Cross-Borders

Cross-Borders, Transnational,

borders have changed place. Whereas traditionally, and in conformity with both their juridical definition and “cartographical” representation as incorporated in national memory, they should be at the edge of the territory, marking the point where it ends, it seems that borders and the institutional practices corresponding to them have been transported into the middle of political space. (…) More and more, however, borders are creating problems in the heart of civic space where they generate conflicts, hopes, and frustrations for all sorts of people (…)
Etienne Balibar: “We, the People of Europe?”


Searches for the (political) subject beyond nationalism and ethnicism. What about the EU? Who is a EU citizen? Is there a EU citizen?

It became clear that the European unification is a challenging and troubling process. On the one hand, we can speak about the real impossibility of European unification as long as we operate in categories such as “us” and “them”, “old” and “new”, “big” and “small”. At the same time, the EU proved to erase borders and construct a quasi-state.

According to the contemporary French political philosopher Etienne Balibar, Europe needs a new democracy; he calls Europe’s current social democratic model a “conflictual democracy” – one which recognises individuals as the bearers of collective rights protection. For new, real, radical democracy of Europe we urgently need to rethink and recontextualize concepts such as: state, borders, nation, belonging, identity, sovereignty, citizenship, communism, solidarity.

Articles for Migration Project

Making Migration Work

Hopefully my new project for a conference?

"Living together in diversity: National Societies in the multicultural age"
CEU

New Project

I have decided to embark on a new project! Will submit a paper to the "First Symposium Citizenship After Orientalism." Now will have to think about what to write about...

Odyssey Dawn!

What does it mean? Who comes up with these names?

Thoughts on Fast Changing World, Motherhood

Things are certainly moving fast. Western allies have decided to bring down a tyrant, who not long ago was a good friend. A friend, who set up a tent in the middle of Paris. Yes, politics has certainly strange bedfellows.

I read somewhere that one has children in order to fight off depression. I do not know whether I had them with this thought in mind, but I find myself more and more relying on them to feel better. Have two daughters, aged 36 and 39 and I enjoy them immensely. Lately, I find myself calling them when I feel down and tired. Deep down I know that I should not that they have a life. So do I! I run, cycle, swim, work, read, and study but still seem to rely on them to put me on track. Like this morning.

And, Maayan! My cute 7-month-old granddaughter! How come I look at her picture on the refrigirator and my face breaks out in a smile?

It is OK, Tina.

Writing & Sharing

Decided to use my blog to write down my thoughts, views, and sentiments.

This is the first.

Libya seems to have overpowered the tragedy in Japan. The media is talking about the international intervention in Libya! I am dumbfounded once again by the media. I sometimes have the feeling that there is an international covert understanding not to talk about the real dangers we are facing in this world as they are too big to comprehend.

If I find the right person, I would like to ask him/her how TV stations manage to gather up so many experts in such a short time! It could be that they have a list and just push the button.