Tag: ideology

The ‘debate of the century’: what happened when Jordan Peterson debated Slavoj Žižek

I did see “the debate of the century”, the debate of our century. It was full of the stench of burning strawmen. A big deal, with huge numbers, and really very little underneath. First posted April 20, 2019 Stephen Marche The controversial thinkers debated happiness, capitalism and Marxism in Toronto. It was billed as a… Read More The ‘debate of the century’: what happened when Jordan Peterson debated Slavoj Žižek

Dilip

Mahsa Amini’s uncle sentenced to five years in jail over Iran protests, rights groups say

The uncle of Mahsa Amini, the young Iranian-Kurdish woman whose death in custody sparked months of protests, has been sentenced to more than five years in jail for his criticism of the government in 2022, rights groups have said. Safa Aeli, 30, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison by the revolutionary court… Read More Mahsa Amini’s uncle sentenced to five years in jail over Iran protests, rights groups say

Dilip

Modi’s Strange India of Celebrations and Superstition

In this weird India, bizarre scenes are witnessed daily. Words of wisdom come from a villager in Haryana. He says what a scholar could have said: “Modi ji, Hinduism continued to survive centuries of foreign rule because religion was not associated with the ruler. If it were associated with a Prime Minister or President or King,… Read More Modi’s Strange India of Celebrations and Superstition

Dilip

Christianity, Violence, and the West

Philippe Buc, Holy War, Martyrdom, and Terror: Christianity, Violence, and the West; 2015 Reviewed by Warren Brown “The medievalist Philippe Buc discerns Christian tropes of holy war and martyrdom in seemingly secular movements with terroristic potential. A brilliant and disturbing interpretation of the religious origins of redemptive violence in the West, this is a book… Read More Christianity, Violence, and the West

Dilip

Why is there still no Gaza ceasefire? Because self-interested world leaders are obstructing it

NB: The world order is grounded on the most evil, ignoble and murderous features of human nature. All political conversation has been reduced to sneering and abuse (and post-modern, ‘post-truth’ academicians aren’t helping); all compassion and human concerns have been sub-divided by racism, identity politics and communalism; all moral philosophy to sophistry and ideological bullshitting.… Read More Why is there still no Gaza ceasefire? Because self-interested world leaders are obstructing it

Dilip

Tractor chaos, neo-Nazis and a flatlining economy: why has Germany lost the plot?

A few years ago, Germany seemed like it had all the answers. But in 2024, we find ourselves in a land of bleak absurdity Peter Kuras Germany doesn’t have a reputation as a funny country, but its dark humour is currently shaming the best recent efforts of both Britain and the US. Not that there… Read More Tractor chaos, neo-Nazis and a flatlining economy: why has Germany lost the plot?

Dilip

Madhavan Palat: Forms of Union – Russian Empire and the Soviet Union (1991)

NB: This most perceptive essay on concepts of imperium was delivered at the Indian History Congress in 1991, and published by the Indian History Congress proceedings Vol. 52 (1991), pp. 831-887) The Soviet Union has just expired, and it seems only natural to know why. It appears as a failure; and to most it illustrates… Read More Madhavan Palat: Forms of Union – Russian Empire and the Soviet Union (1991)

Dilip