Recent protests on American campuses regarding the situation in Gaza have been marked by widespread student activism and institutional responses. These protests have seen students engage in various forms of activism, including walkouts, sit-ins, and the establishment of “Solidarity Encampments.” For example, at the University of Pittsburgh, students declared a “Liberation Zone,” while at the University of Texas at Austin, a significant walkout and sit-in led to the deployment of state troopers and arrests of students. Similarly, at Yale University, a group of graduate students initiated a hunger strike to protest the university’s investments related to the conflict.
Category: Rest of the World
Istanbul’s Mayoral Election: situational brief
- Ekrem İmamoğlu has risen to prominence as the Mayor of Istanbul since 2019, with a background in business administration and human resource management from Istanbul University.
- Despite facing legal challenges, including a conviction for “insulting electoral officials” that has not resulted in a political ban pending appeal, İmamoğlu’s popularity and leadership in Istanbul were reinforced by a wide-margin victory in the 2024 mayoral election.
- İmamoğlu’s appeal across various voter demographics and his handling of Istanbul’s challenges has led to some considering him a potential future presidential candidate.
- Istanbul has always been a crucial political battleground in Turkey, and Erdoğan’s own political career began with his tenure as the city’s mayor in the 1990s.
Global Farmer Protests: Briefing Note
Recently, the agricultural sector has experienced significant unrest, manifesting in waves of farmer protests across the globe. Particularly prominent in the EU and India, these movements have been driven by a confluence of economic, environmental, and political challenges, reflecting broader concerns about sustainability, equity, and governance in the agricultural domain. This briefing note provides an overview of these protests, highlighting key examples, common themes and issues, and the wider political implications.
Navigating the Era of Gerontocracy: Health, Age, and Political Stagnation
Lately, the remarkable strides in medical science have undeniably enhanced the quality and expectancy of human life. This triumph, however, has ushered in an unintended consequence in the political arena, leading to the emergence of a gerontocracy—a governance system where the elderly hold significant power and influence. This phenomenon raises pertinent questions about the interplay between health, age, and political stagnation, and how these factors shape governance in various nations across the globe.
The term ‘gerontocracy’ originates from the Greek words ‘geron’ meaning old man and ‘kratos’ meaning power. It aptly describes a situation where leadership is predominantly in the hands of an older generation, often resulting in a resistance to change and innovation. This is particularly poignant in today’s fast-paced world, where adaptability and technological savvy are paramount.
Continue reading “Navigating the Era of Gerontocracy: Health, Age, and Political Stagnation”The Year of Elections.
Welcome to 2024! Our team is eagerly looking forward to what has been dubbed “The Year of Elections.”
Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential campaign: flashback
With interest in third-party and insurgent presidential candidates in the US at a high point, our team thought it would be fun to do a series diving into some outsider candidates from previous campaigns, both presidential and primary runs. Today, we’re looking at Ross Perot’s 1992 run for the presidency.
Ross Perot was born on June 27, 1930, in Texarkana, Texas, and made a name for himself not just as a successful businessman and billionaire, but also as a noteworthy political figure. He was the driving force behind Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962 and later, Perot Systems in 1988, both big hits in the IT world.
Continue reading “Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential campaign: flashback”China and multilateral financial institutions
Q: “has China shown the IMF, the deal that has supposedly been struck between the China EXIM Bank and Sri Lanka?”
A: “We have not seen the details of this yet, but this again should come out through our routine engagement.”
Transcript of the Press Briefing on the 2023 China Article IV Consultation Mission
That exchange, in the latest press briefing by the IMF on China, caused us to revisit our post on Sri Lanka’s debt situation and provides an opportunity to expand on the broader geopolitical issues at play.
China’s interactions with multilateral financial institutions embody its larger international ambitions. Through strategic policy choices and leveraging its creditor status, China is actively working to transform these institutions, seeking a balance between its duties and rights, and striving to infuse the global financial governance structure with its own brand of influence.
Continue reading “China and multilateral financial institutions”Sahra Wagenknecht – profile
Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent figure in German politics known for her charisma and populist leanings, has launched a new political party. The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is her venture to reshape the political spectrum by combining elements of left-populism with certain right-wing ideologies. Her objective is to provide a political home for those disillusioned with mainstream parties, particularly targeting voters who have shown an inclination towards the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) by addressing their anti-establishment sentiments and concerns over issues such as unchecked migration and the financial burdens of environmental initiatives.
Continue reading “Sahra Wagenknecht – profile”