Posts Tagged ‘democracy’

Ideas, New in Ceasefire - Friday, November 18, 2011 2:37 - 5 Comments

Comment | Democracy and Process: The Real Power of Occupy LSX

Writing from Occupy LSX, Ian Chamberlain argues the real power of the movement is the new world of possibilities it has created, built on consensus, cooperation and a rejection of the corporate-guided, party-political approach that has dominated the country for generations.

New in Ceasefire, North African Dispatches - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 19:07 - 6 Comments

North African Dispatches Libya and the Arab Spring: harsh lessons, bitter truths

In his latest column, Imad Mesdoua, surveying the latest developments in Libya, embarks on an impassioned attack on the widespread tendency of Arab governments, and populations, to use external threats as pretexts for decades-long political repression and economic stagnation.

New in Ceasefire, Politics - Thursday, April 28, 2011 0:00 - 11 Comments

Politics The problem with the EU: a Leftist critique

Eurosceptic members of the European Parliament display posters calling on the EU to respect the outcome of Ireland's recent vote Photo: AP

Over the past half century, the European Union has grown from a seemingly quixotic set of proposals into a powerful superstate. In an impassioned polemic, Tom Kavanagh argues that the EU is fundamentally undemocratic, anti-grassroots and serves the elites at the expense of the people. In other words, everything the Left should be against.

New in Ceasefire, North African Dispatches - Wednesday, March 16, 2011 0:00 - 3 Comments

North African Dispatches Libyan Stalemate, Algerian Expectations

In this week's North African Dispatches, Imad Mesdoua looks at Gaddafi's growingly confident attempts to swing the tide of revolution against his dictatorship. Whilst in Algeria, expectations are high, fuelled by hopes and rumours, that imminent changes are about to be unveiled.

New in Ceasefire, North African Dispatches - Wednesday, February 16, 2011 19:34 - 8 Comments

North African Dispatches: Why Algeria is different

In this week's North African Dispatches, Imad Mesdoua looks at the tense status-quo in Algeria and examines the key factors determining what is likely to happen next.

New in Ceasefire, North African Dispatches - Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:01 - 3 Comments

North African Dispatches Tunisia’s female revolution

A Tunisian woman walks on October 30, 20

In this week's North African Dispatches, Imad Mesdoua takes a look at women's rights in Tunisia. Despite being ruled by one of the most repressive regimes in the region, the country boasts the best provision for women's rights in the Arab world. This however is now under threat.

Middle East Chronicles, New in Ceasefire - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 19:34 - 0 Comments

Middle East Chronicles Egypt’s Missed Opportunity

In this week's 'Middle East Chronicles', Chris Bowles takes a look at next Sunday's Egyptian parliamentary elections, which have been publicised by the ageing ruling party as being "freer and fairer”. As Bowles argues, with a regime that has enjoyed 32 consecutive years in power, people can be forgiven for their scepticism.

Ideas, Interviews, New in Ceasefire - Monday, November 22, 2010 12:00 - 1 Comment

Interview A Burmese Story: Waihnin Pwint Thon

In the past few days, Burma has witnessed both the exhilarating news of Aung San Suu Kyi's release after 15 years of confinement, and the crushing disappointment of discredited elections. In a powerful new interview, Melanie Scagliarini speaks to Waihnin Pwint Thon, one of the world's most prominent Burmese activists, whose father is currently serving a 65 year-sentence for his pro-democratic activities.

Columns, Devil's Advocate, Ideas, Politics - Thursday, August 5, 2010 14:02 - 9 Comments

Devil’s Advocate: Is Democracy overrated?

Everyone knows -or at least pays lip-service to- Democracy as an exalted ideal. Is everyone wrong? Is this a concept we have been too lazy, or too blind, to fully examine? what is so special about a system that is aimed at creating a good society yet rarely delivers on that promise? In a controversial piece, the first of his 'Devil's Advocate' columns, Omer Ali examines the impact of democracy as well as its theoretical underpinnings. In the process, he draws on examples from politics and economics and takes aim at a few sacred truths.

Ideas - Saturday, April 26, 2008 0:02 - 13 Comments

Q&A: Anarchism

Anarchism is an oft-misunderstood political ideology - it’s not mainstream, it doesn’t seem to have a set of defined principles and to many, the word means ‘chaos’.