Month: November 2011

By Andrew Williams

The Occupy movement, which has spread from Wall Street across the developed world, with a dynamic presence in London, marks a new wave of radicalisation in response to the global financial crisis. Its combination of radical forms of protest and a hegemonic political approach – for the 99 per cent – is a positive contribution to the opposition to austerity.

Across North America and Europe, governments are carrying out policies that hit the living standards of the majority of people, in order to increase profits and bail out failing banks. This is meeting an inevitable rise in discontent, but also a political fight over how this disaffection is expressed.

By Andrew Williams

Occupy London Stock Exchange (Occupy LSX), in just three weeks, has demonstrated it is an effective dynamic new movement, driving forward a progressive campaign opposing the current assault on the population’s living standards.

Several hundred people are participating and have set up tents for a continuous vigil at the heart of Britain’s principal financial centre. They are taking inspiration from the global movement that has been occupying public spaces in over 900 cities since the Wall Street protest started seven weeks ago.