Politics & Government
What’s Next for Hong Kong Protests? Geopolitics Will Drive China’s Response
By Kathryn Urban |
This summer marks one full year of continuous protests in Hong Kong against encroachment by mainland China. While Beijing will prioritize indirect means of controlling Hong Kong, military force may be on the horizon if China finds appropriate justification.
Qaboos to Haitham: Oman’s Uncharacteristically Smooth Transition of Power
By Omar Abdellatif |
Oman’s recent transition of power was surprisingly peaceful thanks to a few key factors and limited expectations for the new Sultan.
Review of Noah Feldman’s The Arab Winter: A Tragedy
By Kathryn Urban |
Building on a renowned body of work on legal and political theory, Noah Feldman’s "The Arab Winter: A Tragedy" deftly weaves together three case studies: Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia to examine political self-determination during the Arab spring and subsequent Arab winter.
A Liberal Defense of Nationalism
By Michael Purzycki |
Identification with one’s nation has often been a liberating force. It is vital to distinguish between those forms of nationalism that are compatible with liberal values, and those that are not.
A Proposed Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap Intensifies Europe’s Integration Challenges
By Nick Lokker |
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, Kosovo’s government has fallen, leaving an uncertain future for the Western Balkan region. Within this context, the lack of clear U.S. opposition to a proposed Kosovo-Serbia land swap opens the door to potentially disastrous consequences for Europe as a whole.
COVID-19: How the West was Closed
By Jonathan Stutte |
If Western countries had pursued the elimination strategies to fighting COVID-19 as East Asian countries had, they could be avoiding lengthy shutdowns and high death tolls. Until western countries begin seriously adopting eradication strategies, they’ll find themselves isolated from international travel until they find a vaccine or adopt better strategies.
It’s Time to Hold Hungary Accountable
By Nick Lokker |
While Europe struggles to confront the coronavirus pandemic, Hungary’s government has exploited the crisis to indefinitely increase its own power. The European Union must punish Hungary for this democratic backsliding, or else risk losing its legitimacy as a community of values.
COVID-19 Is Currently Winning The Adaptability Race
By Robert Shines |
Regardless of initial missteps, the most critical thing for governments and the international community to do in the fight against COVID-19 is to adapt quickly. While some states weigh the impacts of quarantine measures on the economy, some have identified strategies that balance public health with economic health.
Peaceful Polling: A Case for African Union Action in General Elections
By Kathryn Urban |
2020 is an important election year for Africa, with citizens voting on important leadership questions in countries as diverse as Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Tanzania. Even as Somalia holds what will be the first election in fifty years, other states, notably Ethiopia and Burundi are already showing signs of an election season marred by violence.…
Are We Witnessing an African Spring?
By Kathryn Urban |
Anti-Kagame protests are sweeping Rwanda just weeks before the 2024 general election. Taken in conjunction with movements in Uganda and Zimbabwe, Rwandan activism represents the latest iteration of a regional rejection of dictatorial rule.
No Peace for Afghanistan
By Dylan Johnson |
Summary: The 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement and subsequent U.S. troop withdrawal established conditions for a lasting war between the Taliban and Afghan government. Both too weak to dominate, there is no end in sight.
Bernie Vs. the Blob
By Olivier Weiss |
President Bernie Sanders is trying to jettison the US empire. Washington will only follow begrudgingly. The Sanders administration must urgently articulate a clear strategy.
Choosing a Captain in the Storm
By Adam Ratzlaff |
As Organization of American States members prepare to select the institution’s general secretary, they need to consider the role that the leader will play in protecting democracy in the Americas.
Monitoring the U.S. Election for Democracy in the Americas
By Adam Ratzlaff |
As the United States enters the 2020 election season, politicians on both sides of the aisle should consider inviting election monitors to observe the election. Doing so would allow the United States to more effectively achieve its objectives in the Americas.
Repatriating Women and Power: Pakistan’s Golden Opportunity
By Mercedes Yanora |
In 2019, 629 Pakistani women were trafficked to China as brides. This number has ballooned, prompting mass protests. Imran Khan's government can appease the public and win reelection in 2023 by repatriating these women.
Book Review: Everything You Have Told Me is True
By Cameron Evers |
Everything You Have Told Me is True brings an updated in-country perspective to the shadowy role of Islamist militant group, al-Shabaab, in Somalia. From Mogadishu to London, and through interviews with refugees and terrorists alike, she explores al-Shabaab’s immense resilience, begging the question: is al-Shabaab here to stay?
Mental Health Stigma and Politics: Not Even Canada Gets It Right
By Jay Heisler |
It is time for a change in how we talk about mental health in politics. While we have seen great progress, there are lessons in recent scandals and in actions by pundits and journalists that faced no backlash whatsoever.
Burkina Faso, Five Years After “Revolution 2.0”
By Monica OHearn |
In 2014, following 27 years of rule by President Blaise Compaoré, Burkinabe citizens took to the streets in protest of Compaoré’s decision to seek an extension of presidential term limits and resulting in his resignation. Five years after the protests, Burkina Faso has since held the national election that activists demanded. Nevertheless, challenges continue to test the country’s democratic development, including issues and delays surrounding key country-wide decisions, insecurity in the Sahel, and weak rule of law. International organizations need to capitalize on progress made to date and continue supporting democratic growth in Burkina Faso.
Conflicting Values in the Arctic: Examining Russian-Canadian Tensions through Election Interference
By Kathryn Urban |
A forthcoming study from the University of Calgary predicts that Russian intelligence services may be interfering in the Canadian federal elections scheduled to take place at the end of October over concerns in the Arctic region.
Ethiopia’s Abiy One Year On
By Kathryn Urban |
A year after his election Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy is being challenged to continue his role as a regional mediator while resolving ethnic tensions at home. How he responds to this popular ultimatum may well shape his legacy.