Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra
Democracy Has a Life of Its Own
by Nihar Nalini Sarangi countercurrents.org/2026/07/democr…
Nihar Nalini Sarangi reflects on the enduring resilience of democratic societies and the historical limits of concentrated power. Drawing on examples ranging from the French Revolution and anti-colonial struggles to the Emergency and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the article argues that democratic institutions ultimately depend on public memory, participation, and dissent. It also highlights the significance of a recent judicial observation on the treatment of citizens in contemporary India, viewing it as an important reminder of the judiciary’s constitutional role in safeguarding democratic values and protecting citizens’ rights. The essay places current concerns within a broader historical perspective.
https://x.com/i/status/2072985338553774293
Authoritarian Democracy in India
by P C Neogi countercurrents.org/2026/07/author…
This essay argues that India’s democratic institutions are undergoing sustained erosion through the concentration of executive power, weakening of independent institutions, suppression of dissent, and the rise of majoritarian politics. It examines the historical roots of authoritarian tendencies in the Indian state, traces their evolution from the Emergency period to the present, and critiques developments such as centralisation, the use of legal instruments against dissent, and the phenomenon of "bulldozer justice." The article calls for renewed democratic mobilisation and collective action to defend constitutional values, secularism, social justice, and democratic accountability.
https://x.com/i/status/2072971157838709079
From Independence to Interdependence
by Lawrence S Wittner countercurrents.org/2026/07/from-i…
Lawrence S. Wittner examines the limits of national independence in addressing the defining challenges of the twenty-first century. While anti-colonial struggles secured political sovereignty for much of the world, problems such as war, nuclear weapons, climate change, pandemics, inequality, mass migration, and unregulated technologies increasingly transcend national borders. The article argues that effective responses require stronger forms of international cooperation and renewed commitment to global institutions, particularly the United Nations. It concludes that the transition from an era centered on national independence to one grounded in international interdependence has become an urgent historical necessity for humanity's shared future and survival.
https://x.com/i/status/2072958895232815352
What Makes a University a Space of Inquiry
by Vaishali Sharma countercurrents.org/2026/07/what-m…
In this reflective essay, Vaishali Sharma examines how universities are changing under growing demands for research output, innovation, employability, and measurable impact. She argues that the deeper purpose of higher education cannot be understood through institutional metrics alone, but through the everyday experience of academic life. The article explores the role of attention, inquiry, and intellectual engagement in shaping meaningful learning and research. It invites readers to consider how universities can sustain spaces where ideas are explored with openness, complexity is engaged seriously, and the conditions necessary for genuine inquiry continue to exist.
https://x.com/i/status/2072919559674474782
Finding a lever for civilizational transformation
by Jeremy Lent countercurrents.org/2026/07/findin…
Drawing on systems theory, ecological thought, and social transformation frameworks, Jeremy Lent argues that meaningful civilizational change requires more than policy reforms or technological disruption. He contends that the deepest leverage for transformation lies in shifting the underlying worldview that shapes society's institutions and values. The article explores concepts such as interconnectedness, the Three Horizons model, and "islands of coherence"—communities already practicing alternative ways of living and organizing. Lent suggests that supporting and connecting these emerging models may offer a practical pathway toward a more just, ecological, and cooperative civilization.
https://x.com/i/status/2072614783145381915
The Pedagogy of Consent: Surveillance’s Long Romance with the Ordinary
by Asmi Gupto countercurrents.org/2026/07/the-pe…
As AI-powered consumer devices become increasingly integrated into everyday life, concerns about surveillance, consent, and data extraction continue to grow. Examining Meta’s new AI eyewear alongside historical examples of mass communication technologies, this article explores how systems of monitoring are often normalized through convenience, affordability, celebrity endorsement, and consumer culture. Drawing on the work of Shoshana Zuboff, Antonio Gramsci, and security research on social engineering, it argues that surveillance rarely advances through overt coercion alone. Instead, it becomes embedded in ordinary life through mechanisms that encourage voluntary participation and render forms of control increasingly difficult to recognize.
https://x.com/i/status/2072543281586577564
Neoliberalism and the Age of Plutocracy: A Socialist Reflection on Power, Profit, and Collapse
by Mark Kirkwood Callingham countercurrents.org/2026/07/say-ca…
This essay argues that neoliberalism, rather than immigration, identity politics, or social welfare, is the principal force behind growing economic insecurity and inequality in contemporary societies. Drawing connections between corporate power, environmental destruction, and democratic decline, the author critiques the concentration of wealth and political influence in the hands of global elites. At the same time, the essay acknowledges the achievements of modern economies while calling for a more ethical and sustainable social order. It is a reflection on capitalism, ecological crisis, political responsibility, and the possibilities for systemic change. The article situates these concerns within a broader historical context.
https://x.com/i/status/2072229795585482801
From Fringe Rhetoric to Mainstream Politics: How Hate Speech Has Become Normal in Modi’s India
by Mohd Ziyaullah Khan countercurrents.org/2026/06/from-f…
The controversy surrounding BJP Minority Morcha leader Nazia Elahi Khan has renewed debate over hate speech, political discourse, and communal relations in India. This article argues that inflammatory rhetoric has increasingly moved from the political fringes into the mainstream, aided by social media amplification and selective accountability. It examines how provocative statements can generate political visibility while deepening social divisions, and contends that consistent legal and moral standards are essential to uphold constitutional values of equality, dignity, and fraternity. The article calls for impartial accountability and a renewed commitment to protecting India's pluralistic democratic fabric.
https://x.com/i/status/2070064726584041915
How the Ramayan Serial Shaped the Politics of Hindutva: Reflections and Memories
by Dr Suresh Khairnar countercurrents.org/2026/07/how-th…
In this personal and political reflection, Dr. Suresh Khairnar examines the role of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan television serial in shaping the social and political climate that facilitated the rise of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and Hindutva politics. Drawing on conversations with a senior Savarkarite, memories from the Bhagalpur riots, and decades of political activism, he argues that religious mobilisation transformed India's political landscape while deepening communal divisions. The article traces the intersections of media, faith, nationalism, and electoral politics, and reflects on their long-term consequences for secularism, democracy, and social cohesion in India.
https://x.com/i/status/2072532416871407667
Mediatisation of a New Imperial Spirituality in Contemporary India
-Johnson Thomaskutty researchgate.net/profile/Johnso…
https://x.com/i/status/2069298677102076132
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