Violent transitions - openDemocracy (Page 46)

Making sense of Egypt: Part One, in defence of conspiracy as a method

Without evidence, one can never prove that there is a conspiracy concocted by human beings. However, the apparent absence of evidence indicting a criminal does not at all mean that the crime was not committed. It is naïve to think otherwise. Consider what happened in the 'football violence' in Por

By Ahmed Badawi

/ 22 Mar 2012

Making sense of Egypt: Part Two, a partial anatomy of insecurity

The Egyptian Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) is accused of fomenting instability in the country. But the objectives of SCAF are best met if Egyptians feel secure, even numb, not the other way around. So if SCAF is not the culprit, who is? Read Part One here.

By Ahmed Badawi

/ 22 Mar 2012

'The resistible rise of Nuri al-Maliki'

When faced with a rising tide of violence, largely caused by their own policy mistakes, the US occupation embarked on the reconstitution of an Iraqi military. The resultant Iraqi security forces, under the control of Nuri al-Maliki, are today on their way to occupying the same role as the armed fo

By Toby Dodge

/ 22 Mar 2012

Syria's revolution, a year on

A year of violent repression and suffering leaves Syria's people as far as ever from achieving the freedom millions of them demand. Ayman Ayoub looks back and forward.

By Ayman Ayoub

/ 22 Mar 2012

Football and the game of politics in Egypt

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' call for an official inquiry into football violence, following the deaths of 74 al-Ahly team supporters in February this year, has been rejected by most clubs as a sham designed to obscure the blame that belongs to the Mubarak regime’s structures which orch

By Leila Zaki Chakravarti

/ 20 Mar 2012

Saudi Arabia and Syria: logic of dictators

Saudi Arabia's support for the armed opposition in Syria reflects the way that the Arab spring is now hostage to regional rivalry, says Madawi Al-Rasheed.

By Madawi Al-Rasheed

/ 20 Mar 2012

Limited military intervention in Syria: how to rescue the Responsibility to Protect doctrine from permanent demise

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 As the violence within Syria continues, causing massive civilian suffering and threatening stability in the region, the international community must get involved. A 'R2P intervention' presents a reasonable chance of success,

By Benedetta Berti

/ 16 Mar 2012

Bahrain – the struggle continues

The king’s image is getting smaller at Manama Airport and photos of Hamad’s annointed heir, the crown prince, are nowhere to be seen. This, and an imprisoned Pearl Roundabout, symbolise much about Bahrain today.

By Stephen Nash

/ 10 Mar 2012

Averting all-out civil war in Syria

International diplomacy should declare its unequivocal support for the peaceful protesters and the deluge of peaceful demonstrations still flooding the streets of many Syrian cities, thus pushing for a steady shift of power relations on the ground back to the political, rather than military, realm

By Franco Galdini

/ 6 Mar 2012

Jassim Buhejji, a life for Bahrain

The Bahraini activist Jassim Buhejji was a quiet figure who nonetheless played a formative role in sustaining the best of his country's political traditions. Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi reflects on his legacy and pays tribute.

By Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi

/ 28 Feb 2012

Palestinians learning lessons

What has been happening to Hamas over the past few months, and what to Mahmoud Abbas? And what is the impact of all this on the reconciliation effort?

By Tareq Baconi

/ 21 Feb 2012

Syria: echoes of a paralyzed international community

The double-veto by Russia and China has emboldened the Assad regime, which continues its campaign of wanton massacre against the besieged people of Homs. The immediate priority must be to end the bloodshed and hold Assad and his government accountable, but reform is needed for a paralyzed internat

By Muath Al Wari

/ 20 Feb 2012