This argues we are becoming more peaceful and less violent. Really? Are we the beneficiaries of an ongoing civilizing process or do we face a return to the barbarism of extreme inequality? Once again an openDemocracy guest editor provides a refreshing optic, if this time a bleak one.

An immediate example of such tension is in the Middle East as the Arab Awakening shows that citizens want peaceful, democratic civilian rule. But Paul Rogers hears the wardrums beating - although there are reasons for hope in Tunisia, where Islamists may be embracing pluralism. As for Europe, Takis S Pappas warns that if Greece fails as a state it will take the EU with it.

Female power links our coverage of Africa and the Ukraine. Jessica Horn continues the 50:50 dialogue Our Africa and Maggie Baxter remembers the wonderful Professor Wangari Maathai while we have three views on the jailing of the charismatic Tymoshenko, by Labour MP Dennis MacShane, her one-time advisor Dmitry Vydrin, and a journalist’s overview from Valery Kalnysh.

Well, is a world revolution beginning? Pedro Silverio Moreno makes the case that one is, writing from Madrid about the spreading movement of protest. Cas Mudde compares the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street. (henceforth #OCW – we link to its live stream from our front page); Stefan Simanowitz  stretches credulity to claim that the people are too big to fail, but has some great pictures. Dan Hind optimistically shares the lessons on how general assemblies deliberate, while OurKingdom thinks three things about public occupations.

But OK also goes against the grain. The protestors are global in their language but isn’t the form of politics firmly national? Not in England, where there are no national institutions - only British ones. So it has launched For England’s Sake! A new debate edited by Gareth Young which starts with the bang! of the great Scottish writer, Tom Nairn, reflecting on the Windsor monarchy.

Four interesting links from elsewhere:
Juan Cole Frames the Arab Spring in a podcast of the LSE’s first Fred Halliday lecture
Banking should be a public utility: it works, Truth Out reports from Germany
(YouTube video, #OWS) When Noam Chomsky agreed with Ron Paul … the arrival of the anti-corporatism coalition
The BBC's Paul Mason on the economic roots of the protest movement