Daniel Singer

Europe Correspondent

Daniel Singer, for many years The Nation's Paris-based Europe correspondent, was born on September 26, 1926, in Warsaw, was educated in France, Switzerland and England and died on December 2, 2000, in Paris.

He was a contributor to The Economist, The New Statesman and the Tribune and appeared as a commentator on NPR, "Monitor Radio" and the BBC, as well as Canadian and Australian broadcasting. (These credits are for his English-language work; he was also fluent in French, Polish, Russian and Italian.)

He was the author of Prelude to Revolution: France in May 1968 (Hill & Wang, 1970), The Road to Gdansk (Monthly Review Press, 1981), Is Socialism Doomed?: The Meaning of Mitterrand (Oxford, 1988) and Whose Millennium? Theirs or Ours? (Monthly Review Press, 1999).

A specialist on the Western European left as well as the former Communist nations, Singer ranged across the Continent in his dispatches to The Nation. Singer sharply critiqued Western-imposed economic "shock therapy" in the former Eastern Bloc and US support for Boris Yeltsin, sounded early warnings about the re-emergence of Fascist politics into the Italian mainstream, and, across the Mediterranean, reported on an Algeria sliding into civil war.

The Daniel Singer Millennium Prize Foundation was founded in 2000 to honor original essays that help further socialist ideas in the tradition of Daniel Singer.

 

Mitterrand’s Legacy Mitterrand’s Legacy

François Mitterrand badly wanted to leave a mark, an imprint.

Feb 24, 1999 / Editorial / Daniel Singer

Hope in a Cold Climate Hope in a Cold Climate

"It's not a revolt, Sire, or a revolution; it's the beginning of the end of the reign of big business, of capital, over the minds of the people," a courtier might have told Jacqu...

Feb 24, 1999 / Editorial / Daniel Singer

France’s Rival Führers France’s Rival Führers

For once the news from France's racist front is optimistic. At least the worst will not happen.

Jan 28, 1999 / Editorial / Daniel Singer

The Euroleft, or, Who’s Afraid of Tina? The Euroleft, or, Who’s Afraid of Tina?

Europe, you are rightly told, is swinging to the left. In thirteen of the fifteen countries making up the European Union, the Social Democrats are now in office.

Dec 24, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

Against Walesa, Any Solidarity? Against Walesa, Any Solidarity?

Kwasniewski the Red versus Walesa the gravedigger of Communism--the duel for Poland's presidency is being presented as if it were the old drama all over again.

Jan 28, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

Battle of Algiers on Paris Métro Battle of Algiers on Paris Métro

On September 29 French viewers watching the news were offered a bloody Hollywood thriller as an extra. It was the end of a long manhunt.

Jan 28, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

The Silvio Show The Silvio Show

Orwell had it right. It is not enough to obey Big Brother. You must love him, too.

Jan 28, 1998 / Editorial / Daniel Singer

Imagination Has Not Yet Taken Power Imagination Has Not Yet Taken Power

"What has happened to your 'socialist' France? Is it going the way of all social-democratic flesh?"

Jan 2, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

Co-existentialism in France Co-existentialism in France

Although Sartre may be out of fashion, political co-existentialism is the main subject of speculation in Paris.

Jan 2, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

The Market Is the New Religion The Market Is the New Religion

Back in Warsaw after my trip to Gdansk, I talk about the economy with the outgoing government's spokesman on reform. He is more specific on what is to be done than on how it sho...

Jan 2, 1998 / Feature / Daniel Singer

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