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What is energy for?

Rebecca Willis
So familiar has the social economy of energy become in modern societies, so routine its extraordinardinary wastefulness, so toxic its effects, that the capacity for a better way can be missed. By questioning the how, why and what of energy use, says Rebecca Willis, new possibilities - of living, travelling, eating, working and buying - can open

Taiwan's election, and the need for nuance

LC Russell Hsiao and Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao
Taiwan's presidential election saw the incumbent Ma Ying-jeou win another four-year term in office over his opponent Tsai Ing-wen. But the interpretation of this outcome by Washington and Beijing misses an important dimension of Taiwan's political reality. Their flawed understanding could have damaging consequences over the next four years, say LC Russell Hsiao & Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao

Nigeria: the challenge of “Boko Haram II”

Morten Bøås
The radical Islamist group Boko Haram poses an increasing threat to the Nigerian state in the country’s north. How has it become so powerful and effective? The ingredients of an answer lie in the complex history, power-relationships and social inequalities of this marginalised region, says Morten Bøås

France's election: looking for light

Patrice de Beer
France's disillusion extends beyond the country's president to its political class, economy and sense of social direction. Yet a high birthrate also represents a vote for the future. Go figure, says Patrice de Beer

Bosnia: blood, honey, and war's legacy

Peter Lippman
A film portrayal of the horrors of systematic rape during Bosnia's war of 1992-95 highlights the victims' suffering and bravery. But the romantic thread of Angelina Jolie's work fails to convince, says Peter Lippman

How to understand Hungary

George Schöpflin
The portrayal of Hungary and its current government by the international media and external actors is one-sided and lacks context, says György Schöpflin. The effects are felt within the country, and raise deeper questions about the European Union and its underlying values

Tunisia: a year of all dangers

Vicken Cheterian
Tunisia is both the pioneer of the Arab spring and its greatest success so far. But even here the political and economic tests are acute, says Vicken Cheterian
Wednesday 8th February

Letter from America: You've got universal healthcare. Why would you give it up?

Daniel Wolfe, 8 February 2012
A glimpse of the future, as the Health and Social Care Bill, paving the way for NHS privatisation, returns to the Lords today

Asylum seeker housing managed by for-profit prison guards? Why not

John Grayson, 8 February 2012
The UK Border Agency invites the company that killed Jimmy Mubenga to manage housing for vulnerable asylum seekers
Tuesday 7th February

Israel-Palestine negotiations in an election year

Michele Monni, 7 February 2012
All the parties have an apparent interest in pursuing the talks further, although largely to gain political consensus at home.

Deaths more likely in bigger and overcrowded prisons

Frances Crook, 7 February 2012
Howard League analysis shows just how harmful supersizing and overcrowding can be

Taiwan's election, and the need for nuance

LC Russell Hsiao and Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao, 7 February 2012
Taiwan's presidential election saw the incumbent Ma Ying-jeou win another four-year term in office over his opponent Tsai Ing-wen. But the interpretation of this outcome by Washington and Beijing misses an important dimension of Taiwan's political reality. Their flawed understanding could have damaging consequences over the next four years, say LC Russell Hsiao & Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao.

What is energy for?

Rebecca Willis, 7 February 2012
So familiar has the social economy of energy become in modern societies, so routine its extraordinardinary wastefulness, so toxic its effects, that the capacity for a better way can be missed. By questioning the how, why and what of energy use, says Rebecca Willis, new possibilities - of living, travelling, eating, working and buying - can open.

Bosnia: blood, honey, and war's legacy

Peter Lippman, 7 February 2012
A film portrayal of the horrors of systematic rape during Bosnia's war of 1992-95 highlights the victims' suffering and bravery. But the romantic thread of Angelina Jolie's work fails to convince, says Peter Lippman.

Nigeria: the challenge of “Boko Haram II”

Morten Bøås, 7 February 2012
The radical Islamist group Boko Haram poses an increasing threat to the Nigerian state in the country’s north. How has it become so powerful and effective? The ingredients of an answer lie in the complex history, power-relationships and social inequalities of this marginalised region, says Morten Bøås.

Liberty is at stake: Commons, Lords and the Welfare Reform Bill

Stuart White, 7 February 2012
If the claim to financial privilege over the Welfare Reform Bill stands, little stops the Coalition from forcing through a broad range of laws. Say goodbye to checks and balances! Scrutiny, farewell!

The arrest of Professor Ghulam Azam: a grandchild's account

A. Azam, 7 February 2012
The arrest of a leading opposition figure in Bangladesh is a stark reminder that without due legal process, examining the wrongs of the past can quickly become an opportunity for political leverage in the present.

Confronting prejudice with charm: migrants in the UK

Nazek Ramadan, 7 February 2012
"We know it’s not easy to confront the tabloid press. We know we’ve taken on a huge challenge; we may make it; we may not. But as migrants, we must deal with it". This is why 100,000 copies of a free newspaper written by migrants will be distributed across the UK this week, says the paper's editor Nazek Ramadan

60 years, and what has the Queen done?

Anthony Barnett, 7 February 2012
Her Majesty has promised to 'dedicate herself anew' to the service of Britain. But what has she achieved in sixty years on the throne?

When is a victim not a victim?

Frances Crook, 7 February 2012
Criminals are to be stopped from making claims for injuries, but criminals may be victims too.

Exceptionalism as an excuse in Europe’s crisis

Marco Scipioni and Dionyssis G. Dimitrakopoulos, 7 February 2012
This crisis is being used by the national leaders to push the EU down the wrong institutional path, namely intergovernmentalism. The British Tory-led government veto played a role in this, pushing the other member states down the only road that remained available to them, an intergovernmental treaty, but it did so on already ‘fertile ground’.
Monday 6th February

Yemen after Saleh: between uncertainties and divisions

Maria Serra, 6 February 2012
After nearly nine months of protests, more than 900 deaths and approximately 25,000 wounded, the President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh has transferred power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

Tunisia: a year of all dangers

Vicken Cheterian, 6 February 2012
Tunisia is both the pioneer of the Arab spring and its greatest success so far. But even here the political and economic tests are acute, says Vicken Cheterian.

How to understand Hungary

George Schöpflin, 6 February 2012
The portrayal of Hungary and its current government by the international media and external actors is one-sided and lacks context, says the academic and Fidesz member of the European parliament, György Schöpflin. The effects are felt within the country, and raise deeper questions about the European Union and its underlying values.

France's election: looking for light

Patrice de Beer, 6 February 2012
France's disillusion extends beyond the country's president to its political class, economy and sense of social direction. The beneficiaries may include the far-right Marine Le Pen as well as the centre-left François Hollande, says Patrice de Beer.

Why the gender pay gap matters

Ray Filar, 6 February 2012
With so many families in Britain struggling in the face of the Coalition's austerity measures, wage inequalities between men and women seem low down on almost everyone's agenda. But as increasing numbers of households depend on women’s wages, equal pay for equal work is a more pertinent demand than ever, says Ray Filar

So who will speak for a better Scotland?

Gerry Hassan, 6 February 2012
The debate over the Scottish independence referendum plays into the old labels: unionism versus nationalism. Scotland needs to reach beyond these and ask difficult questions if there is to be real change.
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