Stories Archive | Page 7 of 72

Analyses

After surpassing 90 percent approval in the first round of the presidential elections on October 6, incumbent Tunisian leader Kais Saied faces his new term in a political, social, and economic climate vastly different from that of 2019. We discussed this shift with writer and essayist Hatem Nafty, whose latest work, Notre ami Kaïs Saïed. Essai sur la démocrature tunisienne (Our Friend Kais Saied: An Essay on the Tunisian Dictatorship), was presented in late September.

After Nagorno Karabakh, an Uncertain Future for Refugees and the Region
Ilaria Romano 27 March 2024

Hundreds of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh took to the streets of Yerevan a few days ago. They demanded a more comprehensive response plan from the Armenian government, as well as protections from international entities that may enable them to one day return to their homes. The protest included the reading of a declaration that cast light on the housing difficulties encountered by the former inhabitants of Artsakh. The latter have criticized the government’s “inadequate” response to the crisis.
Political Theory
What did the 2024 Double Legislative Session Reveal in China
Seán Golden 25 March 2024

From March 4 to 11, 2024, the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress held their annual joint double session, Lianghui (两会) in Chinese. The former is the highest legislative body in China’s governmental structure. The latter is the highest advisory body. In theory, all branches of government are subordinate to the National People’s Congress. In practice, government leaders present their work reports, and the Congress approves both the reports and the government’s accompanying proposals.
Human Rights
Silencing Dissent: Modi’s Crackdown on Overseas Critics
Maria Tavernini 25 March 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has canceled more than 100 Overseas Citizen of India cards in the past 10 years, according to Article 14, which has filed a Right to Information (RTI) query with the Ministry of Home Affairs. When someone’s OCI status is canceled, they have to leave the country and apply for a regular visa, but many former OCI holders have been “blacklisted” as the Narendra Modi-led government is increasingly trying to silence critics in the diaspora.
Migrations, Society
“Tolerated but not Accepted”: Gastarbeiters amid Germany’s Far-Right Surge
Arghawan Farsi 22 March 2024

“I’m drinking chai and eating köfte, while we still don’t feel at home here,” rapper Apsilon sings on the stage at one of Berlin’s largest demonstrations against the rise of right-wing parties. The right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AFD) in particular has been gaining votes, especially since the influx of migrants and refugees in 2015. The demonstration drew more than 150,000 people, as diverse as Berlin itself. Rainbow flags, socialist parties, grassroots groups, social workers, and activists all stand together in front of the Bundestag to take a stand against right-wing extremism.
Religion
Haifa: A Joint Appeal Against Violence
19 March 2024

The following appeal has been signed by the leaders of the main religious communities in Haifa, Israel, and released by the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies after six intensive meetings that were held at the University of Haifa between December 2023 and February 2024.
Political Theory
The Future of India and the Tide of Hindutva Populism
Maria Tavernini 14 March 2024

As India gears up for the general elections next month, where over 900 million people are expected to go to the polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term in office, reaffirming the country’s global ambitions. In the past decade, under his tenure, India’s historic pluralism has increasingly been jeopardized by the ruling party’s majoritarian agenda
Gender, International Affairs
The Irony of Iranian “Democracy” is not Lost on its People
Marina Forti 8 March 2024

The election held on March 1 last year marked the lowest turnout in the history of republican Iran. It was also the least competitive election in forty years, with the exclusion of nearly all candidates affiliated with the opposition or more moderate factions.
Religion
Moscow Patriarchate Returns to Era of Excommunications
Riccardo Cristiano 7 March 2024

Some may remember that when Vladimir Putin initiated his “special military operation” against Ukraine, one of his earliest supporters was Patriarch Kirill I of the Russian Orthodox Church. What was his perspective? In his first public address following the commencement of what Moscow terms the “special military operation,” he provided a clear answer: he saw it as a “metaphysical war.” In other words, for the Patriarch, it was evident that this conflict represented a battle between Russia defending the fundamental values of its Christian essence, and Western de-Christianization, which sought to spread, through Ukraine, even to this part of Europe, concepts like gay pride, seen as the epitome of evil.
International Affairs
Netanyahu’s Refusals Pose a Challenge to Those Seeking to Quell the War in Gaza
Renzo Guolo 27 February 2024

Benjamin Netanyahu’s consistent refusals pose a challenge to those seeking to quell the Middle East conflict. Despite global pressure, Netanyahu remains steadfast in his decision to advance the fighting towards Rafah. In this area, millions of Gazans find themselves trapped between the Israeli Defense Force’s Merkava tanks and Egypt’s increasingly fortified barrier, which serves as the final obstacle preventing further dispersal of Palestinians from the Strip.
Human Rights, Religion
The Hazara’s Resilience against Taliban Persecution
Ali Kosha 26 February 2024

According to a 2022 Gallup survey, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where the vast majority of the population, a staggering 92 percent of men and 96 percent of women, say they face hardships that make their lives sheer suffering. In this realm of agony, the Hazaras bear a disproportionate burden of suffering. And for Hazara women, the burden intensifies further.