In The News

BBC News: Europe and Nationalism

September 10, 2018
Nationalist and far-right parties are making electoral gains throughout Europe. The most recent example: Sweden Democrats winning about 18 percent of the vote on September 9. BBC News points to common themes including opposition to immigration and refugees, Islam and the European Union project: “In part, this can be seen as a backlash against the political establishment in the wake of the...

New York Times: Resistance Inside the Trump Administration

September 6, 2018
The United States is in democratic crisis with chaos in the White House and ongoing questions about the president’s capabilities. The New York Times took the extraordinary step of publishing an anonymous opinion essay said to be written by a senior official in the Trump administration, among the many “working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations…. But...

Mail & Guardian: New Zimbabwe Is Not So Different

Simon Allison August 2, 2018
The internatonal community had hoped the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe would introduce a period of stability and prosperity. After fighting for Zimbabwe’s independence, Mugabe was the country’s president from 1987 until November 2017 when he was forced to resign. The country failed to deliver a peaceful or credible election on July 30, reports Simon Allison for the Mail & Guardian,...

The Atlantic: Fears of a Pakistani Strongman

Omar Waraich July 28, 2018
Imran Khan has declared victory as prime minister in an election in Pakistan marred by charges of corruption and military interference. Khan’s supporters hope he can soothe country’s many internal divisions. “Khan views himself as classic populist, a politician who opposes a corrupt, morally inferior class of elites,” writes Omar Waraich for the Atlantic. “But many doubt whether he can unite such...

Daily Naya Digantha: Bangladesh as Pakistan or Kashmir?

Minar Rashid July 11, 2018
Political opponents can be counted on to issue dire warnings to sway support their way. Supporters of the Awami League warn that the party’s loss could make Bangladesh similar to Pakistan, and some observers suggest India may be working to boost the Awami League in the elections to be held later this year. With more than 160 million people, Bangladesh ranks as the world’s eighth most populous...

Reuters: British Foreign Secretary Quits Over Brexit Plan

Elizabeth Piper, William James and Andrew MacAskill July 9, 2018
European nations share many trade, travel and security benefits from membership in the European Union. In 2016 with a close vote, British voters supported leaving the union after assurances that exit would be easy. As details on Brexit costs emerged, Prime Minister Theresa May favored retaining close ties with the EU – with a free trade area on goods but restrictions on immigrants. Two cabinet...

Foreign Policy: Mexico Could Take Left Turn on Foreign Policy

Richard G. Miles June 29, 2018
Mexican voters are expected to elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador as president on July 1– and “relations with the United States could fall into new depths,” reports Richard Miles for Foreign Policy. By taking the leftist turn, Mexicans may think they are resisting the far-right and anti-immigrant policies of the US president but they could actually be following his lead by embracing populism,...