Women support democracy less than men in parts of Africa – why?
Sep 26, 2016 08:52 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
In much of the world, democracy is seen as a force for good, and in development terms, it has important implications for the welfare of citizens. Increasing the legitimacy of a democracy must by its nature happen...
'Syria: Always Beautiful' – can tourism be a force for peace?
Sep 26, 2016 06:16 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Earlier this month the Syrian government released a new tourism advertisement to promote its beaches and landscape. Under the banner Syria Always Beautiful, the video did not mention that the same beach, in the seaside...
Assessing the risk from Africa as Libya loses its chemical weapons
Sep 26, 2016 05:08 am UTC| Insights & Views
Libyas remaining chemical weapons left over from the Gaddafi regime are now being safely disposed of in a German facility. This eliminates the risk of them falling into the wrong hands. But can these same hands acquire...
Beyond the war of words: how might the Australian media's coverage of China affect social cohesion?
Sep 25, 2016 23:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views
The Australian governments Public Diplomacy Strategy points to the importance of diaspora diplomacy. It promises to take steps to engage diaspora communities drawing on their linguistic skills, social networks and cultural...
Will Colombia's peace deal get the people's vote?
Sep 25, 2016 23:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
On Sept. 26, 2016, the Colombian government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) are expected to sign a formal agreement to end 50 years of conflict. More than eight million Colombians have been...
Is Philippine President Duterte a threat to the peace in Southeast Asia?
Sep 22, 2016 23:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views
U.S. efforts to promote peace and stability in the South China Sea are facing a new challenge. This time, the difficulty comes not from China but from the leader of a U.S. treaty ally President Rodrigo Duterte of the...
Global Geo-political Series: US-Saudi Arabia relation might sour over 9/11 bill
Sep 22, 2016 08:29 am UTC| Commentary
United States congress is considering a bill that would allow the 9/11 victims to sue to Saudi Arabia. That move was criticized by Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Nayef, who told the United Nations General Assembly that...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Economist Chris Richardson on an ‘ugly’ inflation result and the coming budget
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects