Category Archives: Middle East

The Problem of Verification

Posted on 12 June 2011 by Robert

Angela Philips of Goldsmiths College, at last Friday’s POLIS conference: A Major skill for journalists is to learn how to authenticate sources Or, words to that effect! I made the note on twitter and therefore may have paraphrased. To fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Diary, Internet Philosophy, Media, Middle East | 4 Comments

On How We Go To War

Posted on 20 March 2011 by Robert

Amid all the frantic late night comments about the UN resolution to finally act in Libya, this tweet from @techsoc stood out: All intervention is risky & w/ great downsides. A non-intervention is also an intervention; letting Gaddafi kill using … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, History, Human Rights, Iraq, Middle East, New Labour | 4 Comments

Where is Ali Abdulemam?

Posted on 18 March 2011 by Robert

How many ways can the world’s news media face? There is an environmental and human catastrophe brewing in Japan, and Libya seems to be temporarily cowed by the recent UN resolution. That shunts Bahraini protests into the third spot – … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Middle East | Leave a comment

#18daysinEgypt

Posted on 6 March 2011 by Robert

A few weeks ago I suggested that a project be launched to publish the thoughts and policies of the Tahrir Square think-tank. The nearest realisation of this I have come across so far is the #18daysinEgypt project, which seeks to … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Internet Philosophy, Media, Visual | 1 Comment

By Spreading Out We’re Harder To Stop

Posted on 21 February 2011 by Robert

I am sure readers will be aware of the long-running global discussion about the role social media can play in revolutions.  Clearly, Facebook and Twitter can catalyse opposition to authoritarian regimes, and spread news of protests and government oppression between … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Human Rights, Internet Philosophy | 1 Comment

More thoughts on the Tahrir Square ‘think-tank’

Posted on 11 February 2011 by Robert

he use of the word ‘think tank’ to describe the discussions taking place within the square caught my eye, because it implies discussions of policy and new political structures: More forward looking, and less reactive. Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, Egypt, Internet Philosophy | 4 Comments

A simple idea to help the pro-democracy movement in #Egypt: Publish

Posted on 7 February 2011 by Robert

How about the people of Europe and North America, with their unrivalled and unfettered communications network, publish the preliminary findings of this new think-tank? Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Index on Censorship, Internet Philosophy, Media, Middle East | 2 Comments

#Egypt, The Most Important Data Nexus on the Planet

Posted on 4 February 2011 by Robert

ecause this place, soon to be the most important data nexus on the planet, happens to be constructed virtually on top of the ruins of the Great Library of Alexandria. Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, History, Internet Philosophy, Literature | 1 Comment

Egypt Protests in Photos

Posted on 1 February 2011 by Robert

There are some good images on Flickr. Andrew Sullivan points to some amusing anti-Mubarak signs, and a striking gallery of photographs. It is clear that the protestors have learnt the power of the image. addthis_url = ‘http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robertsharp.co.uk%2F2011%2F02%2F01%2Fegypt%2F’; addthis_title = ‘Egypt+Protests+in+Photos’; … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, Visual | 1 Comment

The Bookseller of Kabul

Posted on 30 July 2010 by Robert

Dragging this sort of roman a clef into the court-room is a terrible precedent for free expression. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Human Rights, Middle East, Political Correctness | 2 Comments