Wednesday, Feb 8th 2012
One of the most interesting aspects of the protests in Spain has been the emergence of the debate on democracy. Since September 11, democracy, or at least the Western capitalist conception of democracy, has been held as a sacrosanct ideal, heroically achieved by the people of Europe, America and the ‘West’ in general.
George W Bush [...]
HEROIC FIGURE, FROM “HEIMAT”
But where’s the New Jerusalem I remember,
alternatives once sought and then rejected
for another term of college in September?
And where’s the hope, now vaguely recollected,
for something to emerge from history,
a savior, just so long as it wasn’t me?
Where’s the activist who would create
a city that I don’t quite recognize,
but sense beneath the scaffold [...]
Hugh Green of Punishment of Sloth provides some very helpful detail on the ¡Democracia Real YA! campaign in Spain, which saw a massive 50 city-wide demonstration last Sunday (May 15th).
He also compares the nature of the various Irish campaigns with the emphasis of ¡Democracia Real YA!
“The post-crisis ‘civil society’ initiatives -whilst differing in scope and [...]
There’s another angle on the George Lee saga that is as interesting to media watchers as any consideration of whether he was ‘frozen out’ of Fine Gael or a victim of his own ego. Let’s put aside too whether Enda Kenny wasted a brilliant talent or had simply expected Lee to take a little time to settle into politics [...]
Christopher Bickerton | No means no; yes doesn’t mean yes
Bickerton, in this Le Monde Diplomatique article, argues that Ireland’s final yes vote in Lisbon II, and the whole journey of the EU constitution from initial drafting to full ratification, illustates that Europe’s governments value the opinion of their peers more than that of their citizens. [...]
John O’Brennan | Lisbon: A Communications Failure Among the Irish Political Hierarchy
“The main source of this enduring pattern of communications failure is that European Union policy-making in Ireland takes place in a hierarchical system dominated by senior government ministers and a top echelon of civil servants.”
John O’Brennan, a lecturer in European politics and society [...]
The following is a statement from Lawyers Against Lisbon
We, the undersigned, have decided to vote “No” on Friday and recommend that our fellow voters do so as well.
We each have slightly different reasons for our position but are agreed on what now follows.
Contrary to a common argument from our opponents, the Treaty is about much [...]
Paul Ginsborg: Undermining Democracy - The case of Silvio Berlusconi
Paul Ginsborg is Professor of Contemporary European History, University of Florence and a frequent public commentator on politics and life in Italy. His books include A History of Contemporary Italy, Society and Politics 1943 - 1988 , Italy and Its Discontents: Family, Civil Society and the State , 1980-2000, and the bestselling biography Berlusconi: Television, [...]
There will be a variety of slogans on placards on the National Demonstration this Saturday:
There is a Better Way • Bail Out People, Not Banks • Punish the Corrupt, Not the Victims • Workers Unite
All catchy in their own way. But here’s the text for a placard that should be carried by thousands and memorised [...]
