Politics
Politics
Fair Observer's analysis of political issues, events and trends and their national, regional and international consequences.
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Economics / Global Piracy / Gulf of Aden / Gulf of Guinea / Horn of Africa / Piracy / Pirates / Politics / Somalia / United States / Europe / Finance & Economics / 360° Context / Middle East / Africa / Global Security / OceaniaMaritime Piracy is bleeding the global economy and fostering political instability on the eastern and western shores of Africa more gravely than we realise. Re-emergence of maritime piracy, one of the world’s oldest crimes, in the past decade has grown into a serious global security concern alongside terrorism and religious extremism. Rising number of attacks in recent years on merchant vessels to seize goods and hostages in exchange for ransoms running in millions of dollars has prompted an urgent concerted international naval campaign to protect arterial sea routes and shipping lanes. Earlier maritime robbery was mostly confined to hotspots around Malacca Strait, South China Sea,...
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By Matteo FigusZimbabwe’s new constitution has been approved in a democratic referendum. But what does this mean for the country’s future? Zimbabweans approved a new constitution making another step toward normalization. The new constitution was an important part of the 2008 power sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, and its approval now officially allows for the preparation of general elections. Feelings and analysis of the vote are mixed and sometimes contradictory, as expected in this troubled country, but no one can deny the historic significance of this event and its consequences. The referendum was held on the 16th and 17th March 2013 and approved...
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360° Analysis / Afghanistan / al qaeda / corruption / Cunningham / good governance / Jalalabad / Kabul / Karzai / Nangarhar / Pakistan / Politics / Sherzai / Taliban / US Ambassador / US withdrawal / AsiaBy Will CalhounPart 2 of a series which looks at the fractious upcoming Afghan presidential election next year. Another potential candidate is Asadullah Khalid. Khalid is a Karzai loyalist, and currently the head of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s domestic intelligence agency. Well-groomed and stylish, between 2005 and 2008 he was Governor of Kandahar, and between 2002 and 2005 he was Governor of Ghazni. Born in 1969 in Ghazni province to a Pashtun family, his father served in Parliament under King Zahir Shah. Involved in the anti-Taliban resistance, Khalid joined the National Directorate of Security after the 2001 invasion. His tenure as Governor of Kandahar and Ghazni was...
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360° Analysis / China / Diaoyu / Diaoyu Protection Societies / Fire-control radar / Japan / military / Nationalism / Noda Yoshihiko / Pinnacled Pavilions / Politics / Senkaku / Sino-Japanese / Xi Jinping / Global Security / AsiaBy Wilson ChewJapan's policy of harsh words and soft actions increases the risk of conflict over Senkaku Islands In China, the dispute over the Senkaku Islands illustrates the usually opaque dynamics between government and society. Japan's attitude toward the islands, however, remains the preserve of government policy. Traditionally, theirpolicy has been an effective mix of pragmatism and principle, but for Japan, the 2012 Senkaku crisis is the story of how this approach fell apart. It’s clear that Japan will have to take their handling of the Senkaku Islands in a new direction or, at the very least, modify the old policy. What's less clear, though, is how these changes can be carried...
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360° Analysis / Gandhi dynasty / India / Manmohan Singh / Politics / Sonia / United Progressive Alliance / AsiaBy Mayank SinghSonia Gandhi’s completion of fifteen years as president of the Congress party has been met with much fanfare in the party. Archana Dalmia’s eulogy, “Sonia Gandhi: Working the Miracle” is a case in point. Apologists of the diarchy in governance with Sonia as the chairman of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have waxed eloquent about the ‘understanding’ between them which has been a necessity arising out of the compulsions of coalition politics. The ‘understanding’ has however only facilitated the perpetuation of the de jure rule of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty over the country. Manmohan Singh has been...
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360° Analysis / al-Qaeda / AQAP / Drones / Global Security / Pakistan / Politics / United States / United States / Yemen / Middle East / Global Security / AsiaBy Bilal AhmedDestabilisation in Yemen and Pakistan is tipping the scale in the wrong direction for the US drone warfare policy. A highly controversial element of the war on terrorism, drones have led to troubling circumstances in both Pakistan and Yemen. Even as the US painstakingly sought to eliminate terror networks employing the smartest piece of its military technology over the past years, Washington’s high-frequency drone strike strategy has not only further destabilized both countries, ironically it has also aided a fresh spurt of anti-American terrorist outfits now threatening its security and national interests more than ever. Drone strikes have become a staple of the new American century...
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360° Analysis / EU / Human Rights / Iran / Islamic Republic / Politics / Sanctions / United States / Europe / Finance & Economics / Middle EastBy Nabi SonboliSanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and the European Union violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, thus undermining the legitimacy of the measures and their originators. Multilateral and unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Iran are contrary to the principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration begins with the preamble that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” As we see in the following, economic sanctions seriously undermine freedom, democracy, justice and peace both inside the targeted...
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Politics / United States / Europe / Focus Article / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Asia / OceaniaFair Observer's five best articles of March. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. Perhaps that is why China is moderating its approach to the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands. Pakistan has just seen an elected government complete its first full term, marking a victory for democracy. Now it will have to confront the more intractable issue of poor governance that its democratic neighbor India is still struggling with. Another woman was tragically gang raped in India; this time a married Swiss tourist who was on a camping trip with her husband. President Obama visited Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. He gave a great speech...
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360° Analysis / ANC / Mail & Guardian / Mandela / Politics / Protection of State Information Bill / BRIC / Arts & Culture / AfricaAs a new freedom of information bill is making its way through South Africa’s legislature, Mark Silberstein looks at the history of press freedom and asks whether the ANC has lost its way. The freedom of the press was central to the African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela during his presidency until the end of his term in 1999. Speaking at the International Press Institute Congress, 14 February, 1994 he stated: “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. It must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government officials.” Yet, as the millennium...