Democracy

By A. D. McKenzie PARIS, Jan 8 2015 (IPS) – “They are cowards who react to satire by going for their Kalashnikovs.” That was how renowned French cartoonist Plantu described the killers of 10 media workers and two policemen in Paris Wednesday. Drawing for peace – a signature cartoon by Plantu One of the murdered […]

al-Qaeda

Sharpening Contradictions: Why al-Qaeda attacked Satirists in Paris

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) The horrific murder of the editor, cartoonists and other staff of the irreverent satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, along with two policemen, by terrorists in Paris was in my view a strategic strike, aiming at polarizing the French and European public. The problem for a terrorist group like al-Qaeda is […]

Books

Fearing NSA, Writers in USA and Worldwide Avoiding controversy, keyword Searches

contributors

PEN America | “Global Chilling” PEN America writes: “Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers is a new report demonstrating the damaging impact of surveillance by the United States and other governments on free expression and creative freedom around the world. The report’s revelations, based on a survey of nearly 800 writers […]

Democracy

Iran’s Rouhani & Direct Democracy: Wants Referendum to Sidestep Hardliners

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Iran’s system of government is a hybrid. One wing of it consists of a dictatorial theocracy, centered on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The other wing is elected and comprises the parliament and the presidency. President Hassan Rouhani, a reformer, is worried about being stymied in his economic and […]

Democracy

Tunisia: Nationalist Candidate’s claimed win in Presidential Poll Contested

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — The major political parties do fairly sophisticated exit polling in Tunisian elections now, and secular, nationalist warhorse Beji Caid Essebsi claimed a victory of some 52 or 53% on Sunday evening. His opponent, human rights activist and incumbent interim president, Moncef Marzouki, however, declined to concede. Formal results […]

Elections

Will the next Israeli Gov’t be even more Far Right & Colonial?

contributors

By Mitchell Plitnick (IPS) | — The Israeli government is headed for yet another round of elections. Although the official election date for the next Knesset is November 7, 2017, no one ever expected this government to last that long. The voting will likely take place in March of 2015. What do the new elections […]

African-Americans

The Ferguson, Mo. Shooting in American History: What to Tell the Children

contributors

By Julian Hipkins III (Zinn Education Project) In light of the grand jury decision, we share this collection of teaching ideas and resources, originally published by Teaching for Change in August of 2014. By Julian Hipkins III As the new school year begins, first and foremost on our minds and in our hearts will be […]

BDS Occupied Territories

UCLA Mideast Center fights Smears by off-campus Israel-Lobby Extremists

contributors

By James Gelvin | — Response to criticisms of the G.E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies The G.E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies (hereafter CNES) of UCLA is one of the oldest such centers in the United States. It is also one of the largest, currently including seventy-six affiliated faculty (among […]

Democracy

Jon Stewart Talks Press Freedom at Rosewater Premiere

contributors

AJ+ | — “Jon Stewart of The Daily Show’s talks to AJ+’s Dena Takruri at the New York premiere of Rosewater.” AJ+ “Jon Stewart Talks Press Freedom At Rosewater Premiere”