International Politics and Economy

( Middle East Monitor ) – “Rights are granted to those who align with power,” Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, eloquently wrote from his cell. This poignant statement came soon after a judge ruled that the government had met the legal threshold to deport the young activist on the nebulous ground of “foreign […]

Climate Crisis

How can the Left Tackle the Climate Crisis?

Inequality.org

In his new book, writer Malcolm Harris considers the tools in our arsenal for stopping the worst case scenarios of climate change. by Chris Mills Rodrigo ( Inequality.com ) – Writing an effective political roadmap before a seismic election that is then released into a world transformed by that result is a tall order. Luckily […]

Dissent

Turkey’s Youth on the Frontlines of Protests

Arzu Geybullayeva

High school students have now joined university students in protests that have rocked the country since March 19 Written byArzu Geybullayeva ( Global Voices ) – Ever sinceMarch 19, when Istanbul’s popular mayor and main opposition party’s presidential candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was first detained, then arrested, on bogus corruption and terrorism charges, Turkey has been […]

Featured

The Islamic Peace Studies Initiative

Juan Cole

Pacifism in Islam – University of Manchester. Juan Cole’s remarks at their conference. The Islamic Peace Studies Initiative Juan Cole and Samer Ali have directed the Islamic Peace Studies Initiative at the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies in the International Institute of the University of Michigan from 2016. The initiative sought to […]

Dissent

“The American Spring:” Trump is increasingly Like Middle East Rulers who were Overthrown

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Nationwide “Hands Off!” rallies were held in over 1,200 towns and cities, in every single state of the Union on Saturday, staged by over 150 organizations, including workers’ unions, democracy advocates, veterans and human rights groups, according to David Collins at AP. Some of the urban demonstrations were significant, with […]

Democracy

A Do-it-Yourself Kit for Defeating Trumpism: Because the Mainstream Politicians Won’t

H. Patricia Hynes

Greenfield, Mass. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – The Republican Administration’s edicts – imposed by broligarchs President Trump and Elon Musk – are with us for the next two to four years. Who/what will defeat them? Not the inside-the Beltway Democratic politicians. Most are supine and silent, or cautious and cowardly, or helping to advance […]

Authoritarianism

The “War on Terror” Comes Home in the Trump Era

Karen J. Greenberg

( Tomdispatch.com ) – Four years ago, I published Subtle Tools, a book on the erosion of American democratic norms in the face of what came to be known as the Global War on Terror. Both what had been done in the name of “national security” in response to the 9/11 attacks and how it […]

Dissent

Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest Sparks Türkiye’s Largest Protests in over a Decade

Volkan Isbasaran

Istanbul (Special to Informed Comment) – Major protests over the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival, have entered their sixth day. Demonstrations have erupted in at least 55 out of Türkiye’s 81 provinces, according to AFP, which marks one of the most widespread waves of […]

Democracy

Trump rages to snuff out Democracy’s Candle: Will we Rage against the Dying of its Light?

Rebecca Gordon

( Tomdispatch.com ) – Allow me to stipulate that I do not wish to die. In fact, had anyone consulted me about the construction of the universe, I would have made my views on the subject quite clear: mortality is a terrible idea. I’m opposed to it in general. (In wiser moments, I know that […]