Society / Social Change

In a time of toxic ‘culture wars’, it may be hard to see the liberating potential of transgender rights for us all. But this piece from 2015, by Vanessa Baird, did just that – while taking a pop at the tyranny of the binary.

After 17 years, Zapotec Indigenous communities in Mexico finally gain control over their water sources, reports Magdalena Rojo.

Rap is a genre intertwined with politics, but the political courage of Iran’s rappers takes some beating, Lorraine Mallinder finds.

As Scotland bids farewell to first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Conrad Landin looks at the state of the democracy she leaves behind.

Husna Ara speaks to Dr Samara Linton about The Colour of Madness, her co-edited anthology that brings to life the varied experiences of alienation for migrants and people of colour in the UK.

Tooba Syed on how Pakistan’s gender non-conforming community are fighting renewed attacks on their age old existence and customs – through queer kinship.

Success coaches, pick-up artists, men’s rights activists. Popular influencers are preying on men and boys’ emotional isolation. Daisy Schofield reports on how we might intervene.

From rank and file unionist heroes to industrialist lone wolves, Bollywood storytellers and ‘content creators’ have shifted to write out India’s collective spirit. Ishika Saxena questions what this means for how the country’s citizens can be brought together.

Work from home policies aren’t going anywhere. So, with many workers in the UK feeling the strain of isolation, now is the time to ramp up trade union organizing, writes Eve Livingston.

Initiatives, action, and further reading on loneliness.

Loneliness and social isolation have become chronic issues across the world. We must resist attempts to close down meaningful human interaction, writes Husna Ara.

The ghost of Dinyar Godrej looks back from 2073 to see how personal revolutions built a society that is truly social.

Chances for meaningful change, by Marc Roberts.

Yohann Koshy returns to the golden age of solidarity between Global South states and asks: what should a new internationalism look like?

Mark Engler considers popular resistance to mass shootings and increasing healthcare costs in the US.

Comedian, activist and author Mark Thomas talks dissent, tax and people power.

Richard Swift begins his journey through political alternatives to capitalism by looking at the nature of the beast they seek to oppose.

The 71-year-old legend of social movement politics in India shows no signs of slowing down, as Richard Swift discovers.

Our superb new columnist, comedian and writer Josie Long, on her political awakening and not having a smock.

The future is unknown, but we can learn on the job, says Maria Golia.