· December, 2011

Stories about Governance from December, 2011

Iran: Rafsanjani's site was filtered

Several Iranian news sites reported Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's site was filtered. According to his brother, Rafsanjani's site managment had been asked to omit his last Friday Prayer sermon in 2009...

30 December 2011

Russia: AIDS Epidemic – “Shame Russia Shame”

RuNet Echo

International organizations are taking notice of Russia's AIDS epidemic and the hurdles the country faces in combating it. Recent international attention has been directed toward Russia's healthcare system, the stigma attached to those infected, and Russia's drug policies. Donna Welles reports.

30 December 2011

Guyana: crime and insecurity

“Travel around coastland Guyana and you will see it too,” writes Imran Khan: “burglar bars, grillwork, heavily armed company security forces, reinforced doors, guard huts, watchmen, security lights, CCTV cameras.”...

28 December 2011

Bermuda: rethinking ties with Britain?

The British government is reviewing its relationship with its overseas territories, writes Catch a Fire, and inviting Bermudans to share their perspectives. “I think we need a new Constitutional Convention...

28 December 2011

Jamaica: missing children

Where are the more than 500 children reported missing in Jamaica this year, asks Petchary — and why are more people not paying attention to “a serious issue which, at...

28 December 2011

Russia: Social Network In-Between Security Services and Free Market

RuNet Echo

As social networks in Russia like Vkontakte play an ever increasing role in communication between post-election protesters, so too grows the interest of the security services to limit them. This conflict leads to a hard choice: whether Vkontakte should respond to security service requests, or allow its users uncontrolled protest activity.

28 December 2011

Latin America: Youth Unemployment

Bloggings by boz looks at youth unemployment in Latin America, concluding that “with growth projections decreased for 2011 and 2012, the current situation for youth unemployment is almost certainly getting...

27 December 2011

Russia: The Opposition in St. Petersburg Fails to Reach Understanding

RuNet Echo

December 2011 post-election protest events consist of two elements: 'professional oppositioners' and concerned citizens. In Moscow those two elements managed to get together. In St. Petersburg, however, the meeting was let down by one of the parties. Citizens responded with confusion and disdain.

27 December 2011

China: Only Talking About a Revolution

Han Han, supposedly the world's most-read blogger, has succeeded in getting netizens to debate the possibilities (or lack thereof) for greater political freedoms and democracy in China through three new controversial blog posts. Public figures and intellectuals have joined in, many challenging Han's somewhat pro-government stance.

26 December 2011