Identity Hunters
The Holocaust is a tragic, unprecedented and historically unique event. However, the problem with treating the Holocaust as ‘unique’ is that it risks putting it in a realm beyond the possibility of human comprehension, out of reach of customary historical and sociological understandings.
Neo-Ottomanism and New-Turkey are two popular terms to define the current politics of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the 12th and incumbent President of the Republic of Turkey. Since he became Prime Minister in 2003, Erdoğan has increased his clout over government and state. Today, after this year’s contested referendum, he is undoubtedly the strongest man in Turkey and his ideas shape a new ‘national identity’ for the country.
The horrific purges of gay men in Chechnya made headlines earlier this year and shocked human rights activist across the world. Over 100 male Chechens were abducted and tortured and at least three have reportedly been killed by the authorities due to their perceived sexual orientation.
At the 20th anniversary of its return to China, Hong Kong’s future seems rather uncertain. The ‘one country, two systems’ formula designed by Deng Xiaoping, and reassured by Jiang Zemin in 1997 was to be ‘unswervingly’ implemented.
On the 22nd of October 90% of Venetian and Lombard voters voted in favour of more autonomy. The question is, why?
Living in London now, in an environment where Asian (and in this case East Asian) culture is peripheral, I am hungry to see or hear representations of almost any kind, and am unbothered in my rampant consumption of Japanese cultural products. But growing up in Singapore as an ethnic Chinese, I felt conflicted about the widespread popularity of Japanese films and books.
We asked some people in London one disarmingly simple question: what makes you think you’re British? Philosopher Ernest Renan said that “a nation’s existence is… a daily plebiscite”.
Much is said about President Vladimir Putin’s international strategy and tactics, from cyber attacks and information warfare to domestic repression and a campaign of international irredentism to distract from a dismal economy at home.
On October 3rd the King of Spain Felipe VI addressed all Spaniards on the issue of Catalonia in a six minute discourse.
Identity Hunters 