Tag Archives: democracy

King and Peasants discuss the British Monarchy

The following clip from Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) is still one of the best contributions in the debate about (not only British) monarchy: I found the following transcript of the dialogue: [ARTHUR and PATSY riding. They stop and … Continue reading

Posted in History, Politics, UK | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

One Hundred Years Ago, Sweden almost gave up on Booze – August 1922: Prohibition Referendum

Zur deutschen Fassung. Before I went to Sweden last summer, I received a lot of well-meaning advice from friends in Germany who had already been to Scandinavia: “Take enough beer with you, it’s prohibitively expensive in Sweden!” “As an EU … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, History, Politics, Sweden | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Democracy in Bolivia

It’s still there, but … (Photograped in La Paz on the anniversary of the 2016 constitutional referendum.) Links: More about Bolivia and about politics.

Posted in Bolivia, Photography, Politics, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Women, you are allowed to vote. – For me. If at all.

Last weekend, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has announced that women might in future be allowed to stand as candidates in municipal elections and “will even have a right to vote”. Among women’s rights activists, excitement and optimism have been … Continue reading

Posted in Human Rights, Law, Politics, Saudi Arabia | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Peace Camp at Parliament Square in London

I wonder if the participants of the “Peace Camp” at Parliament Square in London have ever noticed the irony of protesting against all kinds of wars under the amused eyes of Winston Churchill. The “Peace Camp” is a continuous protest … Continue reading

Posted in History, London, Military, Photography, Politics, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Merger Control of a different kind

With merger control, governments and courts usually try to prevent companies from joining forces and forming a monopoly that would have negative effects for the market and for consumers. A court in Germany has now stopped a merger of a … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Germany, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Borat or Bilo? No, it’s Nursultan in Kazakhstan.

Four years after the release of Borat (or Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan as the full title is), Kazakhstan still doesn’t seem to have gotten over it. Borat, by and with Sacha Baron … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Election Boycott – What is it good for?

If this headline reminds you of the 1970 song “War” by Edwin Starr, then you already have your answer: “Absolutely nothing!” In pseudo-democratic to openly oppressive countries around the world, opposition parties and candidates regularly face a tough choice: Should … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Iran, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment