On every currency note issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the following statement is printed and signed by the Governor of the RBI: “I promise to pay the bearer the sum of [x] Rupees.” On November 8, 2016, this promise was broken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a move that took 86 percent … Read more
Over the past year, far right political parties have made major gains in divisive elections throughout the West. Although some of these movements enjoyed victories in previous elections in the 1990s and early 2000s, success of this magnitude across Europe has not occurred since before WWII. Grown from worldwide recessions and refugee crises, nationalism and … Read more
On December 4, the Italian people will face a vote that could rock the foundations of their government. The vote is on a proposed constitutional amendment that calls for a complete restructuring of Italy’s legislative branch. Championed by prime minister Matteo Renzi, the purpose of the amendment is to streamline government processes by reducing … Read more
From selling souvenirs on Kenya’s beaches to working as porters in the mountains of Nepal, children make up a considerable portion of the international tourism industry’s work force—as much as 10 to 15 percent in parts of the world. In the shadows of this industry, though, exists a disturbing, hidden market—one that allows travelers and … Read more
On September 11, 2001, Stephanie DeSimone’s life changed forever. A joyful expectant mother, DeSimone became a pregnant widow when her Navy commander husband was killed in the horrific terror attacks that ravaged the United States. Now, she is among a group of U.S. citizens filing lawsuits against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its alleged … Read more
In 2008, the Bush administration notified Congress that it would negotiate a free trade agreement with Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore. Over the course of President Obama’s two terms in office, the negotiations that President Bush initiated snowballed. The original five countries became 12. At the end of 2015, their efforts culminated in a … Read more
On September 8, 2016, North Korea launched its fifth nuclear test, demonstrating yet again its defiance in the face of widespread sanctions and international condemnation. The Hermit Kingdom’s repeated violations of international norms have earned it public rebuke even from its closest ally: China. While China typically opposes U.N. sanctions against North Korea, it recently … Read more
On September 29, 2016, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte compared himself to Adolf Hitler when discussing his administration’s crackdown on drug dealers and drug abusers. During a speech he said, “Hitler massacred 3 million Jews … there’s 3 million drug addicts. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them.” His remarks were immediately condemned by many … Read more
Humans have been here before—at least three times before, in fact. At first, it was steam and water power; then came electricity and mass production; and then IT and computerization. Each time, Joseph Schumpeter’s “gale of creative destruction” blustered as rapid advances in technology destroyed some jobs, paved the way for new lines of work, … Read more
O golpe é contra o povo e contra a Nação. “This coup is against the people and against the nation,” former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff stated shortly after being impeached. Although Rousseff blatantly misrepresented the constitutional process that lead to her impeachment, it is evident that her ousting will leave a mark on Brazilian history. … Read more