From Trilateral to Troika, and from the Five-Pointed Star to the Five Star MovementStefano CiammaroniTwo events made this year’s month of March a densely political one in Italy. On 4 March, the general election resulted in a hung Parliament, but saw the definite political victory of Italy’s two main populist parties: the Five Star … Continue reading "From Trilateral to Troika, and from the Five-Pointed Star to the Five Star Movement"
Stalking HistoryBill VourvouliasOn Hunter of Stories. 2017. By Eduardo Galeano. Translated by Mark Fried. Nation Books. The late Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano made it his life’s mission to come up with an alternate history of Latin America, one that relied more on … Continue reading "Stalking History"
Look at What You’ve DoneMaryam Ivette ParhizkarI love my child but I will always love my father more. I love my child and this is why I learn to keep her good face clean. As you clean your face remember to move your hands toward your … Continue reading "Look at What You’ve Done"
from Emilie’s FlightManthia DiawaraEven with everything in such turmoil since Antoine’s body had been found on the beach, Maï was very happy that Emilie had decided to come see her. The two friends Skyped all the time, but it was the first time … Continue reading "from Emilie’s Flight"
Musical MigrancyEdward Akintola HubbardOn Cape Verde, Let’s Go: Creole Rappers and Citizenship in Portugal. 2015. By Derek Pardue. University of Illinois Press. As Europe grapples with an apparently inexorable wave of ethnic nationalist politics in response to its so-called immigrant crisis, the question … Continue reading "Musical Migrancy"
Three PoemsMark Francis JohnsonF Rations Crippled little spheriod super-capsule unsafe to outlive, the whole body the WHOLE BODY of a strong people presents you with this old gift certificate gene, we trillion as one willed it to be spliced into tin can F … Continue reading "Three Poems"
Baldwin’s FBI BluesBill V. MullenOn James Baldwin: The FBI File. 2017. Edited by William J. Maxwell. Arcade Books. “Isn’t Baldwin a well-known pervert?” So wrote FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in a 1964 internal FBI memo, a single page in a file that extended … Continue reading "Baldwin’s FBI Blues"
Gaza FracturesBashir Abu-MannehIs there a characteristically Gazan sentence? Could it be this one from Asmaa al-Ghul’s recent short story “You and I,” published in The Book of Gaza (Comma Press, 2014): “Drops of morning dew evaporate taking the pain with them, because … Continue reading "Gaza Fractures"