American Socialist

The socialist who’s turning American politics upside-down

In 2013, Kshama Sawant became one of the most unlikely and most exciting politicians in the United States not only because she grew up in Mumbai and earned a PhD in economics, but also because she ran for Seattle City Council as a militant socialist, basing her campaign on a bold push to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, more than double the national minimum wage. She won the election, and in 2014, Seattle’s mayor signed into law a $15 minimum wage.

This is the story of how Sawant toppled a sixteen year incumbent who was backed by a powerful Democratic Party establishment, and reshaped Seattle’s political culture around demands for economic and social justice, reviving national debate around municipal socialism in the process. This is an inspiring call for more movements to speak to the scores of young and old people who are looking for alternatives to capitalism.

Socialista care rastoarna politica americana In 2013, Kshama Sawant a devenit unul dintre cei mai improbabili si mai incitanti politicieni din Statele Unite nu numai pentru ca a crescut in Mumbai si a obtinut un doctorat in economie, dar si pentru ca a candidat pentru Seattle City. Consiliul in calitate de militant socialist, bazandu-si campania pe un impuls indraznet pentru a creste salariul minim al orasului la 15 dolari pe ora, mai mult decat dublul salariului minim national.