The article discusses the role of policy in society in general and states that policy is present in the general public with a much greater weight than its actual role would hint despite the fact that the changes of society are more decisive than the changes in policy. The authors give a short analysis of the role of policy in history and try to determine what role policy would play in the shaping intellectual method of production.

Partly in the light of reactions in the French press, the author analyses the factors which played a role in the development why the United States had entered the military scene in the Gulf war (why was the timing optimal to realise its interests), and what factors determined the dual nature of Europe's reaction: its detachment from the American standpoint on the one hand and entering the war on the other. He notes that the left wing, due to the contradictory lines, could not give an appropriate response to the Gulf war which also proves that the left needs new points of orientation, new theoretical platforms in order to remain among the important forces of the world.

The end of the cold war does not mean the establishment of a more peaceful world order. The well known British socialist theoretician, the editor-in-chief of International Socialism gives a detailed analysis of the economic growth and the changes of power positions in the world since World War II. He proves that the arms build up did not really decrease when certain disarmament treaties were achieved. He shows the key role of mititarism in the capitalist economy without which capital is unable to keep a balance and that it is exactly this, which undermines the economic balance. He calls attention to the dangers of the instability of the international power relations and the competition of the capitalist power centres.

The authors analysed what is called "existing socialism" by stressing that it was doomed to failure from the beginning as it was unable to free itself from the effects of world capitalism. The analysis is supplemented with very detailed tables of the economic indexes of the individual socialist (and capitalist) countries.

In connection with the changing of the name of the Italian Communist Party, the author argues in favour of keeping the name "communist". Naturally with new contents, but she considers the communist ideals to be suitable – despite their compromise in Eastern Europe – for integrating the various left wing endeavours in the future (including the women's movements, students' movements, environmental protection movements, etc.)