All Recent FutureChallenges Posts

Politicians, scholars and philosophers have been debating the origins of war and peace for a very long time. There is no common solution and no shared viewpoint on this matter. Yet just because people have fought for centuries does not mean that it is not within our power to stop […]

After the Olympic euphoria, London’s gigantic show has left us with mixed memories of well-rehearsed glorified races, gold medals and tears. Flags, fireworks and red sightseeing buses accompanied millions of spectators worldwide during the whole summer. Yet these fierce symbols of London’s Olympics also share another pecularity : they are […]

Egypt is currently under official Islamist rule. Following a proud revolution that promoted ideals of human rights, democracy, opportunity, and better living for all, the Egyptian society across the spectrum seems to be at the behest of a ruling force that accommodates human rights in their lexicon only when it […]

Today many people all across the world celebrated the International Day of Peace.  I, on the other hand, spent the day trying to avoid being shot at with rubber bullets, pelted with rocks or tear-gassed. This was the situation amid the national protest in Pakistan against the now-famous anti-Islam film. […]

A democratic state by definition leaves political leaders at the mercy of voters, but one look at Sri Lanka’s provincial council elections is enough to bring you back to reality: in this island nation the voters may speak but it is the politicians who will be heard. The elections in […]

From Masha: Hey Tom, Interesting take on the war issue. I might disagree with you on several points as I see it in a different gender perspective. I believe that war is a man made thing. It is very unfortunate that English language does not really differentiate between man as a male […]