revolution
Soundtrack and caricatures for one year of ‘Arab uprising', 'spring', 'revolution'...
'We are free men who have no fear/ We are the secrets which never die. We are free and our words are free. But those words won’t forget those who cemented our tears and betrayed our faiths.’ In 2011 these lyrics, which were written and sung by Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi, became one of the hymns of the revolution which toppled the tyrants of the Maghreb. One year on, these people are effectively free – so why is the battle ongoing? It’s too soon to mark the ‘first anniversary of the Arab spring’ with brooding in-depth analyses of what it has all meant so far, but it’s long enough to be able to ask a few key questions. Who are the ‘moderate’ islamists? Who is this generation which has surfed the democratic wave? Is the revolution a thing of the past? The answers to such questions, as always, depends on different perspectives, be they from a German student in Cairo, an Algerian caricaturist, a Tunisian singer or a Spanish journalist - done the cafebabel way (Image: © Kristof)
- Read the special edition Soundtrack and caricatures for one year of ‘Arab uprising', 'spring', 'revolution'...
- Arab spring in Morocco: royalists recognise indigenous language
- Algerian cartoonist Slim: 'We have to protect human hands, not human rights'
- Studying in Cairo: why young Egyptians vote islamist
- Emel Mathlouthi: Jasmine rebel who sung anthem of Tunisia
- Romance and demons of 'Arab spring' and 'islamist winter'
Odd ode to Eric Cantona
The Olympic Marseille football club is beginning to form a reputation as the starting block for 'wannabe presidents'. Following in the footsteps of George Weah and his candidacy for the presidency in Liberia, it’s now the turn of Eric Cantona to make his ambitions for high office known, writes one French blogger, 'ASL'
revolution, football, money, economical crisis, 'indignant citizens' movement, economy, housing
Top three songs: Polish music legend Czesław Niemen
His John Lennon-style glasses and long hair were mandatory for a beat generation artist. An uneven beard completed the rock and soul musician’s look on the streets of Poland. 17 January 2012 marks the eighth anniversary of the death of the much-loved singer-songwriter, 64
revolution, poland, culture, music, hommage, rock, culture calendar
What is the difference between a revolution and a coup d’etat?
In the midst of the popular revolts which have seen the fall of dictatorships across the Arab world, almost 31 years have passed since the events of '23-F', an attempted coup d’état against the Spanish government on 23 February 1981
revolution, democratisation, religion, spain, violence, politics, army
Obituary: Vaclav Havel, master of peace
The dissident, thespian and president, who was a symbol of change in the 1989 velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia, died on 18 December at the age of 75 after a serious illness. Homage to a European master of peace, as a three-day mourning period officially begins on 21 December
revolution, literature, theatre, euweek, europe, vaclav havel, obituary
Hope in 2011: Tahrir and Puerta del Sol utopias
This time it’s for real. Bad luck for Greece. Thomas has made up his mind: he’s leaving tonight. He climbs into the boat – and goodbye. Between Thomas More’s Utopia and Charles Fourier’s concept of the phalanstery, a literary look back at 2011
revolution, best of cafebabel.com, 'indignant citizens' movement, madrid, egypt, arab spring, jasmine revolution
Blogger Khelil Ben Osman on Tunisian elections
There's no official result in the Tunisian elections yet. Nonetheless the moderate islamist party ennahda is on the verge of victory. One of the pioneers of the digital awakening during the jasmine revolution gives his view of the first great moment of democracy in Tunisia
revolution, democratisation, islamic revolution, tunisia, jasmine revolution, islamophobia, politics
Illustrating 'indignados': revolution in comic books
The ‘indignant' movement is a publishing success in Spain. Two works in particular are illustrated, engaging and funny: Revolution complex and Enrique Flores' Cuaderno de Sol. The message is unequivocal: get involved or risk being sidelined
revolution, 'indignant citizens' movement, spain, madrid, politics
Spanish user describes 'big bad twitter'
‘21st Century Agora’, the ‘New Public Sphere’ and the ‘Fifth Power’ - the micro-blogging service has been labelled many things since its launch in 2006, some of which seem grandiose and others which don’t sound right at all. Labels for twitter are a variation of the following three themes: that it is a place, a medium and a tool
revolution, techno-media, 'indignant citizens' movement, culture, libya, technology, twitter
Environment: the maggot in Steve Jobs’ apple
While tributes to its CEO Steve Jobs flood the web, don't forget Apple’s lack of green credentials
revolution, steve jobs, techno-media, apple, internet, consumers, media
Twitter feed: reactions to Steve Jobs death
The CEO of Apple was without a doubt the biggest genius of the last decade. He passed away after suffering from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 over the night of 6 October. Social networks such as facebook and twitter have overflooded with 2.0 tributes
revolution, steve jobs, culture, consumers, technology, lifestyle, united states
From Breivik to Khaled Said: a digital revolution
The year 2011 showed us the force of new media in political debates, whether in the European protests, the Arab revolutions or the terrifying attack committed in Norway in July. Political engagement is now affordable for everyone, everywhere. Is this immediacy which now defines political engagement compatible with our democracies?
revolution, anders behring breivik, civil society, anders breivik, europe, internet, arab spring
Ouagadougou correspondent: no Arab spring in Burkina Faso either
Whilst Burkina Faso offered Muammar Gaddafi asylum on 25 August, they recognised the national transitional council in early September. August also saw the jailing of three policemen for their part in the death of student Justin Zongo in custody in February. Yet why did the country's mutinies not lead to the same dramatic changes as we are now seeing in Libya?
revolution, burkina faso, libya, third world, arab spring, western africa, politics
Czech, Belgian, French and Austrian press on Libyan rebels taking Tripoli
According to their own reports, the Libyan rebels now have practically all of the capital Tripoli under their control. Three of Muammar al-Gaddafi's sons have been taken prisoner by the rebels, while the leader himself has apparently fled. Commentators cast doubt on the rebels' democratic intentions and discuss Europe's tasks after power changes hands
revolution, eurotopics, saif al-islam gaddafi, euweek, libya, human rights, muammar al-gaddafi
Artists, freaks, revolutionaries: what remains of protests in Greece
'We are not anti-system, the system is anti-us'. This is just one of many slogans that are prominently displayed on the banners around Syntagma Square in the heart of Athens. The word ochi, meaning ‘no’, can be seen everywhere here: no to the government, no to the financial and political system, no to the betrayal of democracy
revolution, economical crisis, greece, best of cafebabel.com, athens
One man show
Ultimately, 'babelians' all self-identify as one-men shows of sorts: young journalists who write, take photos, film reports, translate and freelance as well as look for other jobs on the side. But enough about us. Idiom of the week
revolution, tower of babel, culture, jasmine revolution, politics
My Zagreb Vitriol: remembering Croatia’s anti-government protests
As France, the UK and the Netherlands keep the country at arm’s length, the fact is that its almost six-year candidacy to the European union is almost complete in 2011. Anti-government protests against corruption and political incompetence marked the Croatian capital in February, and cafebabel.com sampled the ongoing street passions in March
revolution, zagreb, civil society, youth, croatia, egypt, orient express
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