In The News

Nationalist Surge Divides India: New York Times

Jeffrey Gettleman, Kai Schultz, Suhasini Raj and Hari Kumar April 19, 2019
Since his ascension to power five years ago, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have championed Hindu nationalism despite the country’s long history of secularism. In the same election that brought the BJP into power, India’s Muslim minority, which makes up 15 percent of the total population, received record low representation in Parliament. During Modi’s tenure,...

In Sudan, a Transition to Democracy? Foreign Policy

Robbie Gramer, Justin Lynch, Colum Lynch, Jefcoate O’Donnell April 14, 2019
After four months of nationwide protests, the Sudanese military ousted President Omar al-Bashir, ending three decades of dictatorial rule. The dethronement of al-Bashir, under house arrest due to his 2009 indictment by the International Criminal Court for the Darfur genocide, leaves a power vacuum. Defense Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, under US sanctions for his role in the Darfur genocide, failed...

Threats to Israel’s Democracy: Vox

Zack Beauchamp April 11, 2019
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold office for a record fifth term. “The consequences of his victory for both Israelis and Palestinians could very well be catastrophic,” writes Zack Beauchamp for Vox. “The past several years of Netanyahu’s time in office have been characterized by drift in two illiberal, anti-democratic directions.” Israeli voters embrace far-right hard-line stances, with...

Brexit Wreckers: New Statesman

Stephen Bush April 5, 2019
The United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community in 1973 and the complex political and economic structures have integrated and grown together since. The UK’s exit from the European Union is no easy task, with polarization and no clear majority on how to proceed. The best approach for all involved is a unified one that transcends usual politics. Prime Minister Theresa May has “...

Thai Election: Straits Times

March 26, 2019
With high interest and high stakes associated with elections, political parties no longer patiently await official results. Instead, they turn to fast, global communications to tout victory, criticize results and shape the view of those on election watch. The goal is to weaken opponents, with the consequence of weakening entire nations and democracy. The Straits Times, relying on newswire...

Mueller Report Completed: Washington Post

Matt Zapotosky and Rosalind S. Helderman March 22, 2019
A team under Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted a final report to the US Attorney General William Barr who will review the findings and determine which details can be shared with Congress and the public at large. Barr informed Congress that the department did not block investigators from pursing leads. The team was responsible for investigating interference in the 2016 presidential campaign...

South America and Venezuela: Foreign Affairs

Oliver Stuenkel March 3, 2019
Since the wave of democratization in the 1980s swept the continent, South America has strengthened intraregional connections in an effort to reject foreign intervention, especially from the United States and the West. Brazil led the charge in ensuring that its neighboring countries would not resort to authoritarian governance. For some time, multinational organizations, created to bring about...