Battleground Bengal: The Eclipse Of Harmony And Rise Of Identity Politics
As Bengal goes to the polls, identity politics shaped by undemocratic mobilization have transformed the electoral venture into an unhealthy battleground. When the Congress was marginalized in the aftermath of the turbulent 70’s, the Left Front dominated West Bengal’s political ambience until the Trinamool Congress (T.M.C.) emerged in 2011, ending
Three Years After A4P, Empowering Women In Peacekeeping Remains Top Priority
Within the United Nations, peacekeeping is one of the most effective tools for promoting and maintaining international peace and security. However, U.N. peacekeeping faces numerous challenges to effective implementation, undermining its ability to deliver on its mandates and contribute to long-term, sustainable peace. Of these challenges, the direct participation of
Ethiopia: Political Conflict Gives Rise To Civil War
Attacks between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (T.P.F.L.), a political party established in the north Ethiopian region of Tigray, are growing into an increasingly dangerous civil war. The conflict began to unfold when Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in
Critical Action For Syria’s Brighter Future
It is no secret that Syria has had a long and complicated history, with its conflicts stretching across ten years with no apparent solution on the horizon. The Syrian Civil War, which has completely devastated the entire country and its neighbours, is a complex conflict that involves several nations, rebel
Turkey Raises Issue Of Uyghur Genocide With Chinese Minister
On March 25th, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu raised the issue of Uyghur Muslims during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This followed several protests against the horrid treatment of the ethnic group in the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang. Over 1,000 protestors had gathered in the Turkish capital
The Challenges Surrounding The Displacement Of The Rohingya People
Since August 2017, the world has watched as the Rohingya were forced to flee a humanitarian crisis, military violence, and what the United Nations has called an active genocide. The international community has since questioned if this group will ever be able to return home. The Rohingya are no stranger
Indonesian Schoolgirls “Bullied” Into Religious Clothing
In Indonesia, schoolgirls are often forced or bullied into religious dress codes, despite the national motto of “unity in diversity.” The country is known for having a diverse population from numerous backgrounds and has claimed to celebrate those differences. However, Indonesia has the largest Islamic population in the entire world,
Tit-For-Tat Sanctions: A New Age For Chinese-Western Relations?
A furious spat of sanctions between Chinese and Western governments has thrown global diplomatic ties into question. These sanctions mark the beginning of Biden’s tough stance on China, a position which has been closely followed by the likes of the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, who have seen
Britain Imposes Sanctions On Chinese Officials Amidst Xinjiang Human Rights Violations
On March 22nd, Britain sanctioned four Chinese officials and a state security body regarding human rights abuses against the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. The sanctions come as part of a widespread effort by Western powers to pressure Beijing into compliance. According to Reuters, the United States declared new sanctions on
“Epidemic Of Violence” Continues Against Environmental Defenders
On March 22nd, Honduran environmental defender Carlos Cerros was shot and killed in front of his children near the city of San Antonio, Intibucá. Cerros was a representative of the Indigenous Lenca people and the president of a local advocacy group, United Communities. His murder is the latest in a
Hundreds Missing After A Fire At The World’s Largest Refugee Camp
A fire broke out on March 22nd at Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camp in Bangladesh due to an unknown cause. Mohammad Abdullah, Deputy Assistant Director of the fire service from the camp, informed BBC Bengali that despite having the fire under control at midnight, smoke was still “billowing from many places.”
Threats To ‘Family Values’: Turkey Withdraws From Istanbul Convention
Turkey has withdrawn from the landmark Istanbul Convention on women’s rights that it was the first to sign over a decade ago. Political contention over the treaty’s impact on the conservation of ‘traditional family values is thought to be the cause, although no official rationale has been given. The accord
China’s Belt And Road Initiative: The Risks For Democracy And Implications For International Development
In 2013, China introduced the Belt and Road initiative (BRI); an intercontinental infrastructure project to provide long-term economic prosperity and interconnectedness by linking nations’ economies from East Asia, Africa, Eurasia and Europe. The states that are part of this international economic arrangement account for the majority of the world population
The Geopolitics Of The Modern Space Race
There is no doubt that the world is in a new space age. In the last ten years, the world has witnessed rapid development in space technology and rapidly growing tensions between world powers. The same principles define the geopolitics of space as those on the ground. What sets space
Colombia’s Exemplary Response To Venezuelan Refugee Crisis
Over the past few years, the border between Venezuela and Colombia has seen one of the largest migratory flows of the decade that experiences many economic, political, social, and cultural crises from both sides. As a consequence of the mismanagement of the 2014 oil crisis in Venezuela that leads to
