Clik here to view.
A letter to young people in Scotland
An English student writes to his contemporaries in Scotland urging them to vote yes.Edinburgh UniversityDear friends,I am not Scottish—I was born in London, and now spend my time between Durham and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Crimean elections Russian style
This Sunday, 14 September, Crimeans go to the polls to confirm Russian sovereignty over their region. Back in March of this year, Russia formally annexed Crimea, until then part of Ukraine, with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
'New managerialism' in education: the organisational form of neoliberalism
The ethos of 'new managerialism' is stripping public services of moral and ethical values and replacing them with the market language of costs, efficiencies, profits and competition. Anything which is...
View ArticleBroadcasting and the referendum
Claire Enders, the redoubtable media analyst, has taken a pasting today from over one hundred Guardian readers angered by her pessimistic prognosis for Scottish media, should “yes” prevail on...
View ArticleTo Scotland, vote with an open heart and a clear head
Good luck on Thursday Scotland. Vote with an open heart and a clear head. Dismiss exaggerated risks and understand the real ones, and we'll see you as you emerge from the polling booth.Scotland has...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Replacing the peace process with civil rights
What would happen if Israeli progressives and their supporters demanded an end to the military court system, or called for freedom of movement for Palestinians? A lot more than you might think.The...
View ArticleIan Paisley: skirmisher, preacher and agreeable chuckler…
Ian Paisley, 1926-2014“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.” (Rubaiyat of...
View ArticleIS: is Jordan next?
Islamic State has already taken over significant areas of Iraq and Syria. Jordan abuts both—and could be the next target.“Is Jordan going to be next?” That question has been asked many times during the...
View ArticleVote Yes for the NHS - independence is the best chance to protect Scotland's NHS
The NHS has become the burning issue of the Scottish Independence Referendum. OurNHS takes a close look, and finds in favour of the Yes campaign.The Tories tell us the NHS is safe in their hands....
View ArticleTrident: a liability the UK can ill afford to keep
If Scotland votes yes for independence this week, the chances of the UK having to disarm its nuclear arsenal rise dramatically–and the global non-proliferation regime needs just such a shot in the arm....
View ArticleKenya’s outlaw police
Developments in Kenya show what happens when “counter-terrorist” police and other security forces are not subject to public accountability.Seated on a folding chair in a health centre near the mosque...
View ArticleTunisia’s forthcoming elections: transition at risk and arms sales won’t rescue
The mounting social and security risks should prompt the west to engage with all segments of Tunisian society to thwart the rise of sectarianism and polarization, looming in the rest of the Middle East...
View ArticleAudio report: Why do Scotland’s young want independence?
An audio report on the generational divide over Scottish independence, talking to experts and young people voting Yes. The first piece in the Precarious Europe project, launched today. This week,...
View ArticlePrecarious Europe: a project on young people begins
Today openDemocracy begins a partnership with Precarious Europe, a new media platform dedicated to documenting the experiences and perspectives of young people in Europe.Precarious Europe launches...
View ArticleIn the face of global power we really are stronger together
The forces that really hold back the people of Britain expand far beyond national boundaries. Our only hope of defeating them and achieving real democracy is to work with other nations - let's focus on...
View ArticleHammering the final nail in the coffin of UK party-based “democracy”
Originally undecided, I now think it would be in the democratic interests not just of Scotland's citizens but of all UK citizens for Scotland to vote Yes. The No campaign does not deserve to win. It...
View ArticleWhat's missing from the oil debate around Scotland's referendum?
The UK collects less tax revenue from its oil than almost any other country on earth. Scotland could do much better.Oil has been central to the arguments about Scottish independence. The SNP tell us...
View ArticleThe peculiar coin of English nationalism
English supporters of a No vote often cling to Britishness as a remedy for England's alleged ills: intolerance, ethnic nationalism, and so on. Yet we lose none of our tolerance in a Yes vote. We are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Samara’s election: the 198 million rouble show
On 14 September, voters in Samara Region were able to vote for their governor, for the first time in many years – an electoral show choreographed by United Russia. In 2004, Vladimir Putin abolished...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Here's a taste of rewards for No - mass fracking
Fellow Scots should be aware that even now Westminster is auctioning off licenses to frack across the Central Belt of Scotland. If you don't think that's any cause for concern, read this.While Better...
View Article