New Zealand is far from a tyranny. But there are signs its democratic institutions are not as robust as they might be – with the proposed ‘fast-track’ legislation bringing concerns to a head.
Traditional authorities are a key part of the daily lives of millions of Africans.
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Douglas Yates, American Graduate School in Paris (AGS)
Gabon’s military ruler risks becoming the country’s third autocratic leader if he fails to generate economic growth and return the country to democratic paths.
Students have now been protesting on Australian campuses for weeks. But as the camps become more established, so, too, do concerns about student safety.
One-third of Americans think that “rule by a strong leader or the military would be a good way of governing their country.” Are they losing faith in democracy?
Some newspapers defied government threats in 2013, and published pictures of President Jacob Zuma’s private home, which was revamped using taxpayers’ money.
Alexander Joe/AFP via Getty Images.
Fewer young South Africans are doing as well as their counterparts from 30 years ago. They are hardest hit by unemployment.
Mahamat Idriss Deby (C) waves to his supporters during his presidential campaign in N'Djamena, on 14 April 2024.
Denis Sassou Gueipeur/AFP via Getty Images
Chad’s presidential elections on 6 May will officially mark the end of the transitional government but will not mean a break with authoritarian rule.
Georgians attend a protest against a bill on ‘foreign agents’ near the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, on April 16 2024.
David Mdzinarishvili / EPA
The coalition is increasingly using parliamentary urgency, cutting the public service and fast-tracking legislation – all of which risks upsetting the equilibrium between government and the governed.
Juries render decisions on complex legal questions and could do the same as part of the regulatory process.
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People love to hate bureaucracy, but regulatory agencies play key roles in modern society. Conservatives want to cut back their power, but a political scientist proposes a different option.
Graduating cadets at West Point take their oaths to the Constitution and are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army.
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Joseph G. Amoroso, United States Military Academy West Point and Lee Robinson, United States Military Academy West Point
Members of the military take an oath before service, but it’s to the Constitution, not a specific person. West Point professors explain how young officers learn the importance of their allegiance.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
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