If Labour really is turfing “infiltrators” out of its purportedly open leadership election, it’s only proving that moderate centrism is often no such thing.
What do we want? Not quite sure. When do we want it? Now!
Reuters/Paulo Whitaker
Two years ago, on August 14, more than 800 protesters against a coup were massacred in Cairo. A court recently upheld the death sentence for Egypt’s ousted elected leader.
Started with high democratic ideals, how does the U.S. Patent Office work for the 21st century?
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Founded in 1790, the Patent Office aimed to put innovation and entrepreneurship within reach of every citizen. Now, 10 million patents later, critics say an out-of-touch system is doing the opposite.
‘Goddesses of Democracy’ in the 21st century: Thomas Marsh sculpted a replica (left) in Washington DC of the statue destroyed in Tiananmen Square in 1989; on the 21st anniversary of the massacre, Hong Kong students erected a statue on campus (centre) after police had seized a plastic replica.
Flickr/DB King; Flickr/Ryanne Lai; Flickr/Ryanne Lai
History tells us that while elements of competition and inclusion strengthen multiparty systems, too much of either can be fatal to the process of democratisation.
The haste to deregulate political finance has led to political participation in the US becoming highly unequal.
Reuters/Jason Reed
The role of money in politics challenges rich and poor countries worldwide. Its abuse raises problems of graft, corruption and cronyism, undermining legitimacy and governance.
The online social networks that social media facilitate can act as powerful distribution channels for political messages.
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We need political and civil society leaders to reflect on the language that they use, and to strive to shape a civic narrative with which we can all engage.
Massive youth unemployment and a legal system left over from dictatorship days are still holding Tunisia back.
South Africa has seen an upsurge in protests recently, but can it really be said to be less peaceful than dictatorships such as Equatorial Guinea and Gambia?
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
Indexes such as the Global Peace Index are used by a wide variety of players to make decisions ranging from investments to providing other support. But do they deserve this level of credibility?
Well if you’d just ASK someone Bernard…
Courtesy of Rob Nelson