Analyses
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A commentary on the future of democracy in Egypt, post-Mubarak. On July 8, 2011, in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, at least one million Egyptians gathered for the “Day of Determination.” They were joined by thousands of protesters in Suez, Sharm el Sheikh and Alexandria. In the view of the protesters, many of the promises of the January 25th Revolution had not been fulfilled. For example, Mubarak remains in a hospital, and no efforts have been made to put him on trial. Police officers who killed innocent civilians, making them martyrs of the Revolution, have been released back on Egypt’s streets. Corrupt ministers who helped Mubarak in his efforts to steal massive...
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On April 7th the Downtown gallery - Francois Laffanour opened a new exhibit in the new space dedicated to contemporary art, located n°. 33rd rue de seine, showcasing architect-designer, Junya Ishigami. The exhibit titled, "Picnic," takes the familiar and fairly uninspiring object of chairs and transforms them into creations of nature and light, nodding its head to a sense of minimalism and simplicity. The exhibit is both inviting and comforting, all the while leaving the viewer feeling that they have traveled through a land of magical creatures, rather than apartment furniture. Born outside of Tokyo, Japan in 1974, many have compared Ishigami's...
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By Omar FarahatOmar Farahat examines the social, religious and political structures in Egypt that allowed Mubarak to rule for so long, and that eventually led to his departure. Over several years of exposure to Western academia, I have let myself internalize one of its riskiest habits; namely, to recourse to Nietzsche whenever in doubt. This is precisely my position on the extent to which the occurrence of the Egyptian Revolution in January of 2011 was predictable. Of course, no self-proclaimed intellectual will admit that they completely failed to foresee this incredible turn of events. The same applies to attempts to analyze the event and its aftermath, and to situate them within fathomable sociological...
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Veronique Tadjo takes a look at the political and economic situation facing Côte d’Ivoire president Ouattara after he wins a much disputed election. The question foremost on the minds of many Ivoirians is whether Alassane Ouattara is the new leader that they have been waiting for. Côte d’Ivoire has been languishing for more than a decade since a successful coup d’état in 1999. Two years later, there was a rebellion in the north that divided the country and led to turmoil since. Despite more than 10 years of political instability, the country reached its lowest point during the latest presidential election, which had been designed to end its...
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Politics / Focus Article / Middle East / AsiaBy Ahmad MarriBin Laden’s discovery next to Islamabad is only a hint of the internal turmoil consuming Pakistan The discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abottabad, 30 kilometres away from the capital Islamabad, has added more turbulence to Pakistan’s existence as a sovereign state. The democratically elected parliament condemned the raid conducted on Pakistan’s soil as a violation of its sovereignty, with the military stating: ‘The “unilateral” operation by the U.S. against Bin Laden has cast a shadow over security cooperation between the two allies.’ US Senator John Kerry made a visit to Pakistan on May 2011- in an effort to diffuse tensions between the two allies....
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Politics / Focus Article / Middle East / AsiaFranz Stefan Gady argues that while lying is often a necessary strategy in politics, it can often cause more harm than good. While it is a tactic which may have worked for Pakistan in the short term, it is more likely to harm rather than help in the long run. “There may be honor among thieves, but there is none among politicians!’ a disgusted Peter O’Toole, blurts to Claude Rains in the 1960 motion picture Lawrence of Arabia, upon discovering the terms of the secret Sykes-Picot agreement between Great Britain and France. This agreement outlines a plan for carving up the Ottoman empire rather than handing parts of it, as promised, over to the Arabs. While everyone can share...
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By Martin PlautMartin Plaut examines the recent South African elections and teases out their implications for the future. New contenders are emerging to challenge the ANC for the 2014 election. Criticism of the party, particularly of the corruption over which is presides, is being criticized even by its allies. Local elections hardly ever make international headlines, but the May 2011 election in South Africa should have been an exception. Although it was, of course, mainly about issues of interest to the people of Durban or Johannesburg, the results were in reality the best indicator of popular opinion before the next general election in 2014. At first glance the election was a walkover for...
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By Zach PaikinDespite a non-confidence vote earlier in 2011, the Conservative Party of Canada under Stephen Harper has increased its hold of the Canadian parliament. With this public mandate Harper’s Canada shows an inclination to expand its political and military influence overseas in a drastic departure from the country’s traditional neutral stance. Yet despite a perceived mandate this aggressive stance threatens to erode conservatives’ support among the moderates and could signal a coming turnover in parliament if Harper does not moderate his goals. Canada’s elections provide the conservative government with a mandate for more assertive policy overseas, and at home In...
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Pauline Tillmann writes that Ukraine is seeing a curtailment of press freedom under President Yanukovych and it is important for journalists to fight back. Since February 2010, when President Viktor Yanukovych came to power, freedom of the press in Ukraine has declined dramatically. In a recent ranking by “Reporters Without Borders” the country is now a lowly 131 – below strife torn Iraq. According to freelance journalist, Dar’ya Gorova, “the main problem is problem is self-censorship, of course”. He worked for both newspapers and television in the past and is frustrated by the situation. “I love being a journalist, going to press...