). In saying… read more »
These comments by David Murray appeared in the issue of Ethical Record for April 1987 and are reprinted here by permission of the writer. The piece by Colin Mills to which David Murray refers was reprinted in IC29. The reply to Murray by Walford appeared in ER for May 1987. Our thanks to the Editor… read more »
Leo Kuper has specialised in the study of genocide. We expect to be commenting on the subject, and on his work in connection with it, later; here one short piece for starters. In Genocide, its Political Use in the Twentieth Century (New Haven & London, Yale UP 1982) Kuper discusses the setting-up of the United… read more »
Voting figures for the election of June 1987 (Guardian, 13 June) from Ideological Commentary 30, November 1987.
(Minor Effort To Announce Dubious Yarns Neatly Allowing More Ideological Commentary) In IC25 (p3) appears a reference to a BBC job carrying the title Engineering Information and Electrical Installation Officer, giving the abbreviation EIEIO; a newspaper article is quoted as the source of information. That job title is inherently suspicious, for there is no obvious… read more »
It is no longer acceptable to use “man” to cover both sexes, leaving “and woman” to be understood. One must explicitly give women their proper place. The English language having developed as one aspect of a male-dominated society this new demand is often difficult to satisfy; “his or her” remains clumsy, and “s / he” is… read more »
CAPTAIN COOK, the first European to meet them, had this to say of the Australian Aborigines: in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans; being wholly unacquainted not only with the superfluous but the necessary Conveniences so much sought after in Europe, they are happy in not knowing the use of them. They… read more »