The future is Wilders
Wilders, the radical anti-Muslim nationalist and populist leader of the Dutch “Freedom Party” has manoeuvred very smartly. He has promised to support the coming right wing Dutch government on the...
View ArticleThe final chapter of the modernist dream
Why the art sector cannot justify its continued existence The idea that societies could be reformed (modernized) through general access to culture, also high culture, was part of the modernist project...
View ArticleSo-called ‘terrorists’ finally receive a democratic platform – as an art project
I chaired a summit and helped curate a project designed by the Dutch artist Jonas Staal in Berlin on 4 and 5 May, as part of the Berlin Biennial. The New World Summit is the latest step in the artist’s...
View ArticleGulf Art Guide online
Finally, after a year and a half working on project proposal and funding, followed by nearly a year intensive research and writing, the Gulf Art Guide is online. Some of the cities (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah,...
View ArticleThe Taliban and The City
In a recent article, Antonio Giustozzi explains how the Taliban have improved their command & control structure. He describes how, under the military pressure of the US and NATO, and with the...
View ArticleDostum apologizes for war crimes
Below is the full English version text of Dostum’s apology, read on 7 October 2013. I edited the translation, using the Dari original of the speech to ensure it corresponds closely. The apology created...
View ArticleWhat I would do if I became director of De Appel in Amsterdam
De Appel is the intellectual powerhouse of Amsterdam’s art world – or maybe it isn’t anymore, but it still has that reputation. It’s a non-commercial art space that offers a high-level (and...
View ArticleSecurity through integration, not isolation
The news of the bombing of La Taverna du Liban, a Lebanese restaurant in Kabul, reached me while I was following a pre-deployment course for a EU mission in Libya. I think I knew Kamal, the owner of...
View ArticleMaking Environments Hostile
A few days ago I got my certificate for Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) from the Carabinieri in Livorno. The Carabinieri are the Italian counterpart of the Gendarmerie, or Guardia Civil –...
View ArticleSearching for Ancient Arabia in Bahrain
View of the excavated Portuguese fort with the sea behind it, and the palm groves between the two. One of the beautiful sceneries we encountered during our research. Summary Between 8 and 11 April I...
View ArticleTrip to Najran: Reflections on Saudi Cultural Heritage Policies
Photo taken in the ruins of the city of Al Ukhdood (ancient Najran) by Abdelkarim Qassem One of the premises of the ‘Searching for Ancient Arabia’ research project is the cultural diversity of the...
View ArticleUnwinding the history of the UAE
Historic consciousness in the UAE and in the other GCC states goes back only a few centuries, at most; this is how far back most prominent Emirati families can reliably trace their genealogy. What...
View ArticleThe Rojava Revolution
This article is awaiting publication, in this or a modified form A unique experiment in ‘stateless democracy’ and effective armed resistance against ISIS in Northern Syria is led by Kurdish women....
View ArticleNo time for the Blues
Trump’s victory at the polls makes me feel optimistic. The wake-up call can no longer be ignored, now that a beast has ascended the throne of world power. It is time to act. I’m not worried that this...
View ArticleSurprise in Somalia! The perplexity of an analyst
Today, on February 8, 2017, the most corrupt and least democratic polls I’ve ever witnessed unexpectedly delivered victory to the least corrupt and most popular presidential candidate in the race:...
View ArticleSomaliland votes for Stability – Personal Observation
Nov 13, 2017, from an independent observer The elections today in Somaliland were remarkably peaceful and orderly. Observers hardly remarked any irregularity. Participation rates seem to be high. In...
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