openGlobalRights (oGR) launches its latest debate on religion and human rights. In the face of those who argue that religion is a human rights liability, citing persecution in India and Pakistan, or the rise of Buddhist nationalism in Burma, others urge human rights movements to view religion as a
An unofficial referendum on Veneto breaking away from Italy gains widespread support, while Spain struggles to appease Catalonia. The European elections will influence the Scottish referendum, as will the promise of a new direction in foreign policy. Meanwhile OurKingdom has launched an appeal to
This week, openDemocracy has been publishing articles on citizen engagement as part of our Participation Now series with the Open University. Activists and practitioners who work in public participation speak about everything from participatory budgeting and online democracy, to direct action and
The Ukraine conflict continues to dominate headlines. Iryna Solomko says Ukrainians have accepted the loss of Crimea but fears run high that worse is to come. Luca Uberti examines comparisons between Kosovo and Crimea and says the west is delusional to think the recent annexation is exceptional. I
The infinite capacity of current rulers of the world to divide and destroy is a theme which this week focuses on Crimea. oDR explores crime and politics in Crimea, thinks about an earlier, Balkan carve-up, stirs debate with a passionate denial by international lawyers that Crimea is another Kosovo
Remembrance is this week's overarching theme. For the third anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Bob Stilger writes on Fukushima's future, while Rebecca Johnson argues it was both avoidable and inevitable.
All eyes are on Crimea. Anatol Lieven warns the US to hold back, while Paul Rogers sets out how Ukraine is a trap for the west. We look at the formation of Putin's ideology, and pick apart his claim to be 'protecting Russian speakers'.
Revolutions arise when a critical mass stands up in the name of human dignity – saying no to subjugation and domination. As Karma Nabulsi emphasises, these predicaments still fuel revolt in our societies: Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi tells us how female asylum seekers fight back against inhumane deten
A week when the great and the good turned out to be not so great, and not much good. Writing about Ukraine, Andrew Wilson says that, “This is potentially a great European moment,” but he adds that in the geopolitical stand-off between the west and Russia, the “EU took a baguette to a knife fight.”
In the run-up to Mayoral elections in Istanbul, internet surveillance and censorship are reported to have reached a 'nightmarish' level. Turkey's political crisis is addressed by Umit Cizre, who accuses the Erdogan government of 'going nowhere'. openSecurity looks at Turkey's new internet policing
Sochi is the focus of inevitable attention. Vast billions have been poured into the Black Sea resort, including to supporters of Vladimir Putin, who personally promotes the Winter Olympics there as part of his project for masculinist, nationalist assertion—the embodiment of ‘traditional values’ ag
The widening influence of security services in the UAE is causing grave concern. Tunisia, however, appears to have turned the corner with a new constitution, which has surprised everybody.Gazans fear another Israeli military offensive is imminent.
