Stories about International Relations from September, 2021
Is China exporting its surveillance state to Venezuela?
One of the largest Chinese defense companies has been pointed out for providing the Venezuelan government software to block access to the Internet and to spy on its detractors.
South Asia mourns Indian feminist icon Kamla Bhasin
Kamla Bhasin, a pioneer of the women’s rights movement in South Asia, died on September 25, 2021 in New Delhi, India. Activists remembered her on social media and mourned her death.
China in Ethiopia: Between a savior and an exploiter?
Whereas some online commentaries celebrate China’s help and contributions to Ethiopia, other discussions on Chinese projects tend to emphasize their exploitative features
Turkey’s Uyghur dilemma in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
As economic ties between Ankara and Beijing strengthened, Turkey's policies on the treatment of Uyghurs in China weakened.
Chinese firms in Nigeria face widespread labour abuse allegations, tainting bilateral relationship
Nigerians in that company are "mandated to call their Chinese employers master or mistress. Male Nigerian workers are physically assaulted, while their female counterparts are sexually assaulted,” writes a whistleblower.
France blasts Australia's nuclear-powered submarine deal with US and UK as ‘duplicity’
'I wanted to underline the level of anger that exists here in France at the moment. Your government is an embarrassment, ...the damage regarding the Australian image here is huge'.
China as a cultural threat in Ethiopia: From food to cultural appropriation
Public interest in Chinese exotic eating habits and in potential appropriation of Ethiopian traditional culture speaks of the larger rifts in Sino-Ethiopian encounters
Forgotten history: American aeronaut Jeanette Van Tassel lies buried in Dhaka Christian Cemetery
A daredevil aeronaut from the US took part in the first manned balloon flight in present-day Bangladesh in 1892, which ended in a tragedy.
Chinese higher education programs attract increasing numbers of students from Kazakhstan
Education abroad and study exchanges have become instruments for the Chinese government to attract foreign students, especially from Kazakhstan. Does studying in China trigger support among Kazakhstani students?
Chinese soft power in Kyrgyzstan grows through culture and language
Still looking to publicize its language and culture in Central Asia, China is using the instrument of Confucius Institutes to strengthen its soft power in Kyrgyzstan
China-funded Kaliwa dam in the Philippines flagged for irregularities
"Indigenous Peoples should not be sacrificed on the altar of development aggression, which would just benefit big businesses and Chinese investors."
Diverging narratives on the Belt and Road Initiative in Greece and China
After years of investment in the port, information on the hurdles that China’s BRI is facing in Greece differs across the language of the media reporting it.
Crimean Tatar leader's arrest latest in crackdown on political activism in Crimea
The arrest of Crimean Tatar political leader Nariman Dzhelyal is a grim reminder of the reality of Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
Turkey and China in the eastern Mediterranean: Partners or competitors?
China and Turkey continue to collaborate on their visions for trans-continental integration, though should Ankara's political and military ambitions increase, Beijing might reconsider its role as a reliable BRI partner.
Literary translation from South Asia lags in international markets
Global Voices talked to Jenny Bhatt, an Indian American writer, literary translator, and book critic about her recent literary translations and South Asian literature's prospects in the international market.
The story of a potato biscuit-chips fusion — how a Bangladeshi brand mesmerised India
A Bangladeshi manufacturing company has become extremely popular in India because of its spicy, sweet and savoury offerings — especially for its potato-biscuit fusion which became an internet sensation.
Georgian-Belarusian security cooperation deal worries political emigres in Georgia
A year after disputed presidential elections in Belarus, a Georgian-Belarusian security cooperation agreement has come into force. Critics fear the treaty could help Minsk target political dissidents residing in Georgia.
