Stories about Governance from December, 2014
A Presidential Birth Certificate Controversy Provokes Social Unrest in Gabon
Protests against president Bongo broke out in Gabon last week provoking one death and several arrests.
From #ReclaimYourMosques to #ReclaimPakistan, Pakistanis Call for an End to Extremism
Horrified by the attack on a Peshawar school by Taliban militants, who killed more than 130 students, Pakistanis are protesting for an end to violent radicalism.
Central Asia's 2014: Lots of Alarms but only a Few Surprises
In 2014 Global Voices' Central Asia team wrote about Sochi, Afghan elections, Tajikistan behaving strangely, a Kazakh currency devaluation, an Uzbek Princess' fall and a volleyball tournament in Taiwan. What?
Macedonians ‘Hug’ Skopje Shopping Centre to Protect It From Baroque-isation
The Skopje 2014 project is a controversial and costly initiative that aims to give the city's buildings makeover in the neoclassical or baroque style.
Can Women Be Sexy and Hold Public Office in Jamaica?
Lisa Hanna, Jamaica's minister of youth and culture, has faced criticism for posting a photo of herself in a swimsuit and T-shirt on Instagram.
Can Trinidad & Tobago's Government Win Political Goodwill from Christmas?
As Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar traveled the country for her "Holiday Toy Drive", some netizens were concerned about her spending in light of a precarious economic future.
A 17-Year-Old Rape Victim's Demand for Justice Gains Momentum in Nepal
Puja Bohara's open letter to Nepal's law minister has resonated with many in the mountainous country, where rape and other kinds of violence against women are prevalent.
More Than 120,000 Evacuated as Malaysia Hit by Worst Flooding in Decades
Heavy rainfall caused flooding in Malaysia's eastern states. Netizens used social media to monitor impact of the flood disaster and to coordinate relief efforts.
Mexico: An Unsatisfactory and Late Presidential Address
On Thursday, November 27, 2014, Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto addressed publicly Mexican nation to make a stand about the shocking events occured in Iguala and to announce a set of actions to be taken. The address was a disappointment for most of the Mexican people, who expected more from...
New Taxes in Macedonia Send Freelancers and Part-Time Workers Into the Streets
In a country where unemployment sits at nearly 29 percent, freelancing and working part-time is all that's available to many people.
Democratic Republic of Congo's Dr. Mukwege: ‘How Can One Stay Silent’ in the Face of Sexual Violence?
Dr. Denis Mukwege moved some European parliament members to tears with his speech accepting the 2014 Sakharov Award on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Pakistanis Say #ReclaimYourMosques From Radicalism in Rare, Bold Protests
After the horrific Taliban attack on a military-run school in Peshawar that killed more than hundred and thirty students, a controversial cleric refused to condemn the massacre, sparking protests.
Some of Miami's Cuban Exiles Are Disgruntled at Obama's New Approach to Cuba
Our author, Robert Valencia, is in Miami, home to the largest community of people of Cuban descent residing outside of Cuba.
A High-Rise Condo Tower Is Photobombing the Philippines’ National Hero
The 49-storey Torre de Manila has been dubbed the "Terror de Manila" by critics for allegedly ruining the view of the Rizal monument in Luneta Park.
Hong Kong Police's Arrest of Teen ‘Shopping’ Protesters Sparks Concern
Human rights activists worry that Hong Kong police are targeting minors participating in "shopping" pro-democracy protests. Young activists may not be aware of their legal rights.
Southeast Asia's Public Transport Woes in Photos
Motorbike riders without helmet, overloaded jeepneys, and train passengers on roof carriages are some of the common public transport spectacles we see in the streets of Southeast Asia.
#IndiaWithPakistan: Indians Show Solidarity With Their Grieving Neighbors After Peshawar Attack
"Yes, I am Indian. So what? The pain of losing a child is universal. #IndiawithPakistan"
Hungarian PM Receives Chocolates from Union Workers’ Children, Then Votes for Parents to Lose Jobs
Hungary's government monopolized the sale of tobacco goods in 2013, drawing criticism from all sides both for the monopoly and the restriction of the Freedom of Information Act that came with the secretive distribution of sales licenses for the goods. In a second round, Hungarian Parliament voted on Monday, December...
Serbian Government Agency Publishes Personal Data of Over 5 Million Citizens
A link from the official website of the Privatization Agency of the Republic of Serbia began circulating on social networks in early December 2014. The link led to 19 gigabytes of text files on the agency's site that revealed the personal information of over 5 million Serbian citizens who had...
Gezi's Echo and the Battle for Public Spaces in Turkey
On December 13, Istanbul hosted Turkey's first Radical Democracy Urban Encounter. The forum is likely to become a focal point for people wanting to reclaim Turkey's politicised public spaces.
New Distribution of Colonies and Native Nations in Mexico City
On his personal blog Hbt, Olivera Herbert writes about a new district distribution (starting on October 2014) and the popular referendum about participatory budgeting 2015 (November 2014), that allowed us to assess and ellaborate a new Catalog of Colonies and Native Nations 2013 in Mexico City. Herbert has prepared a...