politics of protest

From Venezuela and Peru to Bangladesh and Hungary, openDemocracy writers track a turbulent era of new political challenges and mobilisations.
Thursday 9th February

The Arab revolts in year two

Volker Perthes, 9 February 2012
The uprisings across the Arab world are becoming more complex and variable as they enter their second year. This makes it all the more important to identify their main dynamics, says Volker Perthes.
Monday 6th February

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.
Wednesday 25th January

Theo Angelopoulos: "I am standing by you"

Jane Gabriel, 25 January 2012
The award winning Greek film director, Theo Angelopoulos, died yesterday in an accident whilst working on his new film The Other Sea. He spoke to Jane Gabriel in 2009 about his film 'The Dust of Time', and in 1993 about his films 'The Suspended Step of the Stork' and 'The Travelling Players'
Tuesday 17th January

Morocco's silent revolution

Valentina Bartolucci, 17 January 2012
Morocco’s experience of the Arab spring of 2011, including constitutional reform and a parliamentary election, exemplifies the country’s political distinctiveness within the region. The events of 2012 will demonstrate how far hopes of real change can be sustained, says Valentina Bartolucci.
Saturday 24th December

2012, the age of the citizen

Vidar Helgesen, 24 December 2011
The dramatic citizens' uprisings and protests across the world this year are signals of an emerging era that demands a renewal of democracy itself, says Vidar Helgesen.

2011, a year between worlds

Keith Kahn-Harris, 24 December 2011
A profusion of innovative projects guided by an ethic of collaboration holds out the possibility of creative responses to today's multiple crises, says Keith Kahn-Harris.

2011, trepidation and hope

Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, 24 December 2011
A topsy-turvy year full of dramatic reversals left sub-Saharan Africa still in search of of the balance that would harness good governance to economic progress, says Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie.
Thursday 22nd December

2011, Iranians and dictators

Nasrin Alavi, 22 December 2011
The selfless struggle of many brave Iranians against tyranny bestows a legitimacy that their rulers cannot match, says Nasrin Alavi.
Wednesday 21st December

The 'Democratic Recession' has turned into a modern zeitgeist of democratic reform

Robert Battison, 21 December 2011
It is no coincidence that the wave of protests comes in the wake of a 'democratic recession'. People are increasingly demanding democracy in the Arab world, and also in the west.

2012, democracy's monster

Goran Fejic, 21 December 2011
The inspiring release of human agency in the Arab world, and its abject surrender in Europe, defines the passing year. Together they present a democratic test on an epic scale, says Goran Fejic.

2012, the next upheaval

Martin Shaw, 21 December 2011
The coming year will see a fusion of the global political and economic trends that accelerated in 2011. The results could be ugly as well as hopeful, says Martin Shaw.

The Arab revolution: tensions and challenges

Mariano Aguirre, 21 December 2011
The second year of the Arab uprisings opens a complex period in which the potential of the Arab world to move towards democracy and human security will be acutely tested. This makes careful assessment and policymaking by leading actors more essential than ever, says Mariano Aguirre.
Tuesday 20th December

A tableau for Václav Havel

Tjebbe van Tijen, 20 December 2011

Vaclav Havel

Tjebbe van Tijen presents a montage of graffiti and photographs in honour of Václav Havel
Tuesday 13th December

Poland's politics of abortion

Agnieszka Mrozik, 13 December 2011
A citiziens' initiative seeking a reform of Poland's abortion law is facing a crucial test in parliament. This is the latest phase of a long struggle over women's reproductive rights. It is also part of a changing Poland's wider debate about what kind of country it should be, says Agnieszka Mrozik.
Monday 12th December

Welcome to Little Tory England

Martin Shaw, 12 December 2011
The British prime minister's breach with the European Union is part of a wider political process leading England towards a meaner, harder, narrower and unfairer future. But the resources to stop it happening are also there, says Martin Shaw.
Thursday 24th November

The crisis and the change-makers

Paul Rogers, 24 November 2011
In the face of the world’s urgent economic and environmental problems, political leadership is failing. But from the ground up, new tools of understanding are emerging to fill the gap and point a way forward.

The Arab revolution: “We have a lot to learn from them”

Paul Hockenos and Jean-Pierre Filiu, 24 November 2011
What are the main social dynamics of the waves of revolt in the Arab world in 2011? Jean-Pierre Filiu, scholar and author of "The Arab Revolution: Ten Lessons from the Democratic Uprising", discusses the question with Paul Hockenos.
Monday 21st November

Egypt's transition: the democratic tests

Alina Rocha Menocal, 21 November 2011
The vigorous protests in Tahrir Square against Egypt's interim military rulers express the serious concerns of many Egyptians over the process of post-authoritarian change. Alina Rocha Menocal maps the problems of democratic transition and suggests how they can be overcome.
Thursday 17th November

A world in protest

Paul Rogers, 17 November 2011
The global demonstrations of 2011 both highlight the reality of economic system-failure and reveal its linkage to the crisis of resource constraints. The result is a measure of the scale of change needed over coming decades.
Wednesday 16th November

Europe's crisis and the radical right

Cas Mudde, 16 November 2011
The severe economic upheaval in Europe has not been matched by a political resurgence of the radical right. Cas Mudde asks why - and whether the dog could yet bark.
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