e-Journal Edition: August 2021

Dear Reader, This time we are paying tribute. I have heard people say that explaining Brexit using the example of Erasmus+ is a strange thing to do. And it may indeed be so, but my friend’s sister would probably disagree. OK, maybe this is not how she explains Brexit, but this is at least one … Continued

Education as Soft Power and Beyond

Education is a good thing. This is a generalisation, but one of the very few with which most people would agree. Now, what education delivered to whom, where and how are issues which have led to wars, both verbal and physical, both of epic scale. While, historically, contemplating these questions has been considered a male-brain … Continued

From Alat to Aktau on the Caspian Sea

In 2019, my partner and I wanted to travel through Central Asia, by land only. Our mission was to begin in Antalya on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, and travel all the way to Almaty, Kazakhstan, strictly by land, across the Caucasus and Central Asia. No airplanes; just trains, coaches, and boats. One of the most daunting … Continued

Aleksa Santic – Poet of the Balkan Soul, a Signpost of Unity

Introduction- Between Two Empires The city of Mostar first appeared in history books in 1474.[i] Its strategic location contributed to its fast development and expansion. From once a tiny kasaba (settlement), it has since developed into a strong economic and cultural centre. The city itself has a mixed demographic structure with Muslims, Eastern Orthodox and … Continued

‘Rebetiko’ as Cultural Expression: From Asia Minor to Greece

Greece and Turkey, two neighbouring countries, are widely known for their long standing rivalry over geopolitical and historical issues. Due to this continuing antagonism, Greeks and Turks have become what Professor Alexis Heraclides calls ‘the significant negative other’.[i] Despite their political disagreements, as well as their apparent differences in religion, language, traditions and way of … Continued

A COVID-19 experience in Baku

Emina, International Project Manager at Asfar, spent early March 2020 in Baku and although only staying for a few days, she collected a lot of memories and specific learning experiences from this trip.  During this period, we were all learning how to live with the COVID-19 pandemic, having to literally change our behavior overnight – … Continued

e-Journal Edition: January 2021

Dear Reader, This time, I want to tell you about two events, one you are likely to be familiar with and the other not so much. Just over ten years ago Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor in Tunisia, set himself on fire in protest of poor living conditions, corruption and lack of freedoms in his … Continued

Where is Georgia, exactly?

A personal essay on the difficulties and dangers of categorising countries to regions. “Where is Georgia, exactly?” This was a question I was asked many times before, during, and after my trip to Georgia in 2019. Invariably, the preceding exchange was this:  “Georgia? The US state?” “No, Georgia, the independent country.” And then: Where is … Continued

The Emirates Mars Mission: Hope for the New Knowledge-Economy

“Space is the gateway to science and science is the driver to future economy[i]“. These were the words of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Vice President and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum just before the Hope orbital satellite launched in the morning of July 2020[ii] from Tanegashima Space Centre, Japan.[iii] Also … Continued

All writers' views in articles are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Asfar team.

Published by Asfar in London, UK - ISSN 2055-7957 (Online)