In the last two decades, the Spanish political scene has been characterised by convulsion. Among the many variables that shape this reality, one of them is the confrontation between the centre — Madrid — and the peripheral areas, some of which have their own distinct identity. In Spain there are different nationalisms, including Catalan or… Continue reading Does Spanish nationalism exist?
India’s government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, implemented the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in March 2024. Opponents of the law — which fast-tracks citizenship for undocumented, non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — decry the ways in which it discriminates against Muslims. As they did when the law was passed in 2019,… Continue reading Indian protesters look to poetic tradition to resist Modi’s Hindu nationalism
Do you remember what it was like to discover the magic of a city for the first time? Do you remember the noises, smells, flashing lights and pulsating crowds? Or do you mostly remember cities through the screen of your phone? In 1967, French philosopher and filmmaker Guy Debord publicised the need to move away… Continue reading The art of “getting lost” — how re-discovering your city can be an antidote to capitalism
It is often said that we live in a “post-truth” era. It is unclear at times what role, if any, truth plays in politics. During the pandemic, world leaders dismissed the advice of experts and acted against empirical data. Democracies have felt precarious — in the US, during the Trump presidency, and in countries like… Continue reading Five lessons on bringing truth back to politics from Britain’s first female philosophy professor — Susan Stebbing
A Saudi court’s decision to sentence fitness influencer Manahel al-Otaibi to 11 years in prison highlights what activists describe as a fierce crackdown on even vaguely critical online speech. In the past two years the Saudi judiciary has “convicted and handed down lengthy prison terms on dozens of individuals for their expression on social media”,… Continue reading Tweets or “terrorism”? — Saudi Arabia’s jailed online activists
Dozens of people in northern Italy have raised their arms in the fascist salute to honour Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution. Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honour Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary… Continue reading Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini’s execution
On 26 July 2023, the presidential guard commander of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani, detained the president and declared himself in charge of the country via a new military junta. As a result, the military forces closed all borders, suspended the government and put in place a curfew. Although the coup was… Continue reading Niger — the politics racking the country
