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The ‘Arab Spring’ on Maps
These very interesting maps of the Arab Spring have been put together by Phillipe Rekacewicz, the in-house cartographer of Le Monde Diplomatique. They certainly caught my attention. I believe they provide a bit of a needed perspective on the current situation in the region.
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Dziunia-lalunia i polski mizoginizm
Zastanawiam się czy ten artykuł jest pół-prawdą pół-fikcją, czy też może dokładnie tym czym bardzo bym się nie zdziwił – gołą prawdą o polskiej ‘dyplomacji’, ‘politykach’, ‘prezesach’ i ‘urzednikach’. No cóż, w prawdzie wolałbym by to był żart ale raczej wątpie w możliwość spełnienia tego życzenia. Czas na zmianę! I to szybką! Tylko, że kto zacznie to wszystko zmieniać?! “Redaktor dziunia-lalunia i złote swojskie męskie wzdęcie”Aleksandra Szyłło2011-04-04– Kobieta na konferencji nie powinna być w spodniach. Naprawdę nie masz sukienki, młoda?…
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British FCO Hypes Up the Terrorist Threat in Qatar
British Foreign Office has just updated its travel advice for anyone planning a trip to Qatar.For details please go to: Foreign and Commonwealth Office – Travel Advice – Qatar The Foreign office advises British citizens to remain highly alert and avoid any public gatherings or crowded areas. Moreover, it mentions possible protests on 15th and 16th March. However, I would be highly cautious of the rhetoric used in this statement. The ‘underlying terrorist threat’ is greatly hyped up and in my…
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Barber’s Strong Democracy: Egyptian Case Study
The rapid and unexpected outburst of popular empowerment and democratic impulse that led to the 2011 Arab Spring constitutes the best epitomisation of mass political participation in the Middle East yet. Although popular participation is truly the cornerstone of modern democratic governance, the extent of popular involvement in the process of governance that is necessary for a genuine and efficient execution of democracy remains highly contentious. A detailed analysis of Barber’s model of participatory democracy, and its implementation in Egyptian…
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Mubarak’s last night?
Many expected to experience a night of fundamental change in Egypt. Even the state media, staunchly behind the current regime, indicated earlier today that a political reorganisation may be close at hand. For the first time in years the army council conducted a meeting without its supreme leader – Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. Secretary General of the ruling National Democratic Party, Hossan Badrawi spoke to the BBC saying it was time for Mr Mubarak to ‘step aside. And so the crowds on the…
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Children with HIV Musn’t Be Ostracized – ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’, Poland 14/01/2011
By Matthew Machowski Outrageous! This article shows the apparent discrimination of HIV-infected children in Polish schools. According to this article some HIV positive children have been recently prohibited to partake in normal day-to-day schools activities, and instead offered private tuition at an additional cost to their parents. What’s most appalling, however, is the scandalous first reaction of the Ombudsman for Children; a governmental body established to maintain an adequate level of legal protection of children in the society; that declared the aforementioned incident as “not in breach of…
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Derrida and the Other Islam: In What Ways If at All, Does Derrida Provide For a New Perception of Islam in the West Post 9/11?
Credits: Rehan Jamil One singular, supposedly “unframeable, unpredictable, and ultimately incomprehensible,” Heidegerrian happenstance of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has arguably shaken the contemporary world more than anything before. The global politics have since become increasingly multipolar, whereas the Western public has grown more acutely aware of the world’s cultural and civilisational heterogeneity. But above all, the world has witnessed a momentous return of Islam to the fore of the political discourse. As Derrida argues that the challenge between…
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The fond memories of the desert…
The mosque (مسجد) – a place of prayer, socialising and the everyday life. The desert is often very hot indeed… The desert is an amazing place for trips and excursions… The souk (سوق)- the traditional place of the Arabian business and culture. The traditional thawb (ثوب) and keffiyeh (كوفية)… I love wearing them!
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‘Rentier state’ theory and the survival of the Arabian monarchies
The Persian Gulf; or as the khaleeji[1] Arabs sometimes prefer to call it – the Arabian Gulf; has recently proved to be one of the fastest developing areas in the world with enormous wealth and vast supplies of oil and gas.[2] The emergence of oil determined a virtual turning point in the history of the Arabian Peninsula. Previously tribal and poor lands of the Arabian Desert, which had never even drawn much interest of the colonial powers, suddenly became the…
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(In)compatibility of Human Rights and the Islamic Doctrine: Implications for the Future of Human Rights in the World of Islam,
By Matthew Machowski“In a world where giant holocausts have been perpetrated, where human rights are manipulated or blatantly ignored, our Muslim theologians must denounce all forms of discriminations as crimes strictly and explicitly condemned by the Qur’an.”[1] Mohammed Talbi Morality and ethics may not have been the major focus of International Relations so far. The onset of the new millennium, however, presents itself with a desperate need for a common morality that would effectively impact the world politics and improve the ‘everyday’…