Kirsty Coventry and whiteness in Zimbabwe: how sport can rewrite the political rules: Kirsty Coventry’s story is one of apparent contradictions. She’s a white woman celebrated as a national hero in a Black-majority Zimbabwe and an Olympic swimmer turned politician. She’s also now one of the most powerful figures in global sports as president of …
Political assassinations, police violence and lack of press freedom: 3 barriers to peace in Mozambique: Mozambique’s parliament and its new president, Daniel Chapo, were sworn in in mid-January 2025 after a tumultuous post-election period of protests, barricades and police violence. The 9 October 2024 elections prompted countless reports of fraud, leading the European Union election …
Inside the political struggle at the IPCC that will determine the next six years of climate science: rafapress / shutterstock The UN’s climate science advisory group, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is currently meeting in Bulgaria to decide on a timeline for its next “cycle” of reports over the rest of this decade. …
Political gambling: a cautionary tale from the 2009 expenses scandal: As gamblegate stretches into its second week, it seems there is no end to the revelations about MPs misbehaving at the bookies. And naturally, as when any significant ethical misconduct is in the news, it didn’t take long for this one to be equated with …
University funding is in crisis – and none of the political parties have a clear plan to fix it: EF Stock/Shutterstock The past 14 years of Conservative-led government have, in many ways, been a successful period for the UK’s universities. Student numbers have increased by 12% to 2.9 million. Real terms income has grown by …
Nigeria’s national anthem change was a tactic to distract attention from the country’s real problems – political analyst: A year into his administration, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law, replacing an anthem adopted in 1978 with its predecessor. The decision generated debate among Nigerians, some of whom felt it …
Why David Cameron’s past and present relations with China could be Rishi Sunak’s first big political headache of 2024: Almost immediately after being appointed as foreign secretary, David Cameron’s ties with China generated difficult headlines for Rishi Sunak’s government. Cameron’s warmth towards China during his own time as prime minister prompted Luke de Pulford, the …
Why have authoritarianism and libertarianism merged? A political psychologist on ‘the vulnerability of the modern self’: The so-called Qanon shaman, Jacob Chansley, at the Capitol riot. Shutterstock/Johnny Silvercloud Logically, authoritarianism and libertarianism are contradictory. Supporters of authoritarian leaders share a state of mind in which they take direction from an idealised figurehead and closely identify …
Doctor Who 60: show has always tapped into political issues – but never more so than in the 1970s: Doctor Who hit television screens at a key period in British television history. It launched on Saturday November 23, 1963, at 5.15pm, being somewhat overshadowed by the assassination of US president John F. Kennedy the previous …
How governments use IMF bailouts to hurt political opponents – new research: Sri Lanka received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March amid soaring inflation, debt and a sovereign default. In exchange for US$ 3 billion (£2.4 billion), the government committed to spending cuts and tax and financial sector reforms. These have prevented …
Trade unions in the UK and US have become more powerful despite political interference and falling memberships: In September 2023, Joe Biden became the first sitting US president to join strikers on a picket line. He told car workers that they “deserve a significant raise and other benefits”. Even more surprisingly perhaps, those same workers …
Kenya’s courts were under political pressure: how a constitutional reform empowered judges: Changes to Kenya’s constitution in 2010 on the independence of the judiciary created room for judges to act as guardians of the electoral process. Before this, the law gave Kenya’s presidents considerable influence over courts’ actions. Historically, the judiciary was not an independent …
Frankfurt book fair: cancelled prize ceremony for Palestinian author is part of a long history of political zigzagging: The Frankfurt Buchmesse, or book fair, is the world’s largest publishing industry gathering, attracting thousands of exhibitors every October. On one level, it’s a business event focused on creating buzz for forthcoming bestsellers, trading rights and discussing …
Wolf protection in Europe has become deeply political – Spain’s experience tells us why: Wolves are making a comeback throughout Europe – but not everyone's happy. Ramon Carretero/Shutterstock Wolves are staging a comeback in many areas of Europe after centuries of persecution. Over the past decade alone, they have expanded their range on the continent …
Israel-Gaza conflict: how could it change the Middle East’s political landscape? Expert Q&A: The surprise attack by Hamas launched on Israel on October 7 has already led to thousands of deaths in both Israel and Gaza, and sparked concerns that the conflict could escalate across the Middle East. An expert in the politics and relations …
Economic Freedom Fighters became South Africa’s third largest political party in just 10 years. What’s behind its electoral success: South Africa is drawing nearer to a landmark national general election in 2024. Based on recent electoral trends and opinion polls, the governing African National Congress (ANC) is expected to drop below 50% of the national …
Political leaders need a grand narrative – Rishi Sunak’s is a story of decline: During a January 2023 speech on “building a better future” the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, insisted that “we can change our country’s character. We can reverse the creeping acceptance of a narrative of decline.” Months later, this narrative has manifested in …
Online abuse could drive women out of political life – the time to act is now: Shutterstock/vchal It is becoming increasingly evident that life in modern politics is presenting women with a stark choice – endure almost constant online threats and abuse or get out of public life. Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of …