Civil liberties

Egyptian revolution turns sour

August 2013
Phyllis Bennis

"Egypt today remains horrifically divided, with today's bloodbath certain to make things worse"

Race, space and punishment in urban sociology

July 2013
Tom Reifer

Structural circumstances of deprivation and criminalization facing African-Americans and the racialized perceptions of criminality appear to be some of the salient features that recently led to a young black teenager being killed by neighborhood watch patrolman George Zimmerman.

Grounding of Bolivian presidential jet and treatment of Snowden shames European Union

July 2013

Over 50 international lawyers, human rights, civil rights and civil society groups and networks say the actions of certain EU member states in response to Snowden's revelations contradict the EU’s stated commitment to democracy, human rights and international law.

How international rules on countering the financing of terrorism impact civil society

May 2013
Ben Hayes

Making banks and non-profits liable for the acts and social networks of their customers and beneficiaries while holding charities and CSOs responsible for the ‘extremist’ views and actions of their associates stifles freedom of association and expression and promotes self-censorship.

Pathway to Progress in Israel

February 2013

While Israel moved away from the far right in last month’s elections, the new coalition is unlikely to alter the occupation. Change may come from divestment campaigns, the new UN recognition of Palestinian statehood, and in the Israeli and Palestinian campaigns of nonviolent resistance.

On the Disappearance of Sombath Somphone

January 2013
Walden Bello

The Asia-Europe People’s Forum requested a delegation of ASEAN parliamentarians to visit the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic to investigate the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, the prominent Lao leader of civil society. 

Secrets, Lies, & Propaganda

January 2013
Tom Reifer

After the US embrace of torture after 9/11 it was only a matter of time before Hollywood decided to make a tribute to America’s liberal culture of torture for the big screen; Zero Dark Thirty

Does the European Union deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

October 2012
Ben Hayes

Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU for maintaining peace is like crediting Alexander Graham Bell for the i-phone. Since its formation in 1993, the EU has increasingly shunned peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights. 

CLEAN IT: the secret EU surveillance plan that wasn’t

October 2012
Ben Hayes

There are elements in Europe who would dearly like to see the CLEAN IT wish list put into practice, but we must distinguish between transnational talking shops, EU working groups and draft EU policy.

India-Bangladesh border

The Other Burma

October 2012
Ben Hayes

Northeast India's strategic location between India, China and southeast Asia has led to a recent boom in resource extraction and investment by multinational corporations, but the world continues to remain largely silent on the human rights abuses that continue to be perpetrated by the Indian military.