The Zimbabwe crisis continues apace. At this point it is not worth the time to determine whether the political crisis or the economic calamity is worse, as the two simply feed from one another. Robert Mugabe plans to live forever and rule Zimbabwe for the duration, but in case he proves to be mortal, he […]
In case you missed it, the Springboks gave England a sound thrashing on Friday, running away from the defending world champions by a humiliating 36-0 tally. Next up is a surprisingly game Tonga squad, which upset Samoa and has caused South African coach Jake White to rethink his approach to selection for Saturday's match. […]
Mexican President Felipe Calderon will be honored at the Foreign Policy Association's 8th annual World Leadership Forum in New York City on September 25th. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will be honored at the New York Democracy Forum Dinner the evening before. See here for more details, including registration information.
An article I authored examining Mexico's “Oportunidades” anti-poverty initiative and its influence on New York City's new “Opportunity NYC” program, is featured on the Foreign Policy Association's website. Oportunidades is Mexico's conditional cash transfer program that has had considerable success in addressing poverty over the past ten years. Now, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has […]
There's a great summary post at Global Voices that shows the many changes being implemented in the oil and gas industry; political appointments; and media ownership. The effect of this much change in such a short time is to make Central Asia watchers paranoid, and with good reason: in general, it takes time to assimilate the meanings […]
Well, first I want to apologize to everyone for not posting more regularly–it's been a little difficult to obtain a good internet signal so far. However, I think I have the problem solved–for now. It seems time to talk about what travel has taught me so far in respect to international relations. I am travelling in Costa Rica. […]
Your faithful scribe is in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where I am participating in the US Army Combat Studies Institute's symposium on Warfare in the Age of Non-State Actors. I gave a presentation on policing in contested states using the South African security forces in the Apartheid era to explore implications for future policies across the […]
It appears that most of the Africa National Congress’ hierarchy is unwilling to grant Thabo Mbeki the option of a third term. This is categorically, unequivocally good news. Only bad things happen when African leaders try to manipulate their political syatems and constitutions to extend their time in power. the Big Man Syndrome derives from the belief […]
. . . . is water, although one wouldn't think so by the amount of ink and electrons we spend on hydrocarbon disposition. First, you have to have water to drink, wash, and grow crops; potable water is also required for reliable manufacture of pharmaceutical, cleaning, and other chemical products. Agriculture employs most of the people in […]
If's a busy news cycle right now in Southern Africa. here are a number of stories that caught my eye in today's chock-full Mail & Guardian and elsewhere: As the thirteith anniversary of the murder of Steven Bantu Biko at the hands of the security forces approaches different South Africans remember Biko's life and death differently. […]
Hello, faithful readers of Casual Friday, the Afghanistan Aggregator, and the Central Asia Beat. They will all be here, only not today: Saturday or Sunday. It takes awhile to put them together–and I am finding my way to San Jose and a course of language instruction beginning Monday. Hasta domingo, you guys. Have a great […]
Well, that probably seals the pending victory. Nelson Mandela stopped in France to wish the Springboks well on the eve of the opening of the Rugby World Cup. Mandela's embrace of the Springboks, historically the embodiment of Afrikaner Nationalism, proved one of the feel-good stories of transformation and reconciliation in 1995. Now the great man has […]
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