Click above to see photographs of this issue     • Search an article     • Subscription     • Using the site

Focus The end of the Cold War and the transition to democracy in many developing nations were expected to give a fresh boost to academic freedom. But everywhere, scholars are running up against multiple pressures. In some places, they risk prison or death if they are too outspoken. In the rich world, and even more acutely in the South, cutbacks in public funding are forcing universities to secure corporate funds, a trend that can provoke blatant conflicts of interest. Dossier concept and coordination by Cynthia Guttman, UNESCO Courier journalist Afghan women: knowledge and revolt The only university open to Afghan women is located in Faizabad in northern Afghanistan, an area not under Taliban control. Antoinette de Jong photographed students there in April 2001. In this first-hand account, NGO director Chekeba Hachemi speaks sof the suffering of her people, but also of their spirit of resistance. She appeals to the world community not to let Afghanistan become “an inconsolable country.” Photographs by Antoinette de Jong, text by Chekeba Hachemi. Antoinette de Jong is a Dutch photographer; Chekeba Hachemi is president of the NGO Afghanistan libre A coastal balancing act The rich biodiversity of coastal regions can be protected without chasing away tourism and other activities. On one condition: that local people play the lead role in steering conservation projects, says coastal expert Stephen B. Olsen Interview by Lucia Iglesias Kuntz, UNESCO Courier journalist Dilemmas in a tropical paradise “We want tourists, but not too many,” say the 400 inhabitants of Xcalak, a village on Mexico’s southeast coast. They’ve taken steps to protect the area, but that may not be enough to keep developers at bay Gerardo Tena, Mexican journalist Getting the spin right on history Over the past decade, profound historical changes have led many countries to revise how they teach history in school. Falk Pingel* looks at the pitfalls of the exercise Interview by Shiraz Sidhva, UNESCO Courier journalist Germany: two histories reunited It’s taken several years, but students across the country are now learning a common version of history that takes stock of everyday life and dissident movements in the former East Germany Thomas Schnee, journalist based in Berlin Leaving room for dissent Gillian Evans, lecturer in theology at Cambridge University, public policy secretary for the Council for Academic Freedom and Academic Standards (CAFAS) Economic rights: the big comeback Is the economic divide a root cause of the September 11 attacks? For several years, human rights organizations have made the fight against economic injustice a top priority Philippe Demenet, UNESCO Courier journalist Tune into the “new conscience of Islam” There is a reformist current in Islam, one that takes a critical approach to its origins. For Moroccan philosopher Abdou Filali-Ansary*, if Muslims had more room to freely debate issues, religion and politics might no longer be so closely entwined Interview by Sophie Boukhari, UNESCO Courier journalist One Islam, a mosaic of believers Allah is one but Islam is a mosaic. The Muslim world is a linguistic tower of Babel, an ethnic patchwork, a geographical puzzle and a political kaleidoscope offering a picture of extraordinary doctrinal diversity Slimane Zéghidour, journalist for the French weekly La Vie, author of Daily Life in Mecca, published in French in 1990 by Hachette An unseen world: how the media portrays the poor Following the attacks on the United States, many commentators have pondered the Western public’s ignorance of life and issues in the developing world. The author of a major study discusses why this is so, and what can be done Greg Philo, professor of Communications at the University of Glasgow and Research Director of the Glasgow University Media Group Boris Cyrulnik : Surviving the trauma of life Trauma and anxiety are the lot of a growing number of young people, as violence holds sway and traditional notions of the family disintegrate. But there are roads to recovery, says French globetrotting psychologist, Boris Cyrulnik Interview by Sophie Boukhari, UNESCO Courier journalist