Cairo | openDemocracy

“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.”

- Bertrand Russell

Thrift shops tell you something

Refaat Mohamed 11 April 2013

In Egypt we have a lot of people who are dirt poor, and a thin stratum that has lavish spending habits. They spend their money on things that are trivial and just plain inconsiderate when it comes to their fellow citizens.

Forget the Egyptian economy - I want to know where my wife is

Ahmed Kadry 25 March 2013

When a nasty declaration by the UN Commission on the Status of Women contradicts the established principles of Islam more than members of the Brotherhood beating a woman senseless outside their headquarters.

Mubarak is a state of mind

Refaat Mohamed 20 March 2013

Youths would just waste their lives away, willingly or unwillingly, it did not matter much: what mattered was that their lives were wasted. It was wasted on drugs, drowning in the sea while following a mirage, following false leaders.

When a hero doesn’t come along: Egypt’s wait for its ‘Chavez’ lingers.

Ahmed Kadry 12 March 2013

In this crucial post-revolutionary period where a vacuum is waiting to be filled, no one, on either side of the political paradigm, is emerging to the fore.

Why do we have doubts about the IMF loan?

Nader Bakkar 4 March 2013

Egyptian diplomacy could adopt a distinguished role in the coming period, by opening new doors and adopting new strategies in building foreign relations.

Dancing in Muqattam

Refaat Mohamed 4 March 2013

An everyday story of life in Egypt.

The politics of neglect in post-Mubarak Cairo

WJ Dorman 25 February 2013

The politics of neglect which has long governed Cairo's expansive informal spaces looks set to remain well into the post-Mubarak era.

The maddening betrayal of potato-seller, Omar Salah

Amro Ali 18 February 2013

It is ironic that street vendors have spent more time in the square than any protestor ever has. Omar comes out staggeringly alive in his death. A spectrum of colours is added to his socially-perceived black and white life. We are teleported into another world of how the other (majority) Egypt lives.

When I can’t die

Refaat Mohamed 18 February 2013

I grew up in a family that has been fanatical about death, although they claim the contrary. They took being concerned about death to a whole, other, unhealthy level.

Mr. Prime Minister, please submit your resignation!

Nader Bakkar 18 February 2013

It would be naive to use painkillers for stopping the constant and accelerating loss of blood which is our human and material losses at this stage in the process of change.

Egypt needs a change, not in regime, but in cultural logic

Dina El Sharnouby 10 February 2013

Restructuring of institutions to create a more efficient bureaucracy free from corruption so that Egyptians no longer depend on the mercy of governmental officials to procure their basic needs of daily supplies and services is a priority.

I can’t believe it’s not Qatar!: addressing the Brotherhood’s other patron

Amro Ali 4 February 2013

If the Arab uprisings have taught us anything, it is that the Arab public represents a formidable challenge to power elites. Grievances should not limit Egypt’s revolutionary camp at the expense of a proactive outreach to Arab societies, united in their anti-authoritarianism.

Egypt: on glorifying violence

Tarek Amr 4 February 2013

One reason for glorifying violence was because for Mubarak, then SCAF followed by the Ikhwani government, accusing opponents of being violent mobs was a favourite ploy for giving legitimacy to the state's brutality.

The Black-Mask Gang

Nader Bakkar 4 February 2013

Let us come up with a covenant between all the trends, currents and political parties of Egypt. Mastering the art of “finding the common ground” is a must that we can’t live without nowadays!

Egypt: taking people for fools

Refaat Mohamed 4 February 2013

They justify, and justify, and cannot stop justifying, and I think the fact that someone needs to justify everything he does, means that something is wrong.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie is a regular contributor to 50.50

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

Women and the Arab Spring

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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