‘iLL Manners’, the first single from London-based rapper Plan B’s forthcoming album of the same name was released on 25th March to critical acclaim. Driven by a sample from Shostakovich’s politically charged ‘Symphony No.7’, Dan Hancox explores the spirit of this appropriation and its resonance am
The director of Britain's leading progressive think-tank sets out his vision for a transformation of social democracy that could renew its credibility and appeal for a new generation.
In 'sensitive urban zones' where a third of residents live below the poverty line and unemployment among young people is over 40%, it is difficult to see how people like Mohammed Merah can become part of France’s social fabric.
As the London 2012 Olympics approach, a campaign is born to give the voice to the majority of British people who stand to gain little from the games, funded by 11bn of taxpayers' money. Who are the real beneficiaries? How do the people occupy the Olympics?
Activists and politicians working for the human rights of LGBT people must study the history which underlies the fears they are trying to allay. Understanding who benefits from homophobia, and why, is a crucial step in this process, argues Rachael Crook
Guantanamo, still front-page news around the world and Abu Ghraib both indicate that human rights and democracy are sorely tested in America. When the west is recommending western-type democracy to the Middle East and anxious about the electoral successes of political Islam, we need to take a clos
The report on England's riots recommends protecting children from excessive marketing. Too little, too late. If we want to prevent future riots, we have to kick back against consumer culture in its totality.
India must realize that large republics, with a strong federal structure and the vibrancy of diverse and even conflicting regional and sub regional interests, make for a colourful democracy, a better home for liberty and a safer haven against tyranny.
When the Media Law of the authoritarian Hungarian government meets with strident criticism in the free press of the world, and from heads of established democracies, as a major attack on the freedom of speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his people ask for time, arguing against the avalanche o
In which the lawmen of the West try to enforce the frontier of the unborn, 'counselling' women against abortion and protecting the personal moral codes of health professionals
Scotland's greatest thinker, a world scholar and, we are proud to report, a regular openDemocracy contributor, is 80 this year. We wish him a long life! Gerry Hassan tells his readers in Scotland to honour him and Anthony Barnett provides a few links to some of his articles.
