US-Saudi Relations: A Diabolical Rendezvous
By turning a blind eye to the brutal murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, in the name of making ‘America Great Again’, President Donald Trump has sacrificed justice for power and profit;…
International
The Disruptive Power of Ethnic Nationalism
TEL AVIV – This summer, Israel passed a controversial new “nation-state law” that asserted that “the right [to exercise] national self-determination” is “unique to the Jewish people” and established Hebrew as Israel’s…
The New Disappeared
NEW YORK – From the military juntas that ruled Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and 1980s to Joseph Stalin’s iron-fisted regime in the Soviet Union, dictatorships have a long history of…
Present at the Destruction
NEW YORK – At the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly this month, there was a widespread sense of foreboding among world leaders. The anxiety went beyond standard concerns about…
Asma: One Strong Story – Well Said
Many knew Asma Jahangir for her brilliance, and for the celebration of diversity that she always was. She was a beacon of hope as a dogged defender of human rights and a…
Hidden Costs: The Impact of Foreign Debt on Sri Lankan Citizens
It is estimated that Sri Lanka’s debt servicing cost will be USD 4.2 billion next year. From 2000 to 2009, Sri Lanka’s foreign debt doubled, from USD 9 billion in 2000 to…
Kofi Annan’s Achievement
CANBERRA – Kofi Annan deserves to be remembered as a near-exemplary United Nations secretary-general (SG). Great chief executives need a guiding vision for the exercise of authority, and all the more so…
Making Journalism Great Again
OXFORD – In the debate over the future of journalism, “fake news” has taken center stage, with storylines featuring a ranting American president, Russian communication “bots,” and betrayal and subterfuge competing for…
Demand for justice for murdered blogger continues
The start of August saw silent vigils in Male – the capital of the Maldives – to mark the 100th day since the death of liberal blogger Yameen Rasheed, who was assassinated…
Getting over the authoritarian past – an experience of the Catalan Referendum
Background of the Catalan Referendum On 28th June 2010, the Supreme Court of Spain rejected the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, modified and approved by both the Catalan and Spanish parliaments in 2006.…
Political Chaos in the Maldives – Where it all Began
To the outside world, the Maldives is known as a “Paradise on earth” with its white sandy beaches and crystal clear lagoons. However, its troubled political realm is little recognised. Political tension escalated back…
Constitutional reform, communications & political transformation: An interview with Mark Freeman
Mark Freeman is the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT). As noted on IFIT’s website, Mark is a Belgian and Canadian citizen. He is a leading expert…
A Federal Spain in a Federal Europe
BRUSSELS – I have always been a profound admirer of Spanish democracy, but especially since February 23, 1981. On that dramatic day, Colonel Antonio Tejero attempted a coup d’état against the young…
The Rohingya in our midst: Learning from the vulnerable
Photo by REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain via A Reflection The Rohingya in our midst brought out the worst in some of us. The aggression of a mob that sought to intimidate and deny these…
Countering the Fascists on the Streets: A Lesson from Australia
Photo by Christina Coombe The recent attack by a group of hoodlums led by Buddhist monks on a safe house sheltering Rohingya refugees in Colombo has once again exposed the ugly face…
