Authoritarianism

By Joseph Chamie and Barry Mirkin | (Inter Press Service) | – – NEW YORK, Apr 9 2016 (IPS) – Regardless of whether they are called fragile, failed, or failing states, scores of countries around the globe are plagued by overwhelming problems with few solutions in sight. Moreover, the instability and dire straits of these […]

Authoritarianism

Panama Papers Expose Massive Global Corruption Scandal (TYT)

contributors

Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks Video Report) | – – “We’ve got a new bunch of leaked papers on some of the most prominent politicians and leaders worldwide. They are laundering money from out of their own countries into private bank accounts in offshore tax havens. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks […]

Authoritarianism

The Panama Papers and Middle East Leaders’ Secret Bank Accounts

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – An anonymous source has handed over to a German newspaper massive amounts of data from the Panama-based, German-run law firm Mossack Fonseca. The firm specialized in providing clients with offshore accounts, which are typically used to avoid taxes or hide ill-gotten gains. Given the enormous problem […]

Arab World

After the Youth Revolts: Can the Arab Thug-ocracies ever be Reformed?

contributors

By Yezid Sayigh | (Project Syndicate) | – – WASHINGTON, DC – Experience across the Arab world demonstrates that when it comes to security-sector reform, technocratic approaches are inadequate. Simply put, a technocratic focus on upgrading skills and operational capability, in the absence of improved governance of the security services, can be easily subverted by […]

Authoritarianism

Turkey’s Erdogan: Democracy Has ‘Absolutely No Value Any Longer’ given war on PKK Terrorism

contributors

TeleSur | – – “Democracy Has ‘Absolutely No Value Any Longer’” The Turkish president made the comments in the context of the government’s fight against the Kurdish PKK resistance group. In the fight against the Kurdish insurgency in the country, there is no place left for democracy and freedom of speech in Turkey, President Recep […]

Authoritarianism

An Offer we can’t Refuse: Trump threatens “Riots” if Brokered Convention Sidelines Him

contributors

By Mark Sovel and Nik Zecevic | (TheLipTV Video Report) | – – “Donald Trump warned of riots if the Republican party denies him the presidential nomination should he fail to win enough delegates, speaking in an interview with CNN on Wednesday. The Republican frontrunner needs to secure 1,237 delegates to win the party’s nomination […]

Authoritarianism

Your Tax Dollars Enable Police Brutality Abroad: Egypt

contributors

By Chris Toensing | ( Otherwords.org) | – – Washington wants to loosen aid restrictions even as security forces crack down on innocent Egyptians. Ever since the Black Lives Matter movement exploded into the headlines, violence by American police officers has come under fire from activists and ordinary citizens alike. Less discussed, however, is how […]

Authoritarianism

Turkey: Erdogan’s Domestic War for a Presidential System

contributors

By Rosa Burç and Burak Çopur | TeleSur | – – The current war against the Kurds and oppositional voices is being waged to push an autocratic presidential system. The surprising electoral success of the pro-Kurdish HDP in last year’s June 7 elections denied the ruling AKP a majority for the first time since 2002 […]

Authoritarianism

How the fate of Syria’s al-Assad divides the GOP Field: Cruz, Trump, Rubio

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Foreign policy is not a strong suit for most of the Republican candidates for president. Many of them probably couldn’t find Syria on a blank world map. But the fate of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad has become a flashpoint issue distinguishing them from one another. Donald […]