Category: Analytic

In Myanmar, students test the sincerity of democratic transition

June 15, 2015

Originally published at openDemocracy on 10 June 2015. Also available here. Students demand change in Myanmar. Creative Commons. Some rights reserved. In Myanmar, as university students around the world begin to exalt their summer freedom, a national student movement continues to demand greater political freedom. At the end of May 2015 Myanmar’s parliament was still … More In Myanmar, students test the sincerity of democratic transition

From Street to Home, the Art of Resistance in Post-Trabelsi Tunisia

December 7, 2011

Amid rising cries of Degage, get out, the people of Tunisia ousted their despotic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who fled the country with his kleptocratic wife Leila Trabelsi. It was 14 January 2011 and for some the Tunisian revolution had succeeded and ended, for others perhaps it had only begun. In the days … More From Street to Home, the Art of Resistance in Post-Trabelsi Tunisia

Notes on the Dérive and a Jordanian Surrealist in Tunis

November 26, 2011

“One of the basic situationist practices is the dérive, a technique of rapid passage through varied ambiences. Dérives involve playful-constructive behavior and awareness of psychogeographical effects, and are thus quite different from the classic notions of journey or stroll.” Explained Guy Debord in his 1958 essay The Theory of the Derive. Dérive, the French form … More Notes on the Dérive and a Jordanian Surrealist in Tunis

A Feminist (trans)election Barometer

November 7, 2011

“What are your immediate thoughts on the election?” “I am really angry! That is all,” Myriam explained through a facebook chat. Myriam is a university graduate in her mid twenties who has studied in Europe and recently returned to Tunisia. At a small couchsurfing gathering at a friend’s apartment I started speaking with Mouna about … More A Feminist (trans)election Barometer

Two Significations of ‘Sebsi’

October 9, 2011

This article was inspired by graffiti. On 7 October Barack Obama welcomed Beji Caid el Sebsi, interim Tunisian Prime Minister, in the Oval Office. During the meeting Obama commented, “The United States has enormous stake in seeing success in Tunisia and the creation of greater opportunity and more business investment in Tunisia.” This focused language … More Two Significations of ‘Sebsi’

Coffee Observations and LabLabi Contemplations on The Constituent Assembly Elections

October 7, 2011

We were sitting at the Espérance Sportive de Tunis Cafe Bab Souika, verbally composing a list of groceries to buy at the souk, sipping our café filtre. I had tried to order our three cups of coffee in my fledgling Tunisian Arabic, “ah-tee-nee lay-tha case kava.” The waiter smiled and repeated the order with the … More Coffee Observations and LabLabi Contemplations on The Constituent Assembly Elections

Israel Nominates Mubarak for Peace Award

October 5, 2011

Israel nominated Mubarak for the Israeli personality of the year award. According to Al Arabiya, Israel’s Channel Two said that Mubarak was nominated for “his commitment to peace.” The article then points out that Mubarak had ruled Egypt since 1981. This notion of peace is built on shallow political stability. It disregards actual quality of … More Israel Nominates Mubarak for Peace Award

Tunisia: Testing ground for Western companies’ censorship software

October 5, 2011

On day one of the 3rd Arab Arab Bloggers Meeting, Moez Chakchouk the new chairman and CEO of the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) revealed that Ben Ali’s Tunisia was used as a testing ground for censorship software developed in Western countries. Also see Al JAzeera English Yasmine Ryan’s recent interview. Now that one stage in … More Tunisia: Testing ground for Western companies’ censorship software

Arab Spring, Nobel Winter?

October 1, 2011

According to the Stockholm based International Peace Research Institute the “Arab Spring” is the focus of speculation over the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee’s awarding of the prize to the “Arab Spring” would, “be consistent with their effort to give attention to high-profile and extremely important, potentially breakthrough developments by movements and by … More Arab Spring, Nobel Winter?

Postcolonial Thoughts from Tunisia: An Introduction

September 30, 2011

In Robert J.C. Young’s introduction to Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction he writes: Have you ever been the only person of your own colour or ethnicity in a large group or gathering? It has been said that there are two kinds of white people: those who have never found themselves in a situation where the … More Postcolonial Thoughts from Tunisia: An Introduction