In The News

openDemocracy: The Origins of Populism

Seren Selvin Korkmaz and Alphan Telek February 1, 2018
Political movements focused on democracy and justice are more anti-populist than populist, argue Seren Selvin Korkmaz and Alphan Telek for Open Democracy. Deepening polarization between conservatives and progressives – the inability for governments to reach compromise – adds political uncertainty and threatens prosperity. “’The tyranny of the majority’ which is becoming the hegemonic power in...

BBC News: Kenya's Raila Odinga “Inaugurates” Himself as President

Dickens Olewe January 31, 2018
Kenyan’s government is in turmoil with two men claiming to be president. Elections were held in August 2017, and courts found irregularities and ordered a repeat election in October. Raila Odinga, an opposition leader, boycotted that October election that led to President Uhuru Kenyatta being sworn in for a second term in November 2017. Official results suggest that Kenyatta won 98 percent of the...

The Economist: Bitter Rivalry Between Arab States Is Spilling Into Africa

January 30, 2018
The increasingly hostile division between the Saudi-Egyptian-Emirati bloc and the neighboring Gulf state of Qatar has begun spilling over into the Horn of Africa. The Economist observes, “the regional imbroglio pits two camps of Muslims” that also coincides with level of support for the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey and Iran , unlike the three other nations, do not oppose the Muslim Brotherhood....

The Diplomat: Central Asian States Step Up Afghan Diplomacy

Catherine Putz January 24, 2018
Challenges in any of the landlocked Central Asian nations impact overall regional security. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are taking steps for regional diplomacy and reduced isolation for Afghanistan. Regional discussions on water management, energy cooperation, transportation links and trade are underway; representatives express concern about terrorism and women’s rights. “Kazakhstan, the first...

The Economist: America’s Federal Government Shuts Down Over Immigration

January 22, 2018
Immigration policy is the point of contention for US Congress struggling to pass a spending bill: specifically, ending temporary status for young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and invested in education, careers, homes and community based on a shield us provided by the Obama administration. That status ends in March. That quarrel led to a shutdown of the US federal...

McClatchy: FBI Checks If Russian Money Went to NRA

Peter Stone and Greg Gordon January 19, 2018
A counterintelligence investigation is underway by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation on whether a banker – Alexander Torshin, deputy governor for the Russian central bank – secretly transferred funds to the National Rifle Association to help the Donald Trump presidential election campaign. “It is illegal to use foreign money to influence federal elections,” reports Peter Stone and Gregg...

NPR: US Freezes More Than Half of Aid to UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees

Bill Chappell January 17, 2018
Aid is an essential tool for foreign policy, diplomacy and security. “The State Department is withholding $65 million it planned to send to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, calling for reforms and for other nations to step up their support — especially those that criticize the Trump administration's positions regarding Palestinians and Israel,” reports Bill Chappell for NPR. The US...