Photo: Björn Suomivuori
Darius Rejali is a political science professor at Reed College, Oregon. What makes him interesting is his incredible insight into the theories behind torture, out of a social scientific perspective. His book Torture and Democracy has been called “Scars and Stripes” by Financial times. This robust Yankee made quite an impression; beneath his charismatic shell lies a pure academic with the solutions that will put an end to democratic states’ use of torture, simple but politically impossible to achieve. He argued in a calm and well structured way, easily convincing anyone. In this first part of the interview he talks generally about torture, how states justify its implementation and many more interesting things!
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In English, Stat och Samhälle | Saturday, May 15th, 2010 | Inga Kommentarer »
Beijing National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is right around the corner and next in line of those globally celebrated arrangements of tremendous economic, political and cultural proportions commonly referred to as “mega-events”. But much as they are applauded, and often rightly so, for their potential as global collective experiences and sources of unity, it has become clearer with every iteration of these events that their societal impact is bound to comprise some gloomy aspects. One issue that has been plaguing mega-events for several decades now is that of far reaching violations of housing rights, encumbering nationals of the host countries.
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Gästskribenter, In English, Stat och Samhälle | Monday, April 26th, 2010 | 1 Kommentar »
During the early stages of World War I, 24th of April 1915 to be precise, the Minister of Domestic affairs, Talaat Pasha of the falling Ottoman Empire gave orders to arrest and execute nearly 250 intellectual Armenians. The following years about 1,5 million Armenians and other Christian minorities were massacred, starved, drowned or forced on endless marches leading to their deaths. The reason for the killings and abuses was to unify the future Turkish nation. To accomplish this goal, the area was pretty much emptied of its Christian minorities by 1923. (more…)
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Ferencz Thuroczy, In English, Konflikt, Stat och Samhälle | Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | 1 Kommentar »
Robert Fisk at Grand Hotel in Lund. Photo: Björn Suomivuori
This it the second part of the interview with Dr. Robert Fisk where he talks about propaganda, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the current administration in the US. If you haven’t read the first part you can find it here.
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Ferencz Thuroczy, In English, Konflikt, Stat och Samhälle | Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | 1 Kommentar »
Robert Fisk in Lund. Photo: Björn Suomivuori
I met Dr. Robert Fisk on a sunny Tuesday in Lund. He works as a foreign correspondent for the Independent, and has so many awards in journalism that it is almost impossible to list them all. He has been elected for those awards for a good reason; his forcefull fluency of language and keen level of perception is rivaled by few. He covers the Middle East and does so with an accuracy that upsets most media-outlets that wish to stay in line with governments and officials. Nobody is immune from his criticism. He observes and sides with the victim. This interview shows just that. This is more than a grain of truth - it is a truth you will not find the New York Times.
See also: Robert Fisk’s commentaries in the Independent.
Dagens Nyheter review on Robert Fisk’s book “The Great War for Civilisation”
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