> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Glory, Geopolitics and Goodbyes: August 27th - September 2nd on openDemocracy - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/glory-geopolitics-and-goodbyes-august-27th-september-2nd-on-opendemocracy/ - Published: 2012-10-05T13:10:48.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:14:45.000Z - Description: A week that saw the death of the first person to set foot on the moon and the start of the global Paralympic games is a reminder of how far human ingenuity and imagination can reach. OpenDemocracy continues to ask whether these qualities can be applied to solving shared, collective problems - from - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:27, #appended-excerpt **After the verdict in the Breivik trial**, Marte Christensen presents [video-interviews from Norwegian observers](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/b6f6e22f0f&ref=opendemocracy.net), Cas Mudde sees the outcome as [a vindication of democratic values](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/5636b31b92&ref=opendemocracy.net) while oD’s Editor-in-Chief Magnus Nome writes on the [three key texts](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/5156c49d2c&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the terror attack. **The persistence of even greater violence in the Middle East** was a strong focus, with [Carsten Wieland](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/c2c85733dc&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Michael Degerald](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/fb415b3f07&ref=opendemocracy.net) taking an in-depth look at the background to Syria’s crisis, and Bill Park [assessing the impact](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/4c78b89c9a&ref=opendemocracy.net) of the conflict on Turkey’s relationship with the Kurds. Paul Rogers sees the **US’s arms-sales to and close links with Israel and Saudi Arabia** as [a key to the prospect of war with Iran](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/542aac8eac&ref=opendemocracy.net), while Chelsea L. Daymon [gauges the Egypt-Iran connection](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/8cb3b015c2&ref=opendemocracy.net). Also in the region, [Tim Parsons](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/ad1251d5e4&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Rhiannon Smith](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/69ca770b43&ref=opendemocracy.net) chart the fallout of revolution in Egypt and Libya. Ibu Sanjeeb Garg [tracks the upsurge in ethnic violence](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/3a0094b11d&ref=opendemocracy.net) in India’s eastern borderlands, and the failures of state are echoed in a [critique of Italian policy towards immigrants](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/386e067109&ref=opendemocracy.net). This, however, was **also a week of modest progress** in [Colombia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/ba639d7e59&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Somalia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/9a77d60575&ref=opendemocracy.net), the subject of careful overviews by Kristian Herbolzheimer and Lawrence Gitonga Mwongera. In east Asia, Kerry Brown asks what is really at issue in the latest [“islands” spat between China and Japan](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/bb63840a2d&ref=opendemocracy.net), and Tsering Passang proposes a [referendum to end the Tibet crisis.](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/366a40fef5&ref=opendemocracy.net) **The domestic problems of two former superpowers** provide rich argument. Ruth Rosen’s analysis of [“voter suppression” in the US](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/26eb944486&ref=opendemocracy.net) is buttressed by Joseph Attwood on the [spreading controversy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/348cd9af38&ref=opendemocracy.net). A portrait of Putin’s realm begins with Sergei Lukashevsky on [the background to the “Pussy Riot” affair](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/49d38f03ef&ref=opendemocracy.net) in Russia, and is amplified by Grigory Tumanov’s [hard questions of Moscow’s anti-extremism agency](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/353f9e0ca8&ref=opendemocracy.net), and Asmik Novikova and Natalya Taubina’s on its [police reform](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/fc989f3014&ref=opendemocracy.net). **OurKingdom and OurBeeb’s dissection of British politics and broadcasting** focuses *inter alia* on the [roots of riots](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/2cd4e8b76e&ref=opendemocracy.net), [G4S security fiasco](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/61681154bb&ref=opendemocracy.net), [rail scandals](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/183a4f58da&ref=opendemocracy.net), and [the future of the Left](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/c43eff3fd6&ref=opendemocracy.net). **It was also a week of farewell**: to the innovative Israeli-Palestinian e-zine [Bitterlemons](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/381df01a24&ref=opendemocracy.net), [marked by the founders](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/f4a9456dfb&ref=opendemocracy.net) Yossi Alpher and Ghassan Khatib, [and tributes by Rosemary Hollis](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/7484e64f56&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Allison Good.](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/8c0fd6de1b&ref=opendemocracy.net) Thanks to the net, their valuable decade’s work lives on. **Links not to miss:** Desmond Tutu says [Tony Blair should face trial over Iraq war](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/8221024b75&ref=opendemocracy.net) Robert Borosage on [Romney and Republican short memories](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/a77cc209a3&ref=opendemocracy.net) Fox News shocks the world by introducing some fairness and balance – [Sally Kohn’s critique of Paul Ryan’s convention speech](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/ca005da3c0&ref=opendemocracy.net). (They then do their best to bury it after it went viral.) **openDemocracy’s week in 400 words is emailed to Members and Friends to help pay for our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and want to join; they should see** [**here**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/f99140398d/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email** [**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**.** A week that saw the death [of the first person to set foot on the moon](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/f22e59fa50&ref=opendemocracy.net) and the start of the global [Paralympic games](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/cf5bf2144c&ref=opendemocracy.net) is **a reminder of how far human ingenuity and imagination can reach**. OpenDemocracy continues to ask whether these qualities can be applied to solving shared, collective problems - from **extremist violence in Norway and conflict in Syria to corruption in Russia**and [childbirth mortality in Chad.](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/b99a7b11a3/7262321cfa/eea27f5c84&ref=opendemocracy.net)