Stories about Ethnicity & Race from September, 2007
Europe: Islamisation
The beatroot writes about the “non-issue” of Islamisation of Europe.
Does anything good ever happen in Africa?
Our latest roundup of diverse topics and discussions taking place in the Sudanese blogosphere begins with a provocative question about Africa, which was posed to Sudanese blogger, Kizzie, "Does anything good ever happen there?"
Russia: “The Chechen Card”
Window on Eurasia writes that there is more than one way in which “the Chechen card” could be played in the 2008 presidential election.
Swahili Blogosphere: Debating race and national identity
Richa is a Tanzanian of Indian descent. She was recently declared the winner of Miss Vodacom 2007. Her victory has attracted criticism from some members of public and has ignited a debate about national identity in the Swahili blogosphere.
Russia, Israel: Neo-Nazi
Sean's Russia Blog writes: “Russian youth’s embrace of Nazism doesn’t just happen in Russia. It’s also happens where one might not initially expect: Israel.”
Ukraine: Heritage and Femininity
Natalia Antonova again writes about heritage and femininity.
Russia: Violence in Ingushetia
Attacks on civilians in Ingushetia have increased in the past few months. The most recent victims of violence include the family of an ethnic Russian teacher from the town of Karabulak, two ethnic Koreans in Stanitsa Ordzhonikidzevskaya, and a 66-year-old ethnic Russian doctor at a blood transfusion center in Nazran. Attacks on law enforcement officials are also reported to be on the rise. To help local security forces manage the situation, some 2,500 interior ministry troops were sent to Ingushetia earlier this month. Russian bloggers discuss the situation.
Oman: Niqab Experience
Oman Sky tells us about her experience with anonymity when wearing the face veil (Niqab).
Russia: Kadyrov's “Systemic Separatism”
Window on Eurasia writes about Ramzan Kadyrov's “systemic separatism”: “his efforts to sharply limit Moscow’s control over his republic while not seeking independence as such.”
Russia: Football Fans; More on Politkovskaya
Sean's Russia Blog posts an update on Anna Politkovskaya's murder investigation and writes about the nationalist politics behind Russia's football fandom.
Brazil: The slavery heritage
“More than a century after the abolition of slavery, Brazil still has small remnant “quilombos”, free settlements created by fugitive African slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries”. Read the full report Brazil: ‘Quilombo’ Communities Fight Exclusion.
Egypt: The Cairo Social Circus
After last week's "is Mubarak Dead Scare/Celebration" that swept the Egyptian blogosphere things have gone back to normal with the usual mélange of social issues, some of them a result of the scare/controversy itself.
Russia: Kondopoga Anniversary
Window on Eurasia writes about the first anniversary of the Kondopoga riots.
Serbia: Women's Beauty
Belgrade 2.0 writes about the beauty of the majority of Serbian women – a stereotype, perhaps, but a good one.
Japan: Discrimination At Well-known Gym Chain
Debito blogged a letter written by Jim Dunlop which complained about various forms of discrimination in their policy: Be aware, that if you are either a foreigner, or have any sort of physical disability, you may be discriminated against, or even prevented from joining.
Latvia, Russia: Language Issue
Marginalia writes on the “language issue” in Latvia – and in Russia: “Over at the corner store, after years of learning to shop in Russian, I finally asked whether the cashier ever planned to learn the word for milk in Latvian (it being emblazoned in large letters on every carton...
Ukraine: The Way We Dress
Natalia Antonova writes about one “young, seemingly sane, New York intellectual” who seemed deeply traumatized by the way Ukrainian women dress.
Estonia: Setumaa; Kevade
Itching for Eestimaa visits the border region of Setumaa and watches Kevade, a 1969 Estonian film.
Estonia: Nashi-in-Estonia Interview
Itching for Eestimaa translates an interview with a “Nashi-in-Estonia Kommisar.”
Estonia: Marju Lauristin's Piece
Itching for Eestimaa translates and comments on an opinion piece about Estonia's Russians by a Tartu professor Marju Lauristin.
D. R. of Congo: Trouble in the Kivus
This month’s round-up from the Democratic Republic of Congo will focus on bloggers in North and South Kivu. Bordering Rwanda and Burundi, these two provinces represent the troubled epicenter of Central Africa’s picturesque Great Lakes region.
