Articles

03Jul

Is Global Peace Hanging on the Precipice?

This article first appeared on YourCommonwealth Prime Minister Theresa May’s bid for early elections flowed directly from the 2016 EU referendum. On the other side of the Atlantic, 2016 campaign rhetoric relating to U.S. foreign policy on China, Syria and Russia had been at odds with the recent sharp turns President Trump made on his journey as president of the United States. President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 7th, 2017, and days later stated in an interview that China...

By Africa, Americas, Articles, Asia, Europe, Grassroots Reporting, Middle East, News0 Comments
Read more...
16May

Politics, Elections, Opposition Parties & Leaders: A Look at Different Country-Contexts & their Elections between the years 2016 – 2018

Citizens of different regions of the world are bracing themselves for democratic elections that will be taking place in the year 2017. The United States underwent its democratic duty in November 2016 by electing President Donald Trump of the Republican Party into office after what was a hotly contested campaign and election between him and Democratic Party former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The whole world watched to see the ultimate outcome of that election, the famed 2016 US elections. Whereas...

By Africa, Americas, Articles, Europe0 Comments
Read more...
12Apr

Malawi Caught Up in Unhealthy Political Party Pluralism?

Introduction It is certainly encouraging that over the years virtually all African countries have embraced democratic systems. What used to hang on the balance was ruling party’s ‘inability’ to lose elections and as a result step down; however, in recent years, we have seen more incumbent governments step down after losing elections: recall Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana and Malawi being good examples. However, democracies have allowed the proliferation of small parties, which I argue, are failing to make a significant...

By Africa, News0 Comments
Read more...
17Feb

Is Corruption Engrained in the African Soil?

10 years ago, in the first year of my undergraduate studies, one of the lecturers asked each of the students to brainstorm an idea for a feature story which would also be presented to the rest of the class. One idea for a feature story by one of my classmates particularly stood out. "I want to discuss the benefits of corruption," one young female student confidently articulated her idea. The class erupted in laughter and before she could complete her...

By Africa, Articles0 Comments
Read more...
20Jan

Africa’s Elderly Presidents in a Young Continent

America (as the beacon of democracy) has in the recent campaign trail arguably resembled African politics in some ways. The 2016 campaign for the US presidency was what many would call ‘brutal’, and I argue almost as ‘brutal’ (figuratively) as it gets in some African countries. Why do I say that? Simply because, it was one where on numerous occasions arguments deviated from rational policy debates; to rather focus on individuals’ temperaments. Here we are in 2017 and the campaign...

By Africa, Americas, Articles2 Comments
Read more...
15Jan

Nigeria’s Market Women Express their Views on Matters Relating to Nigeria’s Economy

In this second edition of The Global Communiqué’s ‘Grassroots Reporting’ section, we take you – the reader – to Lagos, Nigeria, specifically to the vigorous and energetic Ikotun Market – a marketplace in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos state. The Global Communiqué engaged in conversation with three different market women. Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest economies, slipped into an economic recession in 2016. Nigeria was particularly hit the hardest by the decline of global oil prices which make...

By Africa, Articles, Grassroots Reporting2 Comments
Read more...
14Jan

LESSON FROM INDIA’S DEMONETIZATION: RUSHING FOR “CHANGE” Part II: Cautious Euphoria

Part II: Cautious Euphoria Part I of this two-part essay delved into the rise of India’s radicalized citizenry, and its manifestations in the form of unexpected political mandates and responses to tough policy decisions. In the following piece, I mention reasons to be cautious, while also harping on the possible reasons behind this phenomenon in the Indian context. Why the cheerleading? While they could be several and diverse, at least three important trends come to mind. The proliferation of easy-to-access media platforms...

By Asia, News0 Comments
Read more...