Enjoy contested debates and in-depth analysis by leading actors and thinkers – plus word from ‘ordinary’ people experiencing the effects of globalisation. The aim is clear thinking – and workable solutions for globalisation
Love, reason and the future of civil society
The foundation of a healthy civil society, reflects Michael Edwards, is a marriage of two human faculties often undervalued or misunderstood: reason and love.
What does it mean to “build a civil society?” Given the frequency with which these words are thrown around these days (even appearing as a rationale for war in Iraq), one might think they signify something clear and unambiguous.
The trade gangs of Hong Kong
The ultra-competitive world of trade negotiations sees multiple alliances battling for preference and interest. Alex MacGillivray maps the maze, and reports on a new responsibility-based approach evolving behind the scenes in Hong Kong.
What does 2006 have in store? (part two)
In the last days of 2005, leading thinkers and scholars from around the world share their fears, hopes and expectations of 2006.
Forty-nine of openDemocracy’s distinguished contributors, from Mariano Aguirre to Slavoj Zizek, Neal Ascherson to Jonathan Zittrain – offer their predictions for the coming year. Since this is openDemocracy, we did not expect them to agree. We were not disappointed.
What does 2006 have in store? (part one)
Forty-nine of openDemocracy’s distinguished contributors, from Mariano Aguirre to Slavoj Zizek, Neal Ascherson to Jonathan Zittrain – offer their predictions for the coming year. Since this is openDemocracy, we did not expect them to agree. We were not disappointed.
Western NGOs and the tsunami test
A year on, western NGOs are being forced to learn some bitter lessons from their attempts to aid survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami, reports Jan McGirk.
The earthquake-triggered tsunami that slammed the rim of the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004, killing at least 250,000 people and inflicting injuries on another 188,000 survivors, plunged aid agencies into a crisis.
Ordinary people watched the horror of the huge waves replayed on television sets around the world, and the apocalyptical scale of death and destru
A covenant to make global governance work
David Held’s impressive vision of “social democratic globalisation” needs a detailed mapping of the kind of policies and outcomes that would make cosmopolitan global governance work. A route towards it, argue Anne-Marie Slaughter and Thomas N Hale, is by bringing cosmopolitanism and nationalism into a new, shared frame of reference.
This Christmas, get your priorities straight
At the end of a year of tragedies, from Banda Aceh to Kashmir via New Orleans, Maura Stephens says it’s important to hear the message buried by the ring of shopping tills.
A New Year message from openDemocracy
A seasonal letter to all openDemocracy readers and supporters from our editor, Isabel Hilton.
A year on openDemocracy
Welcome to openDemocracy's review of the year - a special compendium of your most-read articles from 2005.
The China model
As Chinese companies “go global”, NGO campaigners are increasingly concerned about Beijing’s model of international development.
Angola’s government, in need of reconstruction funds after the country’s long civil war, was in the process of negotiating a new loan with the International Monetary Fund in 2004. The IMF, aware of Angola’s long history of corruption and poor governance since independence from Portuguese colonial rule in 1975, was keen to include measures to cut corruption and tighten the country’s economic management.
The WTO's raw deal
As another global trade summit ends in a raw deal for the poor, Tom Burgis reports from Hong Kong on the changing dynamics between protest and power.
Panic on the Potomac
A beleaguered White House and its Republican cohorts can no longer evade the political damage that the Iraq war is inflicting on American perceptions, reports Fred Halliday in Washington.
Russia's NGO law: the wrong target
The fury of western human-rights groups over Russia’s law regulating NGOs is hypocritical, says Mary Dejevsky.
Montreal scorecard - Kyoto 157, United States 1
The Montreal climate change conference was a qualified success – now the real work of planning for global sustainability and justice after 2012 begins, says Camilla Toulmin of the International Institute for Environment and Development.
Why the poorest countries need a WTO
The pessimism surrounding the World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong contrasts with the feelgood outcome of the Montreal climate-change summit. But Ehsan Masood argues that even a flawed WTO compares favourably with other United Nations institutions in giving the poorest nations voice and influence.
This week's editor
Europe from the bottom up
European debate
Democratic Wealth
Nuclear non-proliferation
oDRussia at journalismfestival .com
Mali - the plot thickens
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Remote control war
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Conference coverage from 50.50
Articles exploring the themes of the fourth international Nobel Women's Initiative conference May 28-31. Jennifer Allsopp and Heather McRobie will be reporting for 5050
Articles exploring the themes of the fourth international Nobel Women's Initiative conference May 28-31. Jennifer Allsopp and Heather McRobie will be reporting for 5050
Cities in Conflict
Window on the Middle East
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Our Authors
Lis Howell On broadcasting
Dan Hancox Revel, Riot and Rebellion
Martin Rose Bliss Was It in that Dawn to Be Next Door
Vron Ware Up in Arms
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Mary Kaldor on Human security
Lis Howell On broadcasting
Dan Hancox Revel, Riot and Rebellion
Martin Rose Bliss Was It in that Dawn to Be Next Door
Vron Ware Up in Arms
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Mary Kaldor on Human security
