Provocate.org

Johan Galtung is coming to Indy. The most influential living social scientist, he is the founder of the academic study of peace and conflict studies, a discipline now offered as a major or a minor on virtually every college in America and Europe. He’s the author of more than a hundred books and more than a thousand articles. He is reported to have served as a mediator in more than 40 internaitonal conflicts. Think of one degree of seperation: if an academic uses the word “peace,” either she has read Galtung or she studied withsomeone who read Galtung. But is it all just a “peace racket”? (more…)

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For decades Colombia has been at the same a country in shambles (civil war, drug lords dominating the economy, terrorism, etc.) with the happiest people on the planet. What gives? This raucous satire on everything dark about COlombia might provide some clues. (more…)

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What do al-Husseini, Hitler, and John Rothmann have in common? They are all going to be featured at Barnes & Noble, of course!*

But the similarities pretty much stop there. Hitler and al-Husseini were perpetrators of crimes against humanity, while Rothmann is the humble co-author of Icon of Evil: Hitler’s Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam.

The book, which Rothmann co-wrote with David G. Dalin, was released June 24th. It’s got the goods: near-unlimited linguistic resources, access to primary documents, and all the dirt on the honorary Aryan’s support of Hitler and his Final Solution. It’s a page-turner (according to the author’s in-laws) and it’s got verve (according to their publisher).

Publishers Weekly (the 7th review down) and the Middle East Times have given it stamps of approval.

Rothmann will be at the Clearwater Crossing Barnes & Noble in Indianapolis on July 9th at 7:00 p.m. to talk about his work and perhaps sell a few copies. The event promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking one, and plus there will be food.

Barnes & Noble @ Clearwater Crossing

3748 E 82nd St.

Indianapolis, IN 46240

*Thematically only! No in-person appearances by al-Husseini or Hitler

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Having reached the 50th anniversary of the great experiment in European integration, it is time to take stock of the united Europe. Has the integration of new members been successful? What does the debate on Turkey’s membership say about the future of EU integration and its changing demographics? (more…)

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There could be no headache awaiting the next president that’s bigger than North Korea, with its nukes and crisis-ridden economy. That’s why James Schoff has to worry that “the six party talks” doesn’t sound like much of a party at all. (more…)

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David Horovitz, editor of The Jerusalem Post, fell from optimism to despair about the prospects of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Hear whether he has made it back to pragmatic pessimism yet. (more…)

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During War World II, civil rights protected by the U.S. Constitution were “thrown out the window” with the imprisonment of Americans of Japanese heritage. This extreme social injustice is an example of the extreme power of racism driving government decisions. Though this tragedy occurred more than 50 years ago, the implications remain current and will be discussed in the post-9/11 context of the imprisonment of Muslim Americans. (more…)

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Ever wonder who at the White House is figuring out how to address the next complex humanitarian emergency, how to fix the next failed state? The answer: Kara McDonald. She is coming to Indy to discuss the challenges that await us, and how we can be better prepared. (more…)

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A paid American informant fingers an innocent Afghan taxi driver for a rocket attack. It’s later revealed the informant himself was actually the terrorist. The cabbie dies after five days of torture. That’s the entry point of Alex Gibney’s Oscar-winning documentary about American torture activities, illustrated with previously-unseen images, and including interviews with some of the torturers themselves, and disenchanted administration officials. Easy viewing? Probably not, but essential nonetheless … and even more essential to have an open discussion of the film’s issues. (more…)

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Sometimes it seems that Barack Obama’s main constructive foreign policy message is: “I like Dick Lugar.” Come to Marian college to find out why this is not a bad argument when Senator Lugar delivers his first public speech to the renamed Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies. (more…)

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