From Social Europe Journal, articles on the ethics of capitalism and capitalism and ethical life; an essay on morality and capitalism in sociological perspective. From New Statesman, how can we build a “good society”? A look at four evolving strands of progressive thought and the guiding spirits behind (and more); just because humans are selfish, should we give up on the ideals of equality and community? G A Cohen wants to know (and the first chapter from Why Not Socialism? and a review of Rescuing Justice & Equality); and Labour is in the middle of its gravest crisis in 30 years — it needs to rediscover the radicalism that animated its founders. Joschka Fischer took Germany's Greens out of the wilderness and into real power — but has he become what he once eschewed? From Der Spiegel, an article on how Europe's center-Left parties are stuck in a dead end. Where now for European political parties? Even in capitalists’ bad times, Europe’s socialists suffer. Jacob Heilbrunn wants to know, is socialism finished in Europe? (and more by Harold Meyerson) Beyond the Third Way: What is wrong with social democracy? Turning malcontents into (sensible) militants: In most of Europe moderate leftists are having a bad recession, but things look more promising for them elsewhere. With Germany and France becoming the first major western economies to emerge from recession, perhaps the US should learn something from our transatlantic cousins. The current severe recession may be forming a generation that is more risk-averse and believes more in redistribution.

The final issue of Culture is out. From Applied Semiotics, Christos Zagkos, Argyris Kyridis, Ifigenia Vamvakidou, Nikos Fotopoulos (Western Macedonia): The Banknote as a Figure of Nationhood in the Balkan Countries; and Daniel Reynolds (UCSB): Esthetics of the Extreme in Shock Websites. Christopher Terry welcomes a re-examination of the work of F.R. Leavis and the legacy of his controversial style of criticism. Russell Jacoby on Sigmund Freud in America. From New Statesman, a special issue on the 50 people who matter today. A study uncovers the "de-urbanization" of America. A review of Are We There Yet?: The Golden Age of American Family Vacations by Susan Sessions Rugh. What does woman want? Mary Eberstadt on the war between the sexless. Print is still king: Only three percent of newspaper reading happens online. Queens of the Scatological Age: Jay Wexler reviews this year’s candidates for the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and tiptoes through the doo-doo. People who know a lot about a lot have long been an exclusive club, but now they are an endangered species; Edward Carr tracks some down. Torture porn movies are complex cultural products that deserve serious academic attention and analysis. Captain Hook meets Adam Smith: Debunking pirate myths reveals how hidden economic forces generate social order. Fashion Forward: A Washington couple finds happiness in a cocktail of philosophy and fashion — metaphysics never looked so good. Should Roman Polanski have to pay for crimes he committed 30 years ago? AC Grayling investigates.

From NYRB, what is an Andy Warhol? Richard Dorment reviews Andy Warhol by Arthur Danto; Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol by Tony Scherman and David Dalton; and I Sold Andy Warhol (Too Soon) by Richard Polsky. Noah Berlatsky writes in praise of useless art that nobody wants. A review of A Face to the World: On Self-Portraits by Laura Cumming (and more and more and more and more). My ant could paint that: What invertebrates’ creations tell us about art. Malignant sadness: Brian Dillon examines the relationship between creativity, illness and the imagination. Mr. MOMA: Calvin Tomkins on Michael H. Dunn, the man who left it all to the museum. Claire Barliant reviews The Possible Life of Christian Boltanski. Decoding Jackson Pollock: Did the Abstract Expressionist hide his name amid the swirls and torrents of a legendary 1943 mural? In praise of doodling: Preliterate, primordial, the doodle is at once the most common and the most ignored art form. An interview with Jeff Koons. Bird Brain: Is art criticism so easy that a pigeon can do it? At New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Amy Herman schools police in the fine art of deductive observation. Forgotten visionary: An article on the art of Charles Burchfield. Why do people visit art museums? The answer depends on the type of art on display. Paul Johnson on the joy of portraiture. A public-art experiment is taking London’s art scene by storm — giving 2,400 people each an hour to do whatever they like in the city’s most bustling square. Research suggests artistic tendencies are linked to "schizophrenia gene".

A review of After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam by Lesley Hazleton. Long thought to be on the path to extinction, modern-day Sufism is as strong as ever in the Arab world even if serious study of the movement is lacking. A review of Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary. A review of Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law by Nonie Darwish. Last gasp for global Islam: A review of The Crisis of Islamic Civilization by Ali Allawi (and more). Can the clash of civilisations be avoided? Jeremy Stangroom tests Ramin Jahanbegloo’s commitment to peaceful, constructive dialogue. A review of Surrender: Appeasing Islam, Sacrificing Freedom by Bruce Bawer (and more). Richard Koch and Chris Smith rue the west’s loss of nerve. Twice Branded: An article on Western women in Muslim lands. The introduction to Questioning the Veil: Open Letters to Muslim Women by Marnia Lazreg. From Standpoint, turning a blind eye to misogyny: Liberals and feminists do not consider the oppression of women a pressing concern when done in the name of culture or religion; and a veil of silence over murder: All over the world, men are killing women on a point of "honour" — why do we tolerate the intolerable? An article on the wave of homophobia that is sweeping the Muslim world. Let’s talk about Muslim sex: Sex has ruffled many in the Arab world lately — about time.