IDEAS IN MOTION

In today’s intricate societal landscape, we find ourselves navigating between two distinct yet intertwined systems of power, reminiscent of the dystopian visions presented by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. These two visions are often perceived as diametrically opposed to one another. This inherent contrast invariably raises a pertinent question: Which of these visions more closely encapsulates t...

We’re being asked to accept that a nation which boasts of having one of the most sophisticated intelligence apparatuses in the world somehow missed thousands of Hamas fighters preparing for an unprecedented incursion across Israel’s border. Dr S.A. Hamed Hosseini believes a critical examination of not just Israel’s past, but its present, opens up other potential explanations.

New Book: “CAPITAL Redefined” By S. A. Hamed Hosseini and Barry K. Gills From: Common alternatives website  November 20, 2023 Featured publication Hosseini, S A Hamed, and Barry K Gills (2024) Capital Redefined: A Commonist Value Theory for Liberating Life. London, Routledge. Open Access content is available for this title  In an age defined by capitalist systems that dominate our socioeconomic st...

It often feels like we’re stuck in a perpetual cycle of choosing the lesser of multiple evils during elections. However, once the “lesser evil” takes office, things tend to go awry, leading to the strengthening of the very “greater evil” we initially sought to avoid (even though both are inherently problematic). This vicious cycle is a fundamental contradiction within capitalist liberal democracy....

The following excerpt from the Australian Department of Industry, Science, and Resources aptly encapsulates how the discourse surrounding women and science/technology is simplified within the context of ecomodernist liberal patriarchy: “Girls’ confidence in STEM subjects is generally lower than boys and falls as they get older.” [1] However, all across these seemingly gender-justice discourses, ST...

Australian Government Accord for Higher Education Reform: An Honest Response from a Passionate Academic S A Hamed Hosseini Do national accords aimed at addressing public sector issues lead to substantive changes? I asked myself when I saw the Australian government (under Labor) unveiling their latest accord for higher education reform. In the context of higher education in Australia, as in many ot...

The recent ABC Foreign Correspondent feature brings to light a range of issues that extend beyond its immediate context. As we absorb the contents of this report, it’s clear that its implications aren’t limited to Germany alone. The concerns it highlights are part of a broader web of developments unfolding with startling rapidity. For a closer look at the perspectives presented, I invite you to wa...

Amidst the confines of our limited perspective, where faith in the transformative power of voting falters, we must challenge our deservedness of the current political landscape. Can we envision an alternative? Can we dare to strive for the ‘impossible’ when the ‘possible’ wreaks havoc on our world? Liberal, representative, and parliamentary democracies have grown out of a history intertwined with...

In the realm of higher education, unions exist as both contributors to challenges and potential solutions. The need for a grassroots movement becomes apparent to effectively reclaim not only the university but also the unions themselves.

Eid ul Fitr Homily (13-May-21) The speech by S A Hamed Hosseini discusses the meaning of "fitr" in Quran by drawing the indigenous meaning of the concept. 

by S.A. Hamed Hosseini, University of Newcastle, Australia COVID-19 has shown that radical transformations are not only possible but unavoidable to prevent greater implosions. Living through a slow- or de-growth status – where collective “well-living” is gaining primacy over hedonistic well-being – has awakened us to the implausibility of returning to the old normal. Now is the time to quarantine...

Article by: S A Hamed Hosseini Source: Hosseini, S. (2018). From well-being to well-living: Towards a post-capitalist understanding of quality of life. [Journal Article]. AQ – Australian Quarterly, 89(2), 35-39. Retrieved from https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=472003185948185;res=IELAPA Australians are told that they live in one of the top 10 richest countries in the world in terms...

Within the pages of the Quran, a narrative emerges that starkly opposes male dominance and misogyny, while advocating for the empowerment of women. This 1400-year-old text, which predates all other written texts with an inclination towards gender justice, reveals itself as a herald of a progressive movement during its era. Astonishingly, despite the passage of fourteen centuries, it continues to o...

Demystifying ‘Malakat Ayman’ (the so-called ‘slave girl’!) Is slavery recognized in the Quran? And does the Quran state that Muslim men can take slave women or concubines as their property, or marry them by force, even if these women are married to someone else? To answer this question, let’s examine the conventional translations of Verse 24 from Surah An-Nisa, that addresses Muslim men with respe...

These two topics, as per the interpretations of scholars and translators, are mentioned respectively in verses 20 and 24 of Surah At-Tur. “They will recline on thrones lined up, and We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.” (Quran, 52:20) “And there will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them as if they were pearls well-protected.” (Quran, 52:24) Only two w...

A video featuring an Arab cleric has been making rounds on social media. In this video, the cleric asserts that a verse from Surah An-Naba (Chapter 78) in the Quran provides a detailed description of the physical attributes of the celestial maidens. He goes so far as to claim that even the size of their breasts has been precisely outlined. Remarkably, the cleric’s discourse centers entirely on a m...

Imam Hussein ibn Ali's martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala has left a profound impact on history, standing as a symbol of resistance against tyranny and oppression. While the annual commemoration of Ashura honors his sacrifice, the complexities behind his choices remain intriguing. Delving into historical narratives, Hussein's stand emerges as a testament to the struggle between the forces...

The concept of life as a purposeful creation of the universe or a higher power instills a profound appreciation for its inherent value and interconnectedness. This perspective motivates individuals to engage in selfless struggles and compassionate actions, contributing to the greater purpose of life's endurance and flourishing for all. To evaluate the certainty of such a worldview, comparing i...

In our materialistic, capital-centric, and market-oriented world, morality has become a precious rarity, overlooked by the very principles that govern our socio-ecological relationships. If only morality were given its rightful place, the essence of more-than-human goodness would command an exorbitant price unattainable even to the richest of the rich. However, in its relentless pursuit of profit,...

Hosseini in this episode debunks the myth of capitalist democracy that "Economic Liberalization brings about Political Liberalization! He argues that in the 21st century where the liberal democracy is in demise as the result of losing its legitimacy and illiberal populism is on the rise, there are also great opportunities and motivations for realizing radical democracy as an alternative. This can...

How ‘Critically Open-minded’ are we? An Australian Perspective, through the World Values Survey (2005-2012) Dr S A Hamed Hosseini Professor Lawrence J. Saha Abstract Background: In terms of theoretical background, the notion of ‘open-mindedness’ has been widely discussed in philosophy, and educational, organizational, and social psychological studies (as an aspect of individuals’ personality influ...

Social Movements for Global Alternatives: Livelihood, Collaboration, Transformation Thursday, 14 July 2016: 09:20 Location: Hörsaal II (Neues Institutsgebäude (NIG)) Oral Presentation S A Hamed Hosseini, The University of Newcastle, Australia Barry GILLS, University of Helsinki, Finland We live in a neoliberal era of multiple crises, social upheavals, and political flux. Yet the continuing confron...

The Future of Capital and Its Alternatives in 21st Century: The Essentiality of Economic Democratization Seyed A. HOSSEINI FARADONBEH, The University of Newcastle, Australia and Barry GILLS, University of Helsinki, Finland Abstract Text: In the 21st century, “Capital” requires a more comprehensive and applicable definition than merely a social process where money makes more money through productio...

What makes us more ‘Critically Open-minded’ in a Globalized World? An Australian Perspective S A Hamed Hosseini (The University of Newcastle) Lawrence J Saha (The Australian National University)  ISA 2016 Conference Presentation, Vienna, Austria  Abstract This paper defines and examines a new concept of ‘Critical Open-mindedness’ within an Australian context as a social-attitudinal colle...

Theorizing the Rise of Right-Wing Populism in the Post-Globalist Era: Toward an Integrative Approach ISA conference presentation, 2018, Toronto, Canada Lawrence J. Saha, Australian National University S A HamedHosseini, University of Newcastle In this paper, we will present a critical review of the contemporary academic literature regarding the social nature and nurture of Rightwing Populism (RWP)...