openDemocracy

The beginning of an end to the bitter conflict in which Israelis and Palestinians are enmeshed must come from within, says Lucy Nusseibeh.

The only way to make sense of Israel's senseless war in Gaza is through understanding the historical context. The establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948 involved a monumental injustice to the Palestinians. by Avi Shlaim

"I see myself standing at the cusp of something wonderful". Jim Gabour, in New Orleans, tells an inside story of election-day in the United States

The United States presidential race is the most exciting and energising in years. Barack Obama has made it so, and in a way that opens a new era of political possibility, says openDemocracy's founder Anthony Barnett.

The United States government takeover of the insurance giant AIG signals a revolution in global finance, says Willem Buiter. "From financialisation of the economy to the socialisation of finance. A small step for the lawyers, a huge step for mankind."

The International Criminal Court was set up in 1998 and began operation in 2003. How has it discharged its responsibilties in relation to states, civil-society groups and the victims of human-rights abuse? Marlies Glasius presents an interim report-card.

This time it really is serious. The rejection by a majority of Irish people voting in the referendum to ratify the European Union Treaty of Lisbon has thrown not merely the fate of the treaty but the longer term prospects for European integration into the unknown.

The Rome summit of the Food & Agriculture Organisation failed to address the roots of the current price and hunger crises. These lie in incoherent and unfair global food policies, says Sue Branford

Wikileaks, the shadowy but seemingly genuine service for hosting leaked government and corporate documents, suffered a serious setback yesterday, when a US court forced their internet provider to remove their address records from their servers.

The Kosovo assembly in Pristina announced on 17 February 2008 that the territory was an independent state. This is the full text of its historic declaration.

A thoughtful lecture on legal pluralism by a Christian leader has been succeeded in Britain by a torrent of ill-informed and prejudiced comment about Islam-based law and influence.

The restriction of long-distance organic trade would damage African farmers while having minimal effects on the environment, argue Stephen Browne & Alexander Kasterine. By Stephen Browne, Alexander Kasterine

"The post-war multilateral order is in trouble.

The Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor and writer was assassinated on 19 January 2007. The injustice burns, but so does Hrant Dink's luminous example, writes his friend Fatma Müge Göçek.

The search for justice over the assassinated Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink requires an end to the impunity of Turkey's clandestine "deep state", says Gunes Murat Tezcur.

Kosovo's imminent independence highlights the problem of the European Union's enlargement policy in the western Balkans, says John O'Brennan. By John O'Brennan

The post-election crisis in Kenya must be met by focused understanding, international action and comprehensive solutions, says Wanyama Masinde. By Wanyama Masinde

The question of how many Iraqis have died since 2003 has been reopened. In answering it, it is vital to clarify the criteria in making a scientific assessment, says Michel Thieren. By Michel Thieren

The post-election violence in Kenya can be explained by reference to the evolution of its ethno-political mosaic since independence, says Gérard Prunier. By Gérard Prunier

The killing of Benazir Bhutto makes the United States's predicament in an already critical region even tougher. By Paul Rogers

There is a stark disjunction between the scale of global problems in 2008 and the tools available to resolve them, says David Hayes.

The post-election turbulence should provoke hard questions among Kenya's western patrons, says Michael Holman. By Michael Holman

The era of nuclear weapons and of global climate change poses dangers to human existence which must be addressed in coming decades. By Paul Rogers

The middle-east conference in

A single day, 9 August 2007, will go down in history as "debtonation day" - the beginning of the end of the deregulation and privatisation of finance that marks the era of globalisation. By Ann Pettifor

After seven years, is it any closer to making another world possible? Anthony Barnett in Nairobi takes an engaged yet critical look at the World Social Forum. By Anthony Barnett

The science is clear, the technology is available. To meet the challenge of "the most serious threat to humanity since the invention of nuclear weapons," climate-change campaigners now need to win the political argument, says Tom Burke of E3G. By Tom Burke

After four weeks of war in Lebanon, Israel's long-term strategic predicament is becoming clear. By Paul Rogers

Israel's assault on Lebanon reveals the failure of its long-standing security paradigm. By Paul Rogers