politics

To Tweet or Not to Tweet? - The Role of the Writer as an Engaged Citizen

Nick Holdstock
Writers and political engagement

I can’t pretend that the aesthetic dimension of a writer’s work isn’t the most important thing, nor that being a writer and an activist are the same kinds of role. But if we don’t want to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs, why do we bother to write? Isn’t there always a degree of didacticism? I don’t think it’s superfluous or redundant to pose that old question: what is literature for?

Recently I have been wondering whether writers should care about suffering.  I ask this neither flippantly, nor as some existential query: what I want to know is whether writers — by which I mean fiction writers; I doubt the kinds who don’t make up their worlds have much choice in the matter — should be trying harder to engage with global events.

Media, Citizenship, and Political Agenda(s)

Davor Marko
media and citizenship

At the moment, based on the summarised trends of reporting on citizenship, it is obvious that the leading print media in these four countries do not offer enough space for discussion and open participation on citizenship and related topics. Print media, due to the uncertain future of the press, are strongly dependent on their political or economic patrons, and rather serve as legitimizers than informers, observers, or watchdogs. It is slightly different with the online media. Due to the penetration of Internet use in the region, and the opportunities it offers for citizens to take part in content creation and discussion, it could play a much important role in discussing the problems and issues related to the citizenship. But the impact of online media in the region of the former Yugoslavia is still uncertain and unexplored, and this could be the subject of future research.

This is an extended summary of a longer paper that was originally published in the CITSEE Working Paper Series and is available for download here.

‘The reassertion of the political’- an interview with Tariq Ali on the future of European citizenship

The reassertion of the political

I think the European Union promised a great deal and delivered very little.  Voting rights seem to have become totally irrelevant because whoever you elected, it didn’t matter which party, they were carrying out the same elite policies. Greece has made a difference and this will inspire people.  But in order for that to happen you do need to have political instruments and political parties.  It can’t just happen by occupying public spaces.  You know, you need politics for that. And so what we are witnessing in Greece is, in a way, the reassertion of the political and I think that will be extremely important in saying ‘yes, we are citizens; we don’t just have, you know, basic rights.  We have political rights and we want to exercise these political rights and link them to social and economic rights.'

Tariq Ali is a novelist, journalist and political campaigner whose most recent books include Protocols of the Elders of Sodom and Other Essays (2009), Night of the Golden Butterfly (2010) and The Obama Syndrome (2010). In May 2012 he spoke at the Zagreb Subversive Forum, where he was interviewed by Nick Holdstock.

Muslims’ support for European integration: Albania and Turkey Compared

Arolda Elbasani
Beken Saatçioğlu
Islam in Albania and Turkey

Why do Muslim-inspired organizations espouse different positions towards European integration and the democratization reforms that it entails? What explains Albanian Muslim Community’s uniform and Justice and Development Party’s withering support for the EU Integration project?

In Turkey’s June 2011 elections, the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) won another landmark victory to form its third, consecutive majority government. The firm return of Islamic political identity to the public sphere has led to many questions about the direction of Turkish politics and the future of Turkey’s European integration.

New Diaspora Politics in Serbia and Croatia

Updated version
Which direction? Diaspora politics in Serbia and Croatia

The issue of defining the rights of those in diaspora is (again) under discussion in Croatia and Serbia.

States are expected to be responsible for the well-being of the citizens on a variety of levels, even when they are outside the borders of the state e.g. if they have problems when visiting another country.

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