In India, gender inequality begins before birth. A land of paradoxes, the nation that recently bade farewell to its first female president and boasts the likes of Indira Nooyi and Indira Gandhi as natives, was also ranked among the top five most dangerous countries for women. In an ironic twist of fate, the technology that … Read more
71 years. Since the PRI recaptured the presidency earlier this summer, news media outlets have reminded observers of the 71 years (1929-2000) that el tricolor dominated the Mexican political landscape through vote-buying and rigged elections. While understanding those 71 years is crucial to contextualizing Mexico’s contemporary politics, remembering the last twelve years, the years when a … Read more
In India, gender inequality begins before birth. A land of paradoxes, the nation that recently bade farewell to its first female president and boasts the likes of Indira Nooyi and Indira Gandhi as natives, was also ranked among the top five most dangerous countries for women. In an ironic twist of fate, the technology that … Read more
(Dis)United Kingdom Cue the Union Jack and bring on the Jerusalem – it’s been one heck of a summer for British nationalism. With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee kicking off the summer and the Olympic glow still lingering, patriotism has been at an all time high. Yet, behind this united front of cohesion and cookie-cutter images … Read more
With the electoral process complete and Mohamed Morsi established as Egypt’s first democratically elected president, it seems appropriate to look back on the journey that Egypt’s political scene has gone through in the last year and a half to gain a better perspective of where the country is headed in the near future. Going back … Read more
Since Rio+20, it took me a while to return to believing in the idea of ‘progress’, or for that matter, in the hope for and purpose of global cooperation for better economic or environmental alternatives. The deep disappointment produced by the apparent failure of the summit, framed as our last possibility out of a looming climate … Read more
In these trying times for Nepal, the reputation of the country’s Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, has faced mounting strain. Over the past two months, as Nepal’s Constituent Assembly buckled empty-handed under him, Bhattarai has taken an onslaught of attacks to quit from the opposition, the political media, and his own party. So far he has … Read more
In these trying times for Nepal, the reputation of the country’s Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, has faced mounting strain. Over the past two months, as Nepal’s Constituent Assembly buckled empty-handed under him, Bhattarai has taken an onslaught of attacks to quit from the opposition, the political media, and his own party. So far he has … Read more
The Arab Spring and the ongoing conflict in Syria have prompted discussions of authority, democracy and legitimate governance. The many proponents of democratization appeal to human rights as established in international law to further their cause. That is, given that international law affords every person certain inalienable rights, such as freedom of speech and conscience, … Read more
As my research in Israel on philosophical issues surrounding military conscription progresses, I have begun to reflect on my experiences thus far. One particular idea that I have repeatedly encountered in both my research and everyday conversations with Israelis is the role that the military service plays in forming the bonds that underlie Israeli society. … Read more