Author: Dilip

I'm a scholar, writer and teacher; and my blog is designed for intellectual exploration. It carries no advertisements and requires no cash subscription

500 Programme-Makers Condemn Censorship, Racism After BBC Pulls Gaza Documentary

By Middle East Monitor Gary Lineker, Khalid Abdalla, Anita Rani and Miriam Margolyes have joined over 500 film, TV and media workers in condemning censorship and racism after the BBC pulled a documentary about children’s lives in Gaza. The media professionals, including nine BBC staff, sent a letter to the broadcaster’s Director-General Tim Davie, Chair of the Board Samir Shah, Chief Content… Read More 500 Programme-Makers Condemn Censorship, Racism After BBC Pulls Gaza Documentary

Dilip

Nietzsche and Lou Andreas-Salomé: Chronicle of a Relationship 1882

Robert S. Leventhal Lou Salomé was undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and articulate women of her era. Her own writing, especially her essays on sexuality and erotism, have value not merely in their historical reflection of the era in which they were written, but in their own right as documents of radical femininity in the… Read More Nietzsche and Lou Andreas-Salomé: Chronicle of a Relationship 1882

Dilip

India’s appeasement of Donald Trump comes to nought

Anticipatory obedience did not then take India very far. The promises of purchasing defence goods, underwater technology co-operation, etc. that were given away for free, should have been used as bargaining chips during the trade and tariffs discussions Bharat Bhushan Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington DC to meet United States President Donald Trump — the fourth world… Read More India’s appeasement of Donald Trump comes to nought

Dilip

Retotalising Capitalism: A Very Short Introduction to its History

Jairus Banaji I’ve divided this presentation into four distinct parts.[1] A shorthand description of these might be Imagine these themes as chapters to a book called Introduction to a History of Capitalism. So, what this talk sets out to do is simply construct a framework where we can think about capitalism historically. To start with the conventional narratives,… Read More Retotalising Capitalism: A Very Short Introduction to its History

Dilip

The Idea of Development: A Conversation in Chandigarh

Whether in electoral rhetoric or in the most high profile Supreme Court cases or in public policy, the word on everyone’s lips is Development. Punjab’s labour laws have been proposed to be reformed for– Development. Schools are being set up and strengthened for– Development. Building regulations are being changed so that rural areas and urban… Read More The Idea of Development: A Conversation in Chandigarh

Dilip

“Frenzy of Warmongering”: Critics of Munich Security Summit Warn of Musk, Rising Fascism in Europe

Yanis Varoufakis As the annual high-level Munich Security Conference gets underway, the Russia-Ukraine war is dominating the agenda, and we speak to two guests protesting the conference. Economist, progressive leader and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis says the European project started with a noble goal of promoting peace but finds itself today “cornered” between… Read More “Frenzy of Warmongering”: Critics of Munich Security Summit Warn of Musk, Rising Fascism in Europe

Dilip

‘Here lives the monster’s brain’: the man who exposed Switzerland’s dirty secrets

Inspired by Che Guevara, Jean Ziegler has spent the past 60 years exposing how Switzerland enabled global wrongdoing. His enemies accuse him of treason Ziegler would use the term “secondary imperialism” to define his country’s modus operandi. This was not the first-order French, British or, later, American imperialism… It was a more discreet kind of… Read More ‘Here lives the monster’s brain’: the man who exposed Switzerland’s dirty secrets

Dilip

The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi is a classic critique of capitalism – but it wasn’t an overnight success

Gareth Dale Hungarian social theorist Karl Polanyi is best known for his exploration of the collapse of liberal institutions that occurred between 1914 and 1945. His book, The Great Transformation, traces the catastrophes of those decades to the globalisation of market liberalism. In his view, the attempt by liberal social engineers to establish a “self-regulated” market… Read More The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi is a classic critique of capitalism – but it wasn’t an overnight success

Dilip

From Anti-War Progressive to Pro-Drone Militarist: Tulsi Gabbard’s Odd Political Trajectory (2021)

Gabbard has switched from championing the oppressed to championing the oppressors. It’s tough to say whether she ever truly believes anything she says or merely points her trajectory towards the greatest number of clicks and attention Originally published on November 24, 2021, this investigation delves into Tulsi Gabbard’s political metamorphosis—from self-proclaimed anti-war progressive to champion… Read More From Anti-War Progressive to Pro-Drone Militarist: Tulsi Gabbard’s Odd Political Trajectory (2021)

Dilip