Category: All
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Of Sameness and Difference
IntroductionDifferences between humans are omnipresent. Sameness, though rarer, is also in plentiful supply, especially when theoretical concepts like rights are involved. But when do difference and sameness become a normative and political issue? How should we deal with them and what are their consequences? These are the questions I seek to answer in this essay. In this process I will…
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How (not) to Recapture Voters from Right-Wing Parties
Democracies in Europe are straining under external and internal pressures. Rising inequality, climate change, flagging productivity growth, Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, Trump. Although differing in their severity the mounting pressure has had several impacts on Europe’s political landscape, the most prominent issue being the rise of right-wing parties. In this essay I want to explore how…
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Compulsory Military Service in Germany
Putin’s willingness to launch a full-on invasion on Ukraine without provocation and sacrifice hundreds of thousands of Russian lives is scary. In Germany this sparked fears about a potential war against Russia which has led to a significant increase in military spending and discussions about a compulsory military service. It is no secret that the state…
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Coercion in Labour Markets
Initially this post was intended to be on how a Universal Basic Income (UBI) introduces Grass-Roots ethics into the economy. In writing the post I realized that another issue is much more pressing: coercion in labour markets. The topic of this essay will therefore be Coercion in Labour Markets. The main question is whether some…
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Property is Made Up
Property, more specifically private and public property are everywhere. Stop right here and think of something that is not owned by anyone. Hard to come up with anything right? Air does not belong to anyone and neither does most of the oceans. Abstract or cultural goods are also often not owned by anyone. Language for…
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Democratic Realism
The Assad regime has fallen. Now Syria needs democracy. This has been an almost universal demand by western leaders following the victory of HTS and other rebel groups in Syria. In addition, leaders demanded the protection of minorities, usually implying the formulation of a constitution. Whether Syria or elsewhere, it is a reflex by western…
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What is a Police State?
I am walking from Tahrir Square to my favourite cafe in Cairo called الحرية or Freedom. After no more than a few steps I look up and stand face to face with a police officer in full riot gear. Next to him are two more policemen, rifles in hand and behind them towers an armoured…
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The Untold Consequences of War
No SignalI am sitting in a café close to As-Salt drinking mint tea and looking across the Jordan Valley and the mountain range beyond where the sun is slowly setting. It is a remarkable sight, and one I wish to return to, so I take out my phone to save the café. Trying to find…
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Voting Age To 0
IntroductionThe title of this post might confuse some people, but it is by no means far-fetched. I will admit it involves some click-bait because I do not want to argue here that we should carry 1-year olds to the polling station and let them place an X for the party they prefer. Instead, the idea…
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Boycotts and the Jordanian Economy
Boycotts in JordanAs the days in Amman are getting cooler, I find increasingly pleasant to stroll around the city. Small shops, restaurants, and the occasional supermarket are complemented with street vendors and the unmistakable jingle of the pick-up trucks which deliver water and gas. But there is something missing. Something, I could not place my…
World of Youthful Idealism 