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# May 21 - 27 on openDemocracy
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/may-21-27-on-opendemocracy/
- Published: 2012-06-07T12:06:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T01:04:22.000Z
- Description: Øyvind Paasche calls on climate change scientists to get out of their hamster wheel and make an impact. But mostly our writers bring passionate understanding to local issues. Starting in Africa, Adoyi Onoja examines the flaws in Nigeria's evolving model of security, a theme extended by Phil Clark'
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: The Week in 1 Minute, #Migrated, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 17:19, #appended-excerpt

A leadership transition approaches in the most powerful country of the **greater Eurasian landmass** China. openDemocracy’s columnist, [Li Datong](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/d545867c10&ref=opendemocracy.net) is cautiously hopeful that the next generation will be bold enough to make needed reforms; for [Henryk Szadziewski](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/f23ce05c50&ref=opendemocracy.net), the demolition of ancient Kashgar in China's far west reveals a bleaker story. In oDRussia, the return of Vladimir Putin provokes [Artemi Troitsky](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/0c1b2f3f2e&ref=opendemocracy.net) to piteous scorn of his lonely president and [Shamil Yenikeyeff](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/36696bfd74&ref=opendemocracy.net) to worry over the country's stagnation, while [Vladimer Papava](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/4cb2c308e4&ref=opendemocracy.net) in Georgia questions the integrity of the west's "democratic" claims. 

On the continent’s southernmost edge the reconciliation efforts of [young Sri Lankans in the diaspora](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/3256a92ba7&ref=opendemocracy.net) across ethnic-political divides offer a hopeful example, and [Massimo di Ricco](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/5c736b502b&ref=opendemocracy.net) scrutinises the issue of debate about conflict against the background of a kidnapping case in Colombia – both in a striking openSecurity debate. 

**In the Middle East,** [Yossi Alpher](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/83ad84ccfe&ref=opendemocracy.net) finds little hope for Israeli-Palestinian peace in the formation of a new government in Israel, while in openSecurity, [Andrea Teti](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/90bce67938&ref=opendemocracy.net) suggests that Nato can learn from the EU's experience in the region.

[Iannis Carras](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/6f2ec39722&ref=opendemocracy.net) ponders the theme of suicide as Greece and Europe prepare for its new election in **the ongoing crisis of the EU**. [Eric Gordy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/02dff2b773&ref=opendemocracy.net) anatomises a new Serbian disillusion, and [Patrice de Beer](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/861de6e518&ref=opendemocracy.net) measures the French president's delicate political balancing-act.

[Anna Minton](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/d370e6e0c1&ref=opendemocracy.net) tracks **the London Olympics'** expropriation of public space as a new debate is launched in the British section. [John Davey](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/4db8d563cb&ref=opendemocracy.net) welcomes England's emergence from Britain's failed modernisation, [Jeremy Fox](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/288fbf4769&ref=opendemocracy.net) mourns the UK's anachronistic brand-projection, [Gerry Hassan](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/e5b223c241&ref=opendemocracy.net) presents a vision of Scotland's self-determination, and [Julian Sarayer](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/0f5e39f9aa&ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Padraig Reidy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/d0d670f954&ref=opendemocracy.net) highlight different aspects of Twitter's political potential as [Tony Curzon Price](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/48e24656f0&ref=opendemocracy.net)reviews the birth of the English Bible.

The new **debate on the BBC** runs [Dan Hind's challenging open letter](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/fb096a6628&ref=opendemocracy.net) to the Corporation's chairman while its [Steering Group](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/47999ef976&ref=opendemocracy.net) meets for the first time to [cries of protest](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/c9676250e7&ref=opendemocracy.net) from readers. 

Links you wouldn't want to miss from around the web:

[Is internet manufacturing the democratic industrial revolution?](http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/05/25/reddit-founder-and-activists-aim-to-build-a-bat-signal-for-the-internet/?ref=opendemocracy.net)

[Progressive politics for hard times](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/f306c33351&ref=opendemocracy.net)

[Poland emerges as a central European powerhouse](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/75f54fd535&ref=opendemocracy.net)

[A blueprint for the P2P economy](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/0c5c76e89a&ref=opendemocracy.net)

[Øyvind Paasche](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/b5fcba18e8&ref=opendemocracy.net) calls on climate change scientists to **get out of their hamster wheel** and make an impact. But mostly our writers bring passionate understanding to local issues. **Starting in Africa**,[Adoyi Onoja](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/6ce7bd9bdd&ref=opendemocracy.net) examines the flaws in Nigeria's evolving model of security, a theme extended by [Phil Clark's reflection](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/e465539d45&ref=opendemocracy.net) on the possibilities of successful protest in sub-Saharan Africa. Moving north, [Mariz Tadros](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/e9695c9ffd&ref=opendemocracy.net) assesses the Muslim Brotherhood's threat to women in Egypt; [Ziba Mir-Hosseini and Zainah Anwar](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/3a30e0d563&ref=opendemocracy.net) (also in 50:50) explore the space in Muslim tradition for decoding patriarchal family laws; [Francis Ghilès](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/06445bbb52&ref=opendemocracy.net) recalls a half-century's entanglement with Tunisia; and, following the death of the Libyan convicted over the Lockerbie atrocity, [Paul Rogers](http://cts.vresp.com/c/?openDemocracy/ce177c9dcc/b5696a98c8/55f3f8d821&ref=opendemocracy.net) reopens the question of responsibility for the crime.