Archives
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From Cairo to Dakar to Durban, Another World Actually Is Possible!
Last week’s World Social Forum (WSF) in Dakar, Senegal, ended up riotously happy thanks to the eviction of a universally-hated Egyptian Pharoah, after near-debilitating logistical disasters at the event’s outset. … Keep reading »
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The Workers, Middle Class, Military Junta and the Permanent Revolution
Since yesterday (11 February 2011), and actually earlier, middle-class activists have been urging Egyptians to suspend the protests and return to work, in the name of patriotism, singing some of … Keep reading »
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Egypt’s Uprising: Not Just a Question of ‘Transition’
The events of the last weeks are one of those historical moments where the lessons of many decades can be telescoped into a few brief moments and seemingly minor occurrences … Keep reading »
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Dead Hope: The Capitalist West Cannot Afford a Free Middle East
On Feb 1, 2011 in a remark on the riots of the Egyptians Obama stated, “Now, it is not the role of any other country to determine Egypt’s leaders. Only … Keep reading »
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Mubarak’s Folly: The Rising of Egypt’s Workers
Rarely do our rulers look more absurd than when faced with a popular upheaval. As fear and apathy are broken, ordinary people – housewives, students, sanitation workers, the unemployed – … Keep reading »
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Whither Egypt? Gilbert Achcar interviewed by Farooq Sulehria
Farooq Sulehria (FS): Do you think that Mubarak’s pledge on February 1st not to contest the next election represented a victory for the movement, or was it just a trick … Keep reading »
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The Great Recession and the Deficit
The Great Recession will take a long time to come to an end. Even the most optimistic forecasters expect the official unemployment rate in the U.S. to stay above 9 … Keep reading »
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Tomorrow’s Tunis and Egypt: Reform or Revolution?
Arab uprisings are taking place with the historical speed of light. I began writing this piece following the downfall of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali and closed with the imminent downfall … Keep reading »
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Interview with Hossam el-Hamalawy
Mark LeVine, professor of History at UC Irvine, managed to catch up with blogger Hossam el-Hamalawy via Skype to get a first-hand account of events unfolding in Egypt. Mark LeVine: … Keep reading »
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Night in Tunisia: Riots, Strikes and a Spreading Insurgency
Popular upheavals always carry a distinct sonic resonance. The cascading chants that reverberate through the streets, the roar of the crowd as it drives back the riot police and seizes … Keep reading »
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Like We Said, It’s a Global Slump
I have never accepted the postmodernist contention that contemporary capitalism is all about smoke and mirrors. The notion that ideology and illusion make the system go round strikes me as … Keep reading »
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Will U.S. Labour Challenge Austerity?
Across the U.S., working-class people are struggling, scraping together meager sums in order to get by. In state and local governments throughout the country, workers are watching public services slashed … Keep reading »