Politics
Clashes in Xinjiang Reveal Continued Ethnic Tensions
In 2009, unrest in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang resulted in the most violent protests in China since the iconic Tiananmen Square protests, and generated Western speculation regarding the
Snowden in Self-made Passport Limbo
Every once in a while a story arises in the news that requires some theorising to contextualise its importance; Edward Snowden’s story is such an example. Snowden is the (in)famous
Sudan and South Sudan political tension to rise
For over four decades, intra-state conflict raged in the north east African state of Sudan. There were few intermissions from the violence until a long-awaited peace agreement was signed in
Egypt’s Fresh Start or Coup d’État
A four-day struggle between Egyptian protestors and their first democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi started on the 30th of June and ended up with his ouster on the 3rd of July.
Cuba’s Reforms Pick Up Pace
Cuba is once again in the international spotlight with news that Edward Snowden, the former U.S. NSA contractor, was potentially seeking to fly there. This is not too surprising given
Four Issues to Monitor in African Politics
Making predictions is a risky business, which explains why the world’s major financial institutions are always careful to include caveats in their investment outlooks. While the stakes are not as
Croatia Prepares for EU Accession
Clearing customs for travelers crossing the land border into Croatia has been more intense this past month, featuring random bag searches and thorough questioning of passengers on trains and buses.
Legitimising Taliban Rule in Afghanistan
Afghanistan rarely enters the news cycle these days. However, for those privy and indeed willing to locate news outside the omnipresent U.S. market, an interesting story is developing in Doha,
Azerbaijan Opposition Seeks Western Assistance
Last week, the European Parliament condemned Azerbaijan’s continued detention of opposition member Ilgar Mammadov, while current opposition leader Rustam Ibragimbekov traveled to Washington DC to seek support from the US
Iran’s Election Offers Glimmers of Hope
The recent presidential election in Iran has created a media storm and left analysts guessing what will come next. Iranians have chosen to replace outgoing president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Hassan
