Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

Earlier this month, the world was shocked by the Capitol rioters’ assault on US democracy. But more chilling still is that those who swore to protect the institutions of state may have been among the attackers. One US army captain is under investigation for taking part in the 6 January rally that eventually led to the breach… Read More Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

19th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Pamela Philipose: If the Media Fails to Read the Farm Struggle Right, Irrelevance Awaits

NB: The Greek word hubris, conveys the sense of overweening pride, arrogance before the gods. The punishment adequate to this sin derives its name from nemesis, the goddess who exacts retribution from those who succumb to hubris. It is not just defeat in an election that Mr Modi’s friend (remember Howdy Modi?) the ruthless sociopath and ignoramus Donald Trump… Read More Pamela Philipose: If the Media Fails to Read the Farm Struggle Right, Irrelevance Awaits

17th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Nouriel Roubini: The US is now the focus of global instability

Whether the storming of the US Capitol was an attempted coup, an insurrection, or an assault on democracy is merely a question of semantics. What matters is that the violence was aimed at derailing a legitimate transition of power for the benefit and at the behest of a dangerous madman. President Donald Trump, who has… Read More Nouriel Roubini: The US is now the focus of global instability

13th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Paul Blumenthal: Trump’s MAGA Myth Reaches Its Catastrophic Conclusion / Schwarzenegger compares Capitol riot to Kristallnacht / Bharat Bhushan: Vigilantism threatens India too

The French syndicalist theorist Georges Sorel provided the most detailed explanation and theory for eschatological political myths in his 1908 book, “Reflections on Violence,” which focused on socialism and the myth of the general strike. Myths like Make America Great Again contain “all the strongest inclinations of a people, of a party or of a… Read More Paul Blumenthal: Trump’s MAGA Myth Reaches Its Catastrophic Conclusion / Schwarzenegger compares Capitol riot to Kristallnacht / Bharat Bhushan: Vigilantism threatens India too

11th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

I call it a coup attempt because, though I assume it will not prevent the Biden presidency, it certainly intended to, and is part of a campaign to delegitimize and thereby weaken the incoming administration. It was a long time coming, building up for years with white rage, especially white male rage fuelled by everyone… Read More Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

8th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

NB: What America has been doing to the rest of the world for decades after the Second World War, it is now doing to itself. Four people are dead after a Trump-sponsored riot: see pictures. There’s so much to say its difficult to begin. Those who imagine the USA to be the leader of ‘the Free… Read More Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

7th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

There are bound to be a few glum faces in India’s external affairs ministry over the news of seven American lawmakers approaching the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, for interceding with India on the farmers’ issue. The officials in the ministry will not mind Pompeo’s intervention in itself since he reports to a President… Read More Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

4th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

Bloomberg’s year-end report on the wealth of the world’s billionaires shows that the richest 500 people on the planet added $1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, accumulating a total net worth of $7.6 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index recorded its largest annual gain in the list’s history last year, with a 31% increase in the… Read More Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

4th January 202130th July 2022 Dilip

Didier Fassin: The blind spots of left populism

NB: Aside from its useful political reflections, the most important theoretical insight in this essay is this one: ‘Populism is not an ideology but the discursive strategy that sets up an opposition between the elite and the people and is therefore able to accommodate various institutional frameworks.’ In other words, populism is a rhetorical style that… Read More Didier Fassin: The blind spots of left populism

30th December 202030th July 2022 Dilip

What happened to democracy in 2020?

There are some positive dimensions to the current situation. While we see democratic declines, including inside the EU, we also see very high levels of protests globally. These are motivated by all kinds of issues, but corruption remains an important factor. For me, what’s important here is that people are recognising and acquiring ownership of their power… Read More What happened to democracy in 2020?