In The News

September 4, 2019
Immanuel Wallerstein, a long-time contributor to YaleGlobal Online, died August 31, 2019, at the age of 88. He was also a member of the faculty of the Sociology Department at Yale. A prolific writer of many books and essays, he also developed world-system theory, suggesting the world has been caught up for centuries in a system of dominant and dependent nations and communities. “Wallerstein...
Rudabeh Shahid, Champa Patel and Ravi Hemadri September 1, 2019
Far-right governments abruptly revise policies and eliminate rights for immigrants and religious minorities, leaving some stateless. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates there are 10 million stateless people worldwide. India has stripped the state of Jammu and Kashmir of autonomy and special status, and similar disenfranchisement is underway for as many as 4 million Muslims in Assam....
August 29, 2019
China already ranks its companies and citizens on social reputation, and plans to extend rankings to individuals and firms with China operations by 2020. Large firms can expect to be ranked on about 30 categories and as many as 300 requirements including licensing, tax payments, environmental protections, billing, logistics and more. China’s government regards the system as a prerequisite for...
August 1, 2019
The Netherlands joins France and Belgium in imposing a ban on wearing garments that cover the face, including burqas, niqabs and ski masks, in public buildings and transport. Denmark, Germany, Spain and Italy impose partial bans. In the Netherlands, “The ban has been 13 years in the making and dates back to the time Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV party propped up a minority government formed by...
David Thomas July 30, 2019
Africa’s young audiences are embracing tried-and-true formulas for television programming from elsewhere in the world – “homegrown, home-produced content telling stories about themselves – it’s the same the world over,” as suggested by an executive of TVC Communications, as reported by David Thomas for African Business Magazine. Popular shows include Wake Up Nigeria and The Bachelor in South...
Endy M. Bayuni July 22, 2019
Religious freedom gives people the right to think as they choose, and too many governments and religions regard such free thought as dangerous. The US State Department brought together more than 1,000 government representatives and religious leaders from more than 130 nations for a campaign to end persecution of individuals for religious beliefs. “In the decade after the end of the Cold War, the...
Julie Hirschfeld Davis July 17, 2019
Donald Trump does not tolerate criticism of his policies, wrongly equating support for him and his policies with love of country. On Twitter, he challenged four Democratic congresswomen who have lambasted the administration’s immigration policies, including overcrowded detention camps and separation of children from their parents. On Twitter, Trump urged the representatives to “go back” to the...