Alya Shakir works on external affairs and communications at openDemocracy. She started her career as a classical pianist before finding herself in public relations at the US state department. She came to openDemocracy after 'doing time' at a government press office. She is completing a Master degree in Middle East politics from SOAS, is fluent in Arabic and Russian and has a healthy obsession with Dostoevsky.
openAwakening in conjunction with the University of East London is organizing a three-part event series on ‘The Tahrir Square Meme’ to be held at UEL's Dockland Campus.
Our first event is Rap and the Arab Spring.
Read Anthony Barnett's lecture for the Raymond Williams Society and his foreword to the new edition of The Long Revolution:
The Long Revolution Raymond Williams
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Li Datong on China from the inside
Mary Kaldor on Human security
Daniele Archibugi on Cosmopolitan democracy
