Egypt presidential election: wrap-up of the revolution?

The run-off between Morsi and Shafiq points to one undeniable conclusion: a leaderless revolution could topple a dictator but, when it comes to the ballot boxes, it cannot remain leaderless.

Communal violence and justice in India

Ten years on from the Gujurat riots, the survivors still do not have justice and the bureaucracies that made them possible remain unchanged. This is not a one-off but a trend, which it will take hard questions and an insistence on answers to reverse.

Right to the Olympic Village: a review of David Harvey's 'Rebel Cities'

The Marxist geographer's new book on modern cities as central sites of revolutionary politics becomes a lens through which to decode London and the Olympic Games.

The Arab Spring and the coming crisis of faith

One Gallup poll has declared Egypt the most religious country in the world. But there are good reasons why Egypt may be joining the US, Canada, and Europe in the rapid rise of its non-believers.

Three notes on Fukushima: humanities after/in crisis

In an extended (5,000-word) overview drawing on cultural and philosophical studies, the author urges us to reflect on how Fukushima may change our view of the world from one of assured progress and prosperity for some, to that of vulnerability to catastrophe for all. 

Colombians need to debate the conflict, but not as a condition of Langlois' freedom

On April 28 French journalist Romeo Langlois was captured by the FARC. The leftist guerrillas demanded a debate on freedom of information as a condition of his release. Instead, this case raises the need for a debate on this never-ending conflict, and on the role of national and international media in covering invisible conflicts.

As the Yes to Independence campaign begins, Scotland needs a vision for self-determination

The campaign is launched today for a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum. Here are seven suggestions for an independence agenda that looks beyond the constitutional to embrace the economic, cultural, democratic and international.

'Lloyd’s of London insolvent again. Government in denial. Action required'

Back in the 1990s UK Government officials and the City devised a plan to save the Lloyd’s of London insurance market and avert a banking crisis. It worked, in the short-term. But the solution was fatally flawed, according to  former Lloyd’s deputy chairman, Stephen Merrett (himself a defendant in the Lloyd’s litigation). Merrett argues that Lloyd’s remains insolvent and the Government must own up to the problem and urgently seek a solution or Lloyd’s will collapse as an institution, with severe damage to the British economy and the reputation of the City and the courts. 

Climate politics: hockey-stick to hamster-wheel

The containment of greenhouse-gas emissions requires political will. But to get to that point the debate about global warming needs to escape from two key diversions, says Øyvind Paasche. 

Olympic organisers shut down ‘Space Hijackers’ protest twitter account

Index on Censorship has learned that the Twitter account of protest group Space Hijackers has been suspended following a complaint by the organisers of the London Olympics.

Twicktivism: could the illusion of power be potent after all?

The criticism of clicktivism may be well founded - that it is a substitute for action, a feel-dummy that makes life easier for the perpetrators of injustice. The author reflects on his participation in recent bicycle activism to offer the optimistic twist that an illusion of power could give people a taste for the real thing.

Prison should mean loss of liberty, not loss of identity

The UK's coalition government has six months to overturn the ban on prisoners voting. 

28 years after… while Roma wait

Twenty eight years exactly since the first resolution on Roma was passed by the European Parliament, the EU is finally publishing its Framework Strategy on Roma. But is there any progress to report?

The politics of suicide: Greece and Europe poised between two elections

New Democracy needs strategies that cut to the bone: it has to foster fright at a surging far left, it has to force home the message that SYRIZA's positions are contradictory. The rhetoric of suicide fits this bill consummately. But it is also double edged. This is suicide season and where will it lead?

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

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