By Ksenia Northmore-Ball (University of Nottingham; email: ldzkan@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk) Whoever, in a given society, controls the content of school textbooks is in the highly privileged position of shaping how the next generation of citizens views the world. As the American Pulitzer-winning journalist and historian, Frances FitzGerald has said, school textbooks “tell children what their elders … Continue reading Taking over schools is taking over the heart and minds of the next generation: The case of Hungary
Myanmar’s Authoritarian Backslide – A Reflection on Current Events
By Natasha Ezrow (University of Essex; Email: nezrow@essex.ac.uk) While Myanmar appeared to be moving towards democratic reform in 2010, most observers have cautioned that there might not be much reason for optimism. Currently the country is experiencing a major crisis with the rise in violence against the Rohingya community, in what some are labelling … Continue reading Myanmar’s Authoritarian Backslide – A Reflection on Current Events
Reviving lost memory by re-creating life in the socialist GDR
By Ksenia Northmore-Ball (University of Nottingham; Email: Ksenia.Northmore-Ball@nottingham.ac.uk) Usually, if a loved one is unfortunate enough to suffer from Alzheimer’s, we think of bringing family photos and playing old tunes and films to jog their memory. But it would seem that in eastern Germany a retirement home has successfully taken more drastic measures to help restore memory … Continue reading Reviving lost memory by re-creating life in the socialist GDR
Media Review: The NYT on sex before and after the fall of the Iron Curtain
A recent article in the New York Times discusses the change in women's sexual life before and after Communism. "The generational divide between daughters and mothers who reached adulthood on either side of 1989 supports the idea that women had more fulfilling lives during the Communist era. And they owed this quality of life, in … Continue reading Media Review: The NYT on sex before and after the fall of the Iron Curtain
Workshop with International IDEA
Under the theme "Putting young people at the center: How to build democratic citizenship in transitioning countries?" we discussed our work with numerous organisations working in the field of democracy promotion and political development. The event was hosted by International IDEA at their headquarter in Stockholm on 11 May 2017. Read the report here: http://www.idea.int/news-media/news/how-do-we-build-democratic-citizenship-transitioning-countries. See the … Continue reading Workshop with International IDEA
Media review: The Guardian on the rise of authoritarianism
A recent article in the Guardian discussing the rise of authoritarianism and the threat to democracy. "Successful movements need to be able to inspire hope and optimism in order to sustain popular participation in the resistance and focus people on building alternative systems. Authoritarians thrive on popular fear, apathy, resignation, and a feeling of disorientation. … Continue reading Media review: The Guardian on the rise of authoritarianism
Introducing a new Nottingham project on the legacy of dictatorships
What do you mean by the legacy of authoritarian regimes? We regularly see dictatorships collapse, which are then followed by attempts to introduce democracies. The events of the Arab Spring in 2011 have shown that this exercise is extremely difficult and can lead to a backlash into authoritarian rule. For example, Egypt is now ruled … Continue reading Introducing a new Nottingham project on the legacy of dictatorships
Public Event with Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Brussels
Dr Neundorf wil present the research of my project on the legacy of authoritarian regimes at the EU office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation on 28 March 2017. The event will start with me presting my research, which will then be discussed by: Dr. Uwe Optenhögel, Director Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Brussels Sylwia Domisiewicz, Policy Officer Democracy and … Continue reading Public Event with Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Brussels
Global Citizen Politics 