Stories about Governance from September, 2008
Myanmar: Veteran activist now out of jail
Veteran democracy activist Win Tin who was detained by Myanmar's junta since 1989 is now out of jail. Was he freed or evicted? Other prisoners were released as well.
China: Illegitimate Girl Deprived of the Right to Education
An illegitimate girl of primary-school age in Zhuhai, South China, was turned away by the local schools, because her mother is not able to afford the hefty fine for illegitimacy, according to sohu blogger Han Tao’s report.
India: Shocking apologist
I love life… so I explore is shocked to hear that the CEO of an Italy-based company in India was beaten to death by a group of dismissed employees. And more shocking to the blogger was the Union Labour Minister's statement “This should serve as a warning for the managements”.
Jamaica: More Corrupt?
As the 2008 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) rankings are released, My View of JamDown from Up So asks, “Which party deserves the bulk of blame for the increased perception of Jamaican corruption?”
Hungary: Another Study On the “Extreme Right”
Hungarian Spectrum reviews a study of history and “prejudices” of the Hungarian “extreme right.”
Nepal: Testing time for the new government
ABC blog reports that the new Maoist government had to take back their decision of reducing the budget on traditional Hindu and Mahayana Buddhist rituals of sacrificing animals because of protests. “Unless they abstain from coercing people to behave according to the party guidelines, even such positive and pious intentions...
India: The road ahead for West Bengal
Sunday Posts discusses the politics behind resisting the establishment of Tata Motor's factory in Singur and the State Government's failure to resolve the problem. The blog also discusses the impacts it will have on the West Bengal state.
Poland, U.S.: Ancient Kings and Presidential Candidates
The beatroot muses on what's considered “politics” in the United States and Poland.
The Balkans: Driving Through Bosnia
Csíkszereda Musings recounts a summer drive through the Balkans and, among other things, compares Bosnian motorways to those in Romania.
Bermuda: Promoting Politics
Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes is not on board with the idea of political advocacy on the public dime.
Kazakhstan: Who Lives Well in Kazakhstan
As long as Kazakhstan still aspires to enter the top 50 most competitive states of the world (although these efforts have so far resulted in decline of its competitiveness, as the World Economic Forum’s annual reports show), the republic has managed to enter another list of countries, unfortunately, a shameful...
Indonesia: Lights, Camera, Elections!
Next April, Indonesian voters will elect new members of Parliament. Political parties are now quietly launching their election campaigns. What surprised (or disturbed) many Indonesians is the high number of celebrities who were named as parliamentary candidates.
Estonia, Finland, Russia: Relationship Now and Then
A Step At A Time writes in depth about the relationship between Finland, Estonia, and Russia – now and in the past.
Russia: Svetlana Bakhmina
Robert Amsterdam writes about the case of Svetlana Bakhmina, a jailed former lawyer for Yukos and a pregnant mother of two children.
Russia, U.S.: Kremlin for McCain?
Robert Amsterdam explains why the Kremlin may prefer John McCain as the next U.S. president and notes that “Mr. Putin and others should be careful what they wish for.”
Japan: Nobuto Hosaka on the streets of Tokyo
Politician and blogger Nobuto Hosaka [保坂展人] of the Japan Social Democratic Party writes at his doko doko diary [保坂展人のどこどこ日記] about his experience yesterday giving speeches [ja] on the streets of Koenji [高円寺], Asagaya [阿佐ヶ谷], Ogikubo [荻窪] and Iogi [井荻] (neighborhoods of Tokyo) in preparation for upcoming elections.
Ukraine: Critique of a Text on NATO Membership
The 8th Circle posts a detailed critique of Jeffrey Tayler’s piece in The Atlantic: “[…] in the process of attempting to make the case against Ukraine’s membership in NATO, Tayler resorts (consciously or not) to claims that are either: misleading or factually inaccurate and/or are highly improbable to be true...
Ukraine: Overcoming political stalemate?
Foreign Notes posts a translation of an article by Party of Regions’ (PoR) Andriy Kluyev, calling for renewed efforts in forming a solid and long-term Ukrainian government – presumably a PoR-Tymoshenko coalition.
Angola: Luxurious flats for the rich, soaring rent for the poor
Land and property speculation in Luanda is one of the causes of the significant increase in housing prices in the Angolan capital. In this article, Clara Onofre investigates how luxury developments are quickly taking over Luanda's landscape. But who are they for?
Macedonia: Fighting Corruption with Online Video
Razvigor ;-) links to two bloggers, Komunikacii [MKD] and Panta Rei [MKD], who published several video clips used by citizens to document abuse of power in one of the municipalities of Skopje.
Ukraine, EU: A Closer Relationship?
The EU's plan to finalize an Association Agreement with Ukraine in 2009 was made public at the EU-Ukraine Summit in Paris on Sept. 9. The media and bloggers greeted it with mixed reactions. “EU offers reassurance to Ukraine,” read a BBC headline. “EU offers no promises to hopeful Ukraine,” wrote...
