institutions & power

Friday 28th October

Occupy Wall Street: where are the migrants?

Shilpa Kameswaran, 28 October 2011

The lack of demographic diversity amongst the protestors and uncertainty about their demands make Occupy Wall Street difficult to take seriously, argues Shilpa Kameswaran from a migrant's perspective

Tuesday 1st March

Medvedev’s Law on Police: a quiet revolution?

Mark Galeotti, 1 March 2011

A much-trumpeted Law on the Police comes into force in Russia today. Mark Galeotti considers whether it represents a meaningful step away from arbitrary and authoritarian traditions.

Monday 15th November

People power and the new global ferment

Stellan Vinthagen, 15 November 2010

People power does not lend itself to the geo-strategic interests of empires or warlords, since it is based on collective action and civic unity, as well as the refusal to comply with existing power-holders. Any movement that opts for civil resistance has to encompass and attempt to represent diverse social groups.

Friday 12th February

Russian Reform at a Turning Point

Denis Corboy, William Courtney, and Kenneth Yalowitz, 12 February 2010

Much of Russian history is characterized by pendulum swings between orthodoxy and reform to overcome backwardness. Russia is again debating reform and the West has a vital stake.

Wednesday 3rd February

How banks make money

Peter Johnson, 3 February 2010

Banks make money. Literally, money is their output. But social guarantees are their input. Should they be the ones making money?

Wednesday 13th January

Post-Soviet integration: does the CIS work?

Sergei Markedonov, 13 January 2010

2010 sees the 19th anniversary of the collapse of the USSR. In the first of this two-part review of the structures set up to replace it, Sergei Markedonov assesses the performance of the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS). He concludes that a complicating factor has been the lack of clarity surrounding the role of its dominant partner, Russia.

Monday 6th April