July 2009
6 posts
10 tags
Jul 11th
2 notes
5 tags
Revolt and Repression: Iran on the Edge?
By Yascha Mounk. The Utopian in dialogue with Gary Sick, former member of the US National Security Council; Richard Bulliet, Professor of History at Columbia University; and Dr. Eden Naby, Iranian dissident and commentator. ____________________________________________________________ Most observers struggle to understand the role played by different factions within Iran during the recent...
Jul 10th
4 notes
2 tags
Sharia and Suburbia
By Tom Whipple. “Sharia is little threat to UK law.” An inside look at Sharia courts in England.   ______________________________________________________________________ Number 34 Francis Road, London, looks much like 36 Francis Road. A converted terrace house, only the multilingual A4 notices pinned to the window indicate its purpose. Because here - beside Mick’s Diner...
Jul 9th
3 notes
2 tags
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Italy's Left and the...
By Alexander Lee. “The recent rise of right-wing populism in Italy has been frightening. Counterintuitively, only the Italian left can stop it.” ________________________________________________________________ Umberto Bossi, the leader of Italy’s right-wing Lega Nord, was triumphant. Wearing a bright green shirt, his glasses glinting in the glare of the June sun, he stood...
Jul 8th
3 notes
2 tags
Fear and International Politics
By Shashank Joshi. Knowing what (not) to be afraid of. On the limits of political alchemy from Thucydides to Bush. ___________________________________________________________________ Fear is not only a potent force in international relations today - it has a distinguished pedigree in the study of international politics. Thucydides’ history of the Peloponnesian War, often claimed...
Jul 7th
4 notes
2 tags
Bears
By Sadie Stein. Fear and Loathing; Cabs, Book Readings and Bears. A short story. _______________________________________________________________ “Here’s one for you,” the driver said as soon as the taxi door had closed. “If you’re standing in a house, and every window faces south, what color bear are you looking at?” I was caught off guard; it seemed...
Jul 6th
2 notes