Published on
8 November 2016
2016 was in many respects an atypical year. In the political arena, two events confounded and unnerved the grandees of establishment media: Brexit, and, in the U.S.A., the Republican nomination for the US presidential election. Donald Trump made headlines with his brash style, irascible temperament and often controversial statements – among which his denouncing of […]
Published on
13 May 2011
The slaying of Osama Bin Laden by US Navy SEALS earlier this month has generated much commentary in the media, and provides us with an opportunity to assess the quality of our public discourse on moral matters. Since the reported rumours that ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ yielded information which may have contributed to tracking down bin […]
Published on
13 April 2011
Posted in Africa, Middle East, Political Economy, Recommended Links
‘The regime changes in Egypt and Tunisia have been hailed as victories for democracy, as proof of the liberalizing power of social networking media, as testimony to the power of nonviolent political action. All of that they may indeed be; but the events in Egypt and Tunisia also illustrate a major defect in our economic […]
Published on
22 March 2011
Posted in Human Rights, Liberty, Middle East, Military Ethics
As air-strikes in Libya intensify we here at A Blog for All Seasons have collected together a few of our reactions to the crisis. Should Britain Invade Libya? What Libyan and Other Jasmine Revolutionaries Owe Burma Can Democracy Save Egypt?
Published on
4 March 2011
Posted in Africa, Human Rights, Legal Affairs, Middle East, Military Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Philosophy, World Affairs
The title I have chosen is somewhat disingenuous. I do not support armed intervention in Libya, and so my intention in blogging on this subject is not to voice support for military action. Neither, however, do I oppose it. But the suggestion that the West might use force in the Arab world has once again […]
Published on
3 March 2011
Posted in Africa, Burma, Middle East
Part one of a series written by a guest blogger: ‘Burma leads the world!’ – not a common headline. And yet, this should be the sub-heading behind every newspaper cover story of the Middle East uprisings taking place right now. Why? The (non-violent) revolution handbook used in each of these settings was originally written to […]
Published on
21 February 2011
Posted in Africa, Culture, Middle East, Social Commentary, World Affairs
There is an interesting article on the Witherspoon Institute’s Public Discourse site by Egyptian journalist Yasser Khalil, who took part in the recent protests in that country. ‘The question that now hangs over Egypt,’ he argues, ‘is whether real freedom is possible, or whether the country inevitably will fall under authoritarian control or the rule […]