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Politics
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Affairs Of State
A Brief History Of The ISIS: How One Of The World’s Most Violent Terror Group Rose To Power
ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, as confirmed by the terrorist militant group also known by the…
The World Is In A Revolutionary Moment – How Can The Global Left Be A Serious Player?
We are living in an extraordinary moment in world history. This is a period of intense, frequent and…
Why Is Chile Protesting?
Chile has been known as one of the more stable countries in South America but lately, it has…
These Are The Pros And Cons Of Every Brexit Option Left On The Table
Boris Johnson’s mantra, ever since becoming prime minister, has been to “get Brexit done”. Yet the most striking…
What Does GDP Really Mean?
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is among the most used statistics in the field of economics. In essence, GDP…
Hong Kong Protesters Shouldn’t Pin Hopes On Outsiders To Solve Their Impasse With Beijing
The decision by the US House of Representatives to pass legislation tightening up the scrutiny of Hong Kong’s…
Brexit: What Now?
EU27 approved of the extension of the Brexit deadline extension yesterday, October 28. This is after delaying its…
Baghdadi’s Death Is A Huge Blow To Islamic State, But History Suggests It Won’t Guarantee A Safer World
“A very bad man” has been killed and “the world is now a much safer place”. The sentiment…
Hong Kong Protests And Brexit Could Both End Up Benefiting Financial Elites
Protests in Hong Kong have captured the world’s attention in recent weeks, with demonstrators closing streets and the…
United Nations At 74: What Is The UN, Anyway?
October 24 is United Nations (UN) Day, marking the day the organization came into existence. You typically see…
The Top 10 Most Resilient Countries In The World 2019
We are living in a world which compels us to constantly take risks. There are times where these…
Three Ways To Stop The Global Economic System Working For Only Rich White Men
Women’s unpaid work is worth $10 trillion annually. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’s personal wealth dwarves the health budget of…
Sweden Ranked As The Most Reputable Country In The World For 2019
When it comes to a country’s reputation, bigger definitely isn’t better. With a combined population of less than…
Queen’s Speech 2019: The Queen Has Spoken. Let Us Just Get On With It.
Today, October 14, marks the State Opening of Parliament ceremony which formally starts the parliamentary year. One of…
Impeachment Won’t Save America’s Democracy
So it’s official: The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is moving toward impeaching President…
Hong Kong Is One Of The Most Unequal Cities In The World. So Why Aren’t The Protesters Angry At The Rich And Powerful?
There have been many explanations for the turmoil in Hong Kong, with protests still ongoing. However, the powerful…
Examining Inequality: A Gates Foundation Report
In the midst of the growth and development in our world, there are those who propel to new…
Pathological Power: The Danger Of Governments Led By Narcissists And Psychopaths
After spending his early life suffering under the Nazis and then Stalin, the Polish psychologist Andrew Lobaczewski devoted…
Dude! Where’s My Democracy?
People turn to authoritarian leaders not because they distrust democracy but because our system is fundamentally undemocratic. Democracy…
Is Mental Rigidity Associated With Political Zeal?
Our world is shaping up to be one filled with extreme opinions and polarizing beliefs. This is forming…
Is Global Recession Inevitable For 2020?
With the on-going trade wars amongst other things happening in the world, it is hard to avoid wondering…
Is There Such Thing As A ‘European Identity’?
The outcome of the UK’s 2016 referendum on EU membership has sent shockwaves across Europe. Among other impacts,…
The Economic Impact Of Closing The Racial Wealth Gap
The United States is one of the world’s largest economic power and this is shown in the growth…
Like ‘Shooting Water’: Why The Hong Kong Government Must Accept That Compromise Is The Only Way Forward
The Hong Kong protest movement is not deescalating – nor will it. Having battled for 12 weeks, this…
Now Is Not The Time To Defend Britain’s Democracy – We Need A Democratic Revolution
The ancient institutions of the British state are well past their sell-by date. Only a radical shake-up can…
Tech Is Fueling The Hong Kong Movement. Here’s How, And Why It’s A Huge Step For Freedom
Over the past two months, Hong Kong has roared into global headlines. Its seven million citizens have increasingly…
‘We Die Together’: Hong Kong Protests Are Being Driven By A Fearless Young Generation
As the protests in Hong Kong continue, it’s not uncommon to see teenagers dressed in full battle gear.…
Leaked Documents Show Brazil’s Bolsonaro Has Grave Plans For Amazon Rainforest
Leaked documents show that Jair Bolsonaro’s government intends to use the Brazilian president’s hate speech to isolate minorities…
Britain After Brexit: Welcome To The Vulture Restaurant
US business will asset-strip the UK, but that’s not all: the Pentagon will find the little-known fragments of…
Hong Kong Protests: History Lessons For Beijing From British Colonial Era Uprising
Beijing has made no secret that it is weighing up the option of using force – either through…
How City Squares Can Be Public Places Of Protest Or Centres Of State Control
Today’s urban public spaces tend to represent governments and cities rather than people and citizens. In the past…
Modi Ushers In A New Intolerant India And Revokes Multicultural Democracy
The Hindu Nationalist government of Narendra Modi, with unexpected suddenness, has abolished the special constitutional status of the…
Hong Kong: Why The ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Model Is On Its Last Legs
Protest organisers in Hong Kong claim that nearly two million people, most clad in black and many carrying…
Hong Kong’s Mass Protests: An Explainer
The Hong Kong mass protests made it past the eight-week mark and it has been making headlines in…
When World Leaders Thought You Shouldn’t Need Passports Or Visas
In the age of heavily restricted migration, passport control seems a natural prerogative of the state. The idea…
Could A National Buyback Program Reduce Gun Violence In America?
Americans own nearly half of the world’s guns, with approximately 120 firearms for every 100 U.S. residents. Gun…
European Union: An Explainer
What is the European Union (EU)? Why was it established and how does it work? Let’s answer these…
Protest Is Not Enough To Topple A Dictator: The Army Must Also Turn
What does it take to overthrow a dictator? Reflecting on this question in exile, Leon Trotsky wrote in…
The Ups And Downs And Clashes Of Western Civilization
Ethnocentric, sexist and racist ideologies demonstrate why it is important to de-colonise the study and teaching of European…
Globalization And The Enchantment Of The World
What does the term “globalization” mean? Is it a strictly economic phenomenon or does it involve several dimensions?…
Diversity: The Same Old Faces Are Deciding The World’s Future And It Affects Us All
Just 160,000 Tory party members chose Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson. It’s the first time in history…
Boris Johnson Is UK’s New Prime Minister – What To Expect
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is now UK’s new Prime Minister. After months of Brexit drama and with…
Why Won’t The US Supreme Court Do Anything About Racism?
The Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke fired 16 shots, killing the African-American teenager Laquan McDonald; 14 of…
Winners And Losers In The US-China Trade War
Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by a rise in protectionism. His “America First” policy has involved introducing…
At The G20, A Focus On Sideshow Diplomacy And Photo Opps, With Limited Material Gains
What a weekend it’s been: global leadership, diplomacy and theatrics, all at play on the world stage. US…
Class, Trump, Brexit, And The Decline Of The West
In politics, long-term socio-economic trends and global shifts matter more than often overstated ‘progressive’ discourses about equality, progress…
Who Really Pays For American Students To Go To College?
Individually, Americans spend a lot on higher education. Most undergraduates finish with about $30,000 in debt. It’s an…
What If Most People Love Violence?
For decades, I’ve investigated and promoted nonviolent action as a means to help create a better world. Although…
If You Oppose Donald Trump, Please Don’t Hate Him
When we allow ourselves to fall victim to hatred, we are doing our opponents’ work for them. President…
Why Hong Kong Matters
Could mainland China not seek eventual convergence towards a democratic system, respectful of the full gamut of human…