There is something brewing underneath the surface. Recent months have seen a surge of drastic forms of citizen action in various parts of the world. Hivos will host a panel followed by a public discussions with activists from Egypt, Spain India and Syria to discuss their motives, visions, differences and connection on September 15th.
The 'Arab spring' that has swept from Tunisia to Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and beyond seemed to come from nowhere, reducing autocratic governments and Western and Eastern observers alike to stunned confusion. A summer of protest followed. In Greece, Spain, Israel and other parts of Western Europe (young) citizens have taken to the streets, sometimes peacefully, sometimes violently.
What these events seem to have in common is the expression of a growing disillusionment and loss of faith in the political and economic systems. Yet, the agenda’s and motives of those who have taken to the streets remain unclear.
Are these protest movements in anyway linked and in touch? Are we witnessing, as some commentators have argued, a new wave of (digital) social mobilization for transformative social change? If so, then what alternative solutions are on offer? What strategies are being used to ensure that demands and protest turn into policy and action? Time for a critical discussion with some of the prime suspects involved and people who have been following recent events.
With:
Ahmed Zidan – Mid East Youth, Egypt
Leila Nagawati – Syrian/Spanish journalist & social movement activist
Mohammed Elagati – Arab Forum for Alternatives
Akshay Khanna – Institute of Development Studies
Participation
When: Thursday September 15, 2011, 17.00 – 19.00h
Where: Museum for Communication, The Hague
Participation upon registration only.
Please register at registration@hivos.nl
Maximum number of participants: 75
More knowledge
Together with
IDS,
ISS and CiS, the Hivos knowledge programme will bring together activists, academic and social practitioners from the global south and global north. We will connect the 'old' world of social movements and civil society building with emerging knowledge on social mobilization 2.0 and if attempts to link the development sectors' knowledge on 'aided change' with broader social processes. The purpose is to deepen our understanding and reflect on implications for civic support practices and further academic research.
PhotoCC:Flickr SyrianFreedomCaptured
