One way of assessing the prospects for democracy in the Middle East is to compare this region not only with eastern Europe in the late 1980s but also with southern Europe in the mid-1970s, where aged authoritarian regimes gave way to young democracies.
In the end the prospects for democracy depend on whether the rebels can mobilise support politically throughout Libya. The problem with the military approach is that it entrenches division. Our preoccupation with classic military means is undermining our capacity to address growing insecurity.
The United States and European intervention in Libya leaves open key questions about the future of western power in the wider region, says Godfrey Hodgson.
With the close of the 54th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna last week, we lead this weeks report with news of a new website which puts into perspective the true reality of the failed war on drugs, and catch up with the latest news from Vienna ~ MW & CS
openDemocracy and Our Kingdom are proud to serialiseThe Skinback Fusiliers, a fast, funny and deeply disturbing novel about life in the British army today seen through the eyes of three young men.
How do we pass moral judgment over the use of political violence? What of situations that lack a basic strategy, as on London's March for the Alternative? Paul Sagar regrets the violence last Saturday, but tempers his judgment with an understanding of the underlying reasons.
An activist in UK Uncut's account of his arrest and jailing after the 26 March demonstration
In the past year, reporting from Thailand has been dominated by the drama in Bangkok. The confrontation between redshirts and government troops is no doubt of great importance to Thailand’s future. But another conflict also deserves the world’s attention.
