Interview

Reza Aslan: ‘Trump is looking for trouble with Iran’

13 February 2017 -

The world was surprised by the travel ban that President Trump proclaimed for inhabitants or citizens of seven mostly Islamic countries. This is, however, only the first step of a much larger strategy, according to Reza Aslan, the famous Iranian-American author and TV-maker. He hopes that by 2018, the current protests will bring about a renewed Dem ...

Interview

‘All democrats should stand up now, resorting to civil disobedience if necessary’

30 November 2016 -

The Bulgarian-German writer Ilija Trojanow worked his way through the archives of the autocratic regime in communist Bulgaria. He draws parallels with the growing autocracy in Europe, and not only with Donald Trump in the United States. A conversation about the illusion of security, the power of the state and the belief in resistance.

Interview

Rami Jarrah: ‘Global hypocrisy in no way diminishes the Syrians’ right to a different regime’

4 October 2016 -

The images and reports from Aleppo defy all description and beg the question how the people still stuck there can cope with the atrocities. MO* called Syrian journalist Rami Jarrah, who is in Turkey at the moment, obliged to follow the situation from there.

Interview

Turkey and the perfect storm in the Middle East

1 September 2016 -

Turkey redraws the geopolitical maps of the Middle East by working together with Russia and Iran, while relations with the NATO-allies are at their lowest point. What is the meaning of Turkey’s tanks and combat aircrafts in Syria? Amanda Paul, expert in Turkish, Russian and European external policies, comments.

Interview

Enspiral: adopting a positive impact as a personal motivation

1 September 2016 -

With his open cooperation “Enspiral”, Joshua Vial distances himself for good from hierarchical company structures. The goal of his start-up is to gather people and companies who want to have a social impact. ‘Enspiral helps companies focus on creating jobs that really matter’, the enterprising New Zealander says. And this he ...

Interview

Lena Slachmuijlder: ‘Extremists Have The Right To Pursue Their Ideals, But Not With Violence’

31 August 2016 -

Radicalization has become so closely tied to the use of violence against citizens, that each call to radical change sounds criminal. The American researcher and activist Lena Slachmuijlder advocates the respect extreme ideals – on the condition that they are pursued without violence.

Interview

Srećko Horvat: ‘Without real democracy, everyone will want to leave the EU’

18 July 2016 -

We no longer form a union with the United Kingdom and a second radical left-wing party may come to power in Europe: the Spanish Podemos. What is happening to the European Union? MO* spoke with Croat philosopher Srećko Horvat, the driving force behind the new radical left movement of Yanis Varoufakis. ‘DiEM25 is the coalition we needed during ...

Interview

Karima Bennoune: “Daesh produces destruction pornography”

24 June 2016 -

It becomes clearer by the day: IS (Daesh) tries to provoke a war between ‘the West’ and ‘Islam’. And they make it a cultural war. MO* talked about cultural rights and identities in times of terrorism with Karime Bennoune, UN-Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights.

Interview

Solidarność: ‘People have no idea of the anger at the bottom of society’

13 May 2016 -

In Poland, an increasing part of the Christian labour movement supports the illiberal nationalists, not the Christian Democrats. Yesterday, Solidarność made communism fall. Today, it helps nationalism rise up. MO* spoke with Solidarność-veteran Marian Król.

Interview

Geert Mak: ‘Fear is our biggest enemy’

13 April 2016 -

'In 2004, there was barely any debate concerning Europe, outside of the EU-bubble. Today, because of all the misery and crises, we are agitatedly shouting at each other. However, we do that as Europeans. This means a European debate is trending', Geert Mak says.

UN Photo / Stuart Price (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Interview

Emergency Relief In Need Of Cultural Revolution

13 April 2016 -

Nowadays, emergency relief is being organised much more efficiently compared to decades ago, but it is the far-reaching bureaucratisation that remains a threat to the actual needs. That’s what François Grünewald says, who will be giving a MO*lecture in Brussels the 21st of April.

Interview

Chinese Political Scientist Yan Xuetong: 'China should allow more freedom of expression'

11 March 2016 -

John Vandaele had the opportunity to talk with professor Yan Xuetong, one of the leading political thinkers of China. Yan is well known for his outspokenness, even when his vision does not correspond with the ideology of the party. One thing is clear: from Beijing the world looks different.