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Imperialism is not a univocal phenomenon. From its economic dimension to its cultural imprint, the theories that analyze it offer an indispensable map for understanding how global domination is perpetuated. The classical economic tradition situates imperialism as a structural necessity of capitalism. Karl Marx pointed out in volume III of Capital that the falling tendency of the rate of profit pushes capital to expand beyond national borders: colonization thus becomes an escape valve for a system that needs markets and … Read more

On 27 February 2026, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, announced the start of a military offensive against Afghanistan under the label “open war”. The operation, codenamed “Ghazab lil-Haq” (“Just Fury”), began just one day before the United States and Israel launched their joint offensive against Iran. Since then, while international attention has focused on the Middle East conflict, a silenced war has taken hold on the border between two neighbouring nations that had been strategic allies for decades. The escalation … Read more

The legacy of imperialism shapes the present. Understanding its evolution is a necessary tool for analyzing the geopolitical and economic tensions of the 21st century. A chronological journey reveals how dynamics of domination adapted to the times. The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) was one of the major events of contemporary history, marking the division of the globe into spheres of influence and the partition of the African continent. Under the justification of social Darwinism and civilizing paternalism, the United Kingdom, France, … Read more

On 25 April 1974, the Carnation Revolution, led by the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), brought an end to Portugal’s Estado Novo, the longest-running dictatorship in Western Europe. In a non-violent uprising, the population took to the streets to support the military, placing red carnations in the barrels of their rifles. José Afonso’s song “Grândola, Vila Morena” was broadcast on the radio to serve as a signal to the groups that simultaneously seized the various seats of power, and it became … Read more

  January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorates the victims and highlights the planned mechanisms of systematic oppression. The Holocaust was not a random act, but an organized and bureaucratized process, as historical documentation on the systematic identification and persecution of Jews and other groups by the Nazis shows. This pattern of violence can also be seen in other recent genocides and ethnic cleansing, such as in Rwanda, Srebrenica, and Myanmar. During World War II, state technology and administrative systems … Read more

When art stands as a collective voice, its resonance can be transformed into action. In 2012, the album Occupy This Album: 99 Songs for the 99 Percent crystallized this synergy between musical creation and social commitment. Compiling songs by artists such as Tom Morello, Patti Smith, and Ani DiFranco, the project not only spread criticism of the concentration of wealth, but also donated its profits to support the Occupy Wall Street movement. It was born during the struggle between emerging … Read more

“Sleep Now in the Hole” (2000), by the American band Rage Against the Machine, is a denunciation of the commodification of democracy. The song, produced by Rick Rubin, was recorded in October 1999 amidst growing global unrest: weeks before the Battle of Seattle erupted and the IMF imposed draconian austerity measures on 42 countries. The music video, directed by Michael Moore, was filmed in January 2000 at the New York Stock Exchange. It was an act of calculated civil disobedience: … Read more

The Battle of Seattle, which took place between November 30 and December 3, 1999, during the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, marked a turning point in the struggle against global capitalism. The mobilization brought together more than 50,000 activists and militants from unions, environmental movements, student groups, and anarchist organizations in an unprecedented convergence that paralyzed the city. The objective was clear: to dismantle the myth of neoliberal inevitability through creative direct action. The origin lies in the accumulation of … Read more

The documentary This Is What Democracy Looks Like (2000), directed by Jill Friedberg and Rick Rowley, captures the essence of the protests against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Seattle in November 1999. Filmed on location with cameras provided by activists, the film compiles first-hand accounts of demonstrations that brought together more than 50,000 people from all walks of life and backgrounds (from trade unionists to environmentalists, from First Nations groups to anarchists) in what was a key turning point … Read more

The power structure has historically sought to associate protest and dissent with violence by using different concepts as synonyms, thus equating violence with dissent and non-violence with reformist processes. Five key concepts will therefore be distinguished below: Violence. Violence is understood as the deliberate use of physical or psychological force against individuals, groups or communities with the intention of causing harm. Galtung distinguishes between three levels: Direct violence. Explicit acts involving actions that cause physical or psychological harm to individuals … Read more