culture - openDemocracy (Page 287)

The upcoming general strike in Tunisia: a historical perspective

The first general strike in Tunisia since 1978 takes place in a much-changed country and against old friends but for rather similar reasons.

By Mohamed-Salah Omri

/ 12 Dec 2012

Not fearing to be liked: the majoritarianism of contemporary protest culture

While the anti-globalisation movement and before it the new social movements tended to cast themselves as minorities, the wave of Occupy or “take the square” movements have made a crucial point of wanting to be the majority of the people, as most evidently manifested in Occupiers’ claim to being t

By Paolo Gerbaudo

/ 12 Dec 2012

Melting pot Britain

As the 2011 UK census shows, an ever larger number of Britons are from mixed race backgrounds. So Jessica Ennis was not just the face of the London Olympics this summer; she could stake a fair claim to be the 'face of modern Britain' as well.

By Sunder Katwala

/ 11 Dec 2012

'Another world is possible': nationhood and global justice

Globalisation has depended upon a unitary idea of progress. Now it's time to look again at national space and its role in formulating a democratic world interest. The first piece in the new OurKingdom series, Re-birth of the nation? Challenging 'global citizens'.

By Jamie Mackay

/ 11 Dec 2012

When the possible death of humanities is a progressive development

MOOCs (massive open online courses) and more freely available lectures and university content are transforming the education landscape, and alliances between academia and corporations are ever-increasing. But this revolution in education might pose a lethal threat for hardly commodifiable discipli

By Aurelien Mondon and Gerhard Hoffstaedter

/ 11 Dec 2012

The commercial republic: a contradiction in terms?

Republican thinking today relies heavily on a classical conception of citizenship. Can this ever be compatible with modern commercial society?

By Jessica Kimpell

/ 11 Dec 2012

An interview with Jimmy Wales

On Sky News, Dermot Murnaghan sits down with Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, to discuss the media, old and new.

By Dermot Murnaghan and Jimmy Wales

/ 10 Dec 2012

When soldiering gets sexy: the militarization of gender equality and sexual difference

Up in Arms continues to track the figure of the soldier in contemporary culture as a consequence of NATO’s wars. How does militarism – the belief in the superiority of military values and methods – shape or perhaps even challenge gender stereotypes in countries that send troops off to war?

By Vron Ware

/ 10 Dec 2012

Infatuation and the US Army

To a large extent Petraeus, four star general and chief spy, was a political and media invention. Take a closer look at the Petraeus record and a spectre starts to appear: of just how blind love can be.

By Robert Matthews

/ 10 Dec 2012

This week's window on the Middle East - December 10, 2012

Arab Awakening's columnists offer their weekly perspective on what is happening on the ground in the Middle East. Leading the week: Brothers in the hood: Egypt’s soft powers and the Arab world

By Arab Awakening

/ 10 Dec 2012

Regime and opposition: throwing the dice for Syria’s future

How is it possible for those who have lived in the lap of opportunism and are by nature predatory suddenly to transform themselves into honest revolutionaries.

By Rita from Syria

/ 10 Dec 2012

Brothers in the hood: Egypt’s soft powers and the Arab world

The question riding on the chaos being played out – from the burning offices of the Freedom and Justice Party to the squares of Egyptian cities to the palace gates of power – is how will all this shape future trends throughout the Arab world?

By Amro Ali

/ 10 Dec 2012