Spiked (magazine)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spiked is a British Internet magazine focusing on politics, culture and society. The magazine’s mission statement states that they wish to “make history” and to stand up for the principles of “liberty, enlightenment, experimentation and excellence”. [1] Writers for Spiked argue their analysis is mostly derived from Marxism and liberalism. However, to certain commentators on the left, their views are more akin to those of the libertarian and global-warming denying right.
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[edit] Stance
The magazine's writers argue their focus is on issues of freedom and state control, science and technology. They seek to counter positions such as multiculturalism, environmentalism and Western interventionism.
A prominent focus of the magazine is the defence of the freedom of speech – where all forms of censorship imposed by the state or otherwise are fiercely opposed. They call for a repeal of libel [2] hate speech [3] and incitement [4][5] laws. This, together with a sustained critique of risk society, animal rights, political correctness, the science of global warming, the post-911 invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and Western aid for or inteference in developing nations, has attracted both praise and criticism.
[edit] Origins/ history
The magazine was founded in 2000 after the closure of its predecessor, the print title LM magazine. LM, an acronym for Living Marxism, closed around this time after losing a libel case brought against it by the broadcasting corporation ITN. The case centred on LM featuring an article by Thomas Deichmann which alleged that the ITN coverage of a refugee centre in Trnopolje during the Balkan conflict gave the false impression that the Bosnian Muslims were being held against their will in Serbian concentration camps. [6] The ensuing award and costs, estimated to be around £1 Million, bankrupted the magazine and its publishers.[7]
[edit] Support and funding
Spiked receives its funding via donations from readers, founding investors and a variety of institutions and corporations such as the Research Councils UK, Pfizer, Amazon.co.uk, Orange and Syngenta.[8]
[edit] Critics
Left wing publications and environmentalists like the Guardian writer George Monbiot accuse the magazine of pursuing a right wing, pro-corporate agenda under the guise of being left wing. Spiked have compared these critics to the tiny group of neo-Nazis who accuse them of being a Jewish front organization.
Critics have also accused the magazine's contributors of forming front groups and of entryism; infiltrating pressure groups, think tanks and governmental advisory committees to pursue a right wing pro-corporate agenda, forming what has been called the 'LM Network'. Spiked have dismissed these claims as conspiracy theory and claim that its critics prefer to attack its associations rather than tackling its ideas. However, some critics claim they do critique Spiked's ideas, most notably their repeated claims that current global warming trends are not caused and should even be welcomed.
The magazine’s sponsorship and funding by various companies is seen as further evidence of a right wing libertarian position. However, in a 2005 interview with the Guardian, Claire Fox, an occasional contributor to the magazine, argued that: "There is no such thing as clean money. So we're not selling out ... My peers who do take money from the government tell me there are always conditions. Whereas with Pfizer, say, they have never tried to influence what we do", adding that she "would rather medicine was being state-funded to the absolute hilt." [9]
[edit] Editors and contributors
Spiked is edited by Brendan O'Neill, following Mick Hume's departure in January 2007, and features regular contributions from James Heartfield, Dr Michael Fitzpatrick and professor Frank Furedi.
