“Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today’s technical resources while maintaining the property system.”

- Walter Benjamin, 1936

About Hasnet Lais

Hasnet Lais is a freelance writer and columnist for the Muslim Post. He holds a Masters degree in Islamic Societies and Cultures from The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Articles by Hasnet Lais

Pussy Riot: Russia’s unwitting gift to the women of the Arab Spring

Hasnet Lais 5 September 2012

What if a feminist post-punk collective's action in Moscow could influence the cause of women everywhere, starting with protesters in Arab countries?

Muslim radicalism: the power of friendship

Hasnet Lais 1 April 2012

Why do some Muslims join radical groups? Theories abound but their analytic capacity remains low as they tend to focus on only a single aspect of this complex issue. Something they miss is why new recruits consider joining these groups a positive thing: they find good friends there.

Political Islam in Egypt: a bright future

Hasnet Lais 14 February 2012

Contrary to the fears of some western observers, Islam has had a strong tradition of rule of law and religious and political freedom. There is no reason for concern about the electoral success of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt

This week's editor

Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

Women and the Arab Spring

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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In the months following the start of the Arab Revolutions, articles and analysis poured into openDemocracy from contributors across the Middle East and Europe. Gradually, the impact of Tahrir Square began to extend well beyond the Middle East as democratic inspiration travelled from east to west. Arab Awakening tries to capture that inspiration and use it to help us read a rapidly changing world.

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About Hasnet Lais

Articles by Hasnet Lais

Pussy Riot: Russia’s unwitting gift to the women of the Arab Spring

Muslim radicalism: the power of friendship

Political Islam in Egypt: a bright future

This week's editor

Europe from the bottom up

European debate

Democratic Wealth

Nuclear non-proliferation

Women and the Arab Spring

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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