Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan decided to call for a snap election in late October, to consolidate his control in the legislature. The resulting parliamentary elections soon delivered an electoral win that provided for another super majority. This will allow for two crucial developments in Japan to move forward. The first one will be to continue the economic and financial reforms instituted by the Prime Minister known as Abeconomics, and the other is the push to modify the present wording of […]
Czech Republic Moves Further To The Political Right With A Populist Electoral Victory
The recent parliamentary election in the Czech Republic, shifted the country to the political right. The resounding electoral victory of the populist billionaire Andrej Babis, paves the way for a new chapter in Czech politics. Although Babis is identified as a centrist, his need for a political coalition in forming a new government, is likely to change the country’s relationship with the European Union. His choice for coalition partners in the new Parliament, will soon demonstrate the political direction he wishes to […]
Austria Moving To The Right: A Microcosm Of The Political Shift In Europe
The election results in Austria, are a significant trend that is now being witnessed throughout Europe. Political elites in the European Union (EU), will soon attempt to dismiss the outcome there as an outlier. They refuse to acknowledge, that a seismic political shift to the right, has occurred among the increasingly conservative European electorate. The previous untenable positions of anti-immigration populism and a resurgence in nationalism, is putting the EU sentiment of open borders under siege. The freedom of movement for goods, […]
Economic Sustainability For The Caribbean In The Post European Colonial Era
The arrival of British troops in a number of overseas territories of the United Kingdom following two destructive hurricanes, were a welcome sight to the island’s residents. The northeastern portion of the Caribbean has sustained substantial damage, over a period of several days in September. The military contingent sent to Anguilla, Turks and Caicos as well as the British Virgin Islands, were equipped with medical supplies, communications and engineering equipment. The addition of the Puma helicopters will make traversing the terrain far […]
Catalonia In Spain May Pave The Way For Other Independence Movements In Europe
The declaration of independence from Spain by Catalonia this month, sets a precedence that is likely to be repeated elsewhere in Europe. As the memories of war and economic deprivation from the middle of the last century fade, the resurgence of nationalism should of been expected. The violent crackdown by the Spanish government to head off a referendum for political separation, has an all too familiar story attached to it. Although over 90% of voters in Spanish Catalonia chose independence in the […]
An Independent Kurdistan To Bring Both Promise And More Instability To Middle East
The dream of an independent Kurdistan, began in the modern era during World War I. The Allies were fighting the Central Powers. In an effort to destabilize this increasingly unsteady military pact, the decision was made by France and the United Kingdom, to hasten the breakup of the more than 600 year old Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat of the three main Empires of the Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, it was decided that the political borders […]
Joseph Kabila Clings To Power In The Congo, As The Economy And Civil Order Collapses
Joseph Kabila has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2001. He took office just ten days, after the assassination of his father. Politics is a family affair in Congo. Now seventeen years later, he clings to power as the country plunges into civil war again and the economy slows considerably. Although his final term ended eight months ago, President Kabila has remained in control. Congo formerly known as Zaire, is the giant of Sub-Saharan Africa. At a population […]
Namibia: The End Of Rapid Growth Helps Populism To Rise
Namibia had one of the best performing economies in Africa. As late as 2015, growth was still a respectable 5%. Late last year, the economy was growing just barely at 0.1% and has since stalled. This puts the government of the country, in a politically difficult decision. Populism is on the rise, in the ruling party. However, the demands of these nativists, will do little to recharge a moribund economy. President Geingob first elected in November of 2014, by an overwhelming margin […]
Rwanda: Kagame Provides One Man Rule In Exchange For Stability And Growth
Rwanda’s Constitution was amended in 2015, following a referendum, enabling President Kagame to run for yet another term. He remains eligible to also run for fourth term after that, permitting him to stay in office until at least 2034. The latest electoral tally resulted in a vote that was an unbelievable 98.8% in favor of President Kagame. Not unusual, for a country that is for all intent purposes a police state and is run by a single political party the Rwandan […]
Angola: Elections Will Fail To Deliver Needed Change As Dos Santos Era Finally Ends
Since independence from Portugal in 1975, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has led the country. Parliamentary elections have consistently delivered large majorities, to the ruling party. After 38 years in power, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos is finally leaving office. Yet, the change the country so desperately needs, will remain unlikely. President Santos is the world’s second-longest serving president, behind Teodor Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea. He announced in February, he would not be standing for election in […]