The world today faces a crisis on the scale of the 1930s. Capitalism is trapped in a long-term crisis. Financialisation and austerity are shrinking demand, deepening the depression, and widening social inequalities.

The social fabric is being torn apart. International relations are increasingly tense and militarised. War threatens on several fronts, while fascist and racist organisations are gaining ground across much of Europe.

Global warming threatens humanity with climate catastrophe. Workplace organisation been weakened, and social democratic parties have been hollowed out by acceptance of pro-market dogma. Society's become more atomised, and mainstream politics suffers an acute democratic deficit.

Yet the last decade's seen historically unprecedented levels of street protest, implying a mass audience for radical alternatives.

But socialist ideas are no longer, as in the immediate post-war period, ‘in the tea’.

One of neoliberalism’s achievements has been to undermine ideas of solidarity, collective provision, and public service.