Mali: Conflict, Political Instability and Future Conflict

Photo from Alchetron The Republic of Mali, home to more than 20 million people, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Since the outbreak of the Mali War in 2012, the country has been embroiled in military and political conflict, including two coups d’état in the past two years. Conflict began in the country following … Continue reading Mali: Conflict, Political Instability and Future Conflict

Is Democracy under threat? With Niheer Dasandi

Is Democracy under threat? In this episode, Esther, our Europe Events Officer, speaks with Niheer Dasandi, a senior lecturer in Politics and Development at Birmingham University and author of ‘Is Democracy Failing?’ Throughout the interview, they talk about the challenges that contemporary democracy is facing as well as recent trends. There are discussions about populism, … Continue reading Is Democracy under threat? With Niheer Dasandi

China versus the U.S. – Two superpowers and the fight for influence in Latin America and the Caribbean

Photo by Damir Sagolj The United States has long been considered the hegemonic power of the world yet China’s increase in military expenditure, global integration, and global financial lending means that China is now threatening their position. Recent years have seen the increase in tensions between the two sides with China rapidly expanding its influence … Continue reading China versus the U.S. – Two superpowers and the fight for influence in Latin America and the Caribbean

The dark side of the model minority myth for Asian Americans

Over the past few years, Asian Americans have suffered an increase in hate crimes, particularly with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. How can we reconcile this with the stereotype of Asian Americans being the ‘model minority’? The model minority myth is a racial stereotype imposed upon Asian Americans, often depicting them as a successful … Continue reading The dark side of the model minority myth for Asian Americans

Shell, exploitation and murder: Nigeria’s double-edged attachment to oil

Ken Saro-Wiwa. Before the 1990s, he was perhaps most well-known for being the producer of Basi & Company, an incredibly popular African sitcom which aptly parodied the ‘get rich quick’ mentality and corruption present in oil-rich Nigeria. However, during the 1990s, he was better known for his activism on behalf of his people in Ogoniland, … Continue reading Shell, exploitation and murder: Nigeria’s double-edged attachment to oil

A difficult turn to the left: Peru’s latest election and Castillo’s plans

Pedro Castillo was declared President of Peru on June 28, 2021 Peruvian politics has always been interesting. The country has experienced multiple coups, numerous changes to its constitution, and an abundance of interesting presidents. Peru itself is on the west coast of the South American continent with a population of over thirty million people. In … Continue reading A difficult turn to the left: Peru’s latest election and Castillo’s plans

Afghanistan and the end of the liberal intervention

U.S. Troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of summer leading to a Taliban takeover Photo: https://www.army-technology.com/news/us-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-august/ At the end of summer, pundits, politicians, and the public alike watched the slow encroachment of the Taliban across Afghanistan with horror. Following the withdrawal of the bulk of American troops in most of the country, Western media … Continue reading Afghanistan and the end of the liberal intervention