Feature Archives - Page 10 of 150

Feature

Of Silenced Narratives and Political Deceits

Exploding Hyper Nationalism in India and the Case of Kashmir

May 23, 2019 • by Iffat Rashid

In the ongoing drumbeat of democracy or the 'great spectacle' of the Indian elections, Indians; left, right or centre are anxiously awaiting to see whether India voted to 'save its Indian spirit', or whether it will move a step further towards being a Hindu majoritarian state. For Kashmiris, plumbing the ...

Of Silenced Narratives and Political Deceits

Feature

(Sur)real Estate, Speculative Capital and Housing Displacement

An interview with Cassie Thornton

May 22, 2019 • by Cassie Thornton

A visitor approaching Dream Farm Commons, a small storefront gallery in downtown Oakland, California will find themselves faced with two doors. On the right is a clean, bureaucratic and hip business, labeled Desperate Holdings Real Estate Agency. In full real estate drag, the art gallery holds a desk with an ...

(Sur)real Estate, Speculative Capital and Housing Displacement

Feature

Alabama Feminists Fight Back

How an intergenerational, multiracial force is organizing for women’s reproductive rights

May 22, 2019 • by Stephanie Gilmore

The first meme I saw when I logged on to social media on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 featured a picture of George Orwell, captioned with the words “Boy, did I call it or what?” Beneath it was a picture of Margaret Atwood retorting, “Hold my beer.” I then saw feminist and progressive friends from ...

Feature

Debt: A Lever of Dispossession

Case Studies in Resistance

May 22, 2019 • by Iolanda Fresnillo

“Debt is a cleverly managed reconquest of Africa” Thomas Sankara “In modern times, debt has become a key means of capital accumulation. Ubiquitous, it has taken on a new function, as the most general category through which exploitation is organized” Silvia Federici The 2008 crisis burst and debt rang our doorbell. Spain, together with ...

Feature

Sex Strike, David McCullough, and Doris Day

Past Present Episode 180

May 21, 2019 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss a proposed “sex strike,” historian David McCullough’s new book, and the life and legacy of Doris Day. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Actor and activist Alyssa Milano this week suggested that women withhold sex from men until women achieve ...

Sex Strike, David McCullough, and Doris Day

Feature

Civil War by Other Means

Or: Somewhere, Carl Schmitt is Smiling

May 21, 2019 • by Laura Nelson

In a piece I wrote for Public Seminar in September 2015, I argued that Donald Trump’s campaign augured a turn to the kind of “Friends/Enemies” political imaginary cooked up by the Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt. Schmitt was unimpressed by the niceties of liberal democratic practice, and saw politics as a Kampf between irreconcilable parties, where ...

Education

A Secret Invasion

The University in Exile and conspiracy theories

May 20, 2019 • by Andrew Woods

Conspiracy theories offer alternative explanations for shocking historical events and sweeping cultural changes. They simplify complex socio-political factors and processes into seductive narratives of Good versus Evil. They are the opium of those who believe that they are on the wrong side of history, yet imagine that God is on ...

Feature

What Will Leftists Do if Biden Wins?

Nothing, probably, except vote for him in the general election.

May 19, 2019 • by John Stoehr

Bill Scher was my guest last night for a civics program in New Haven. We discussed and debated the ins and outs of impeaching Donald Trump. We disagreed, mostly, but I appreciated Bill’s take, because he works hard to see things with clear eyes. A contributing editor to Politico Magazine, Bill argued there’s little ...

Feature

The Trap Trump is Laying

Defer, deflect and delay

May 18, 2019 • by John Lawrence

Subtlety has never been one of Donald Trump’s strong suits, and I must confess, I have been loathe to attribute great strategic skills to this most incoherent and incompetent of presidents. Yet increasingly, one must begrudgingly acknowledge Trump’s strategy for countering the enhanced congressional oversight resulting from last November’s election. There ...

Feature

Prohibitions on Legal Abortion Are Not New

The Anti-Abortion Movement Has a Long History of Criminalizing Healthcare Providers

May 17, 2019 • by Lauren Gutterman

On Wednesday, May 15, 2019 Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation that prohibits abortion in nearly all cases. This new law could punish doctors who perform abortions with up to ninety-nine years in prison. Doctors convicted of performing abortions will be categorized as Class A felons joining the ranks of those convicted ...

Prohibitions on Legal Abortion Are Not New

Feature

The Anxiety Industry

At the limits of anxious consumerism

May 17, 2019 • by A.T. Kingsmith

Anxiety -- that chronic, widespread uncertainty proliferating out of the insecurities that exemplify modern life -- has become the lodestone of 21st century consumer capitalism. From fidget spinners, gravity blankets, CBD oils, air fresheners and skincare products to white noise machines, salt lamps, calming diffusers and the countless meditation apps inundating our ...

Feature

“Will Modi Return?”

The Inevitable Question from the Indian Elections 2019

May 16, 2019 • by Sarbani Sharma

For at least a few months now, most Indians in their workplaces, homes and within their communities have been unwittingly discussing the inescapable context of the 2019 General Elections. At the time I write this article, the 17th General Elections are underway in India and six out of the seven ...