BOOK REVIEW Dr. Davidson’s brilliant and brave “After the Sheikhs” provides Middle East studies with a valuable overview of the gathering crisis in the region, and is a valuable counter-narrative to the “nothing to see, move on now” narrative being promoted by vested interests and an academe that ought to know better. After Bahrain, the … Continue reading »
Bahrain Polytechnic: new evidence casts doubt on the rigour of the BICI, and on the credibility of ‘reform’ in Bahrain
Higher Education reform in Bahrain: 2008-2011 ”In failing to differentiate Bahrain Polytechnic’s relationship with the Ministry of Education from the University of Bahrain’s relationship with the Ministry, the BICI have been complicit in the extension of state power into hitherto legally autonomous institutions. I’m sure that this was done unwittingly on the Commissioners’ part, but … Continue reading »
Britain must stop being an abuse facilitator in Bahrain.
Repression in Bahrain has seriously escalated this autumn, with regime hardliners (the usual suspects) seeking to undermine –through leaks to the world media — hitherto behind-the-scenes attempts at dialogue involving moderate regime elements and the mainstream opposition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/blair-aide-bahrain-conflict-resolution Meanwhile, a series of small explosions, two in the village of Ekar in October, and five in … Continue reading »
A Creepy Horror Story for Halloween
‘All resemblances to persons living or dead are entirely coincidental’ Men wearing ski masks entered the school bus, the acrid stench of the oil flares mingling with the sweaty air inside the vehicle. ‘Out!’ they ordered. The boys of Year Seven lined up against the sand-coloured bus, this summer afternoon the ambient temperature neared halfway … Continue reading »
Revised, ‘Tom Holland’s Hang-Up Over Islam’s Origins: a Critique’
Tom Holland’s Obsession with Islam’s Origins: A Critique Tom Holland wears his Indiana Jones hat The search for origins can lead us into some strange places: it often leads us nowhere, especially when it is the origins of others that are under investigation. While searches for origins generally run the risk of essentialism, deconstructing what … Continue reading »
Mike Diboll: teaching and learning awards and evaluations in higher education, 2010-2012
Below is a teaching observation from the University of Sussex, 21st August 2012: MikeDiboll ObservationPre sess 21Aug2012 (1) In February 2011 I was awarded a Distinction for a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice award. This is a Masters-level award designed to ensure excellence in teaching and learning in Higher Education, delivered on-campus at Bahrain Teachers … Continue reading »
Open Letter to UK FCO Minister Lord Howell on Bahrain and the “Arab Spring”
Saturday, 18th August 2012 Dear Lord Howell, In the light of last week’s jailing of Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, and last nights killing of 16 year-old protester Hussam Al Haddad, I write to you to request clarification of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office position on Bahrain the “Arab Spring”. In particular, I request … Continue reading »
Voice of Russia: The situation in Bahrain – is the Gulf monarchy serious about political reforms?
VOR London’s James Reinl hosts a debate on the jailed Bahraini hunger-striker, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, and asks whether the Gulf monarchy is serious about political reforms. He was joined by the Bahraini government spokesman, Fahad al-Binali, Rodney Shakespeare, chairman of the Committee against Torture in Bahrain, Mike Diboll, the democracy campaigner, Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of the … Continue reading »
A gloomy LSE report on the “Arab Spring”: if real change is to happen, is Bahrain key?
As a percentage of population the Bahrain pro-democracy demonstrations have been the best attended of all demonstrations in the Arab World 2011-2012: the key to the success of failure of the “Arab Spring” is in Bahrain and beyond Bahrain, Saudi…. Perhaps a gloomy report on the “Arab Spring” from a recent report from the London … Continue reading »
Bahrain Abuses: where is Abdulhadi Al Khawaja? (Being force-fed?)
Friday, 27th April 2012 Abdulhadi Al Khawaja with his daughter Maryam, who was my student in Postcolonial Literature at the University of Bahrain in 2008. Today’s GDN says that Abdulhadi “tried to” give up taking water. So who stopped him? Where is Abdulhadi Al Khawaja? Evidence from today’s Gulf Daily News, the regime’s English language propaganda … Continue reading »
