> ## 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. # Hangovers, hopes and hurrahs (Nov 5-11) - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/hangovers-hopes-and-hurrahs-nov-5-11/ - Published: 2012-12-14T11:12:16.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-23T01:19:51.000Z - Description: As Obama congratulates himself, Paul Rogers, Ahmed Kadry, Cas Mudde and Salam Al-Kawakibi set about qualifying any glib triumphalism, a mood deepened by Helen Tilley and Joanna Wheeler on the politics of aid. - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:27, #appended-excerpt [Sexual citizenship](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/e881136e89&ref=opendemocracy.net) in Obama’s America went under the microscope, while on 50.50, [Pervez Hoodbhoy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/bca76b32a4&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Afiya Shehrbano Zia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/8feda7d6c8&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Nivi Manchanda](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/81fabae3ee&ref=opendemocracy.net), and [Pam Bailey](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/645c7c0731&ref=opendemocracy.net) have been wrestling with more false binaries set up by the critique of the US antiwar movement, for **‘failing to develop a politics that is critical of both US imperialism and fundamentalist movements like the Taliban**.’ [Rahila Gupta](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/00e5845ef3&ref=opendemocracy.net) takes on some of the arguments raised by [Lisa Pilgram on British-Muslim family law](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/3eb8fa4e74&ref=opendemocracy.net): she has little time for hybridity. We are called back to Europe by [Ulrich Beck](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/b65528cb7e&ref=opendemocracy.net)’s **piquant analysis of the Machiavellian powers of Angela Merkel**, and [Ignasio Ribo](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/13a70bb13c&ref=opendemocracy.net)’s vision of the rise of the small habitat-nation, seemingly confirmed in [Catalonia](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/9101d83095&ref=opendemocracy.net). In the UK, [Jason Edwards](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/7b92242bd8&ref=opendemocracy.net) warns against a simplistic approach to citizen self-government, urging a pluralism of competing models echoed by Colombian-American anthropologist [Arturo Escobar](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/47eee96412&ref=opendemocracy.net) in his critique of the European modernity model. Over on Our Kingdom, [Colin Crouch](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/c702218995&ref=opendemocracy.net) argues that **despite everything, the EU remains Europeans’ greatest hope for contesting the triumph of the global market**. This week’s guest theme, [Citizenship after orientalism](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/ad1b2c3150&ref=opendemocracy.net), hosted by [Engin Isin](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/0f31c5ba4d&ref=opendemocracy.net) at The Open University, eagerly provokes thoughtful Europeans, whether about our colonial past from [Palestine](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/52fb9af888&ref=opendemocracy.net) to [India](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/516368031c&ref=opendemocracy.net); the current citizenship challenge from [rioting youth](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/92c06f0069&ref=opendemocracy.net) and migrants in our midst, in [Italy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/c8373ed6ba&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Germany](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/eea11aac06&ref=opendemocracy.net), and [the immigration regimes of the EU](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/408ecd566c&ref=opendemocracy.net); or a [haunting exploration](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/07b33056ba&ref=opendemocracy.net) of **the failure of Truth and Reconciliation for post-Yugoslavs**. Our Kingdom has been welcoming [New Putney Debates](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/bcbe9eec13&ref=opendemocracy.net) on the one hand and wondering whether there is much point in being ‘[progressive](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/b99d09295a&ref=opendemocracy.net)’ on the other; while [John Grayson](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/964945daae&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Andrew Neilson](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/1b48417cbb&ref=opendemocracy.net) **continue to monitor a declining G4S, helped to survive by the UK Government**. Meanwhile, [Anastasia Kirilenko](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/a771e7df9d&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Kristina Gorelik](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/ea3cad4cae&ref=opendemocracy.net) chart the history of Radio Liberty for oDRussia, and [Ekaterina Loushnikova](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/627472ec14&ref=opendemocracy.net) revisits the Gulag. **Celebrating John Berger’s 86th birthday** – we investigate[*Art and Property Now*](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/4dae005493&ref=opendemocracy.net) – an exhibition exploring his life and works curated by [Tom Overton](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/6ad0f44e6a&ref=opendemocracy.net). On the day itself, we republished his glorious 1967 denunciation of the Vietnam war, [Let Vietnam Live!](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/1c256b573b&ref=opendemocracy.net) As Romney laments not having added a house to his portfolio, openDemocracy will keep scrutinizing the current occupant and all leaders worldwide. **Don’t miss:** - [Climate change did make hurricane Sandy worse](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/1844a723fe&ref=opendemocracy.net) - [Syria in ruins](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/39d72dc26e&ref=opendemocracy.net), harrowing photo gallery in the Atlantic - Extraordinary strange creature discovered: [The carnivorous harp sponge](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/3a416dc5ed&ref=opendemocracy.net) **openDemocracy’s week in 1 minute is emailed to Members, Friends and authors who help pay for and create our great content. Please forward this to any contact you think might be interested and** [**want to join**](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/d6cc2f7021/openDemocracy/bb28beb484/946f39415f/51634b1085/openDemocracy/d4022f1a75/TEST/e64101092e&ref=opendemocracy.net) **or email us (**[**supporters@opendemocracy.net**](mailto:supporters@opendemocracy.net)**).** As Obama congratulates himself, [Paul Rogers](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/5ff3cbadbb&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Ahmed Kadry](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/b4f51f89e3&ref=opendemocracy.net), [Cas Mudde](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/b3f32ac9c4&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Salam Al-Kawakibi](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/d2b4e0b3f9&ref=opendemocracy.net) set about **qualifying any glib triumphalism**, a mood deepened by [Helen Tilley](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/9f38d29a7a&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Joanna Wheeler](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/3f5f7bb557/7262321cfa/96cd9b5d21&ref=opendemocracy.net) on the politics of aid.