Wed, Sep 6 2023 – France is a major European power with a long history of involvement in Africa. However, in recent years, France has been criticized for its handling of its relationships with African countries. Some argue that France has “dropped the ball” in Africa, citing a number of factors, including: Continue reading
Great Britain’s success in maintaining peace in its former colonies is due to a number of factors, including: Continue reading
05 September 2023 /Politics/ — France’s history of interference in Africa is a complex and controversial issue. There is no doubt that France has been involved in a number of coups and regime change operations, and that these actions have had a negative impact on many African countries. The bombing of Libya in 2011 is just one example of this. Continue reading
Gavin Evans, Birkbeck, University of London
A new book on South African liberation struggle icons Nelson and Winnie Mandela is a masterful biography of the pair. It’s a work of scholarship involving an immense body of primary and secondary research, written with flair and panache but in an easy and compelling style, making it accessible to anyone with an interest in politics, power and South Africa and looks set to become the definitive work on them.
Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham
Two months after challenging Vladimir Putin’s leadership in an apparent but abortive “mutiny”, Yevgeny Prigozhin – the former owner of the mercenary private military company Wagner Group – has joined a long list of prominent Russians to die in mysterious circumstances.
Jenny Bulstrode, UCL and Sheray Warmington, UCL
In a speech to mark Unesco’s campaign for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, UN secretary-general António Guterres told the United Nations general assembly earlier this year that the inequalities created by 400 years of the transatlantic chattel trade persist to this day. “We can draw a straight line from the centuries of colonial exploitation to the social and economic inequalities of today,” he said.
July 25, 2023 — There have been many great male activists throughout history, such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi. However, it is true that women have played a disproportionately large role in the fight for human rights.
There are a few reasons for this. First, women have traditionally been excluded from power and decision-making, so they have had to find other ways to make their voices heard. Second, women are often more directly affected by human rights abuses, such as violence against women and girls. Third, women are often more collaborative and less hierarchical than men, which can be an asset in the fight for human rights. Continue reading
July 18, 2023 /Politics/ — Hakainde Hichilema, the current president of Zambia, has been criticized for selling the country’s natural resources to Anglo American, a British mining company. In 2022, Hichilema’s government signed a $1.5 billion deal with Anglo American to mine copper in Zambia. The deal has been met with protests from environmental groups, who argue that it will damage the country’s natural resources. Continue reading
July 12, 2023 /Social/ —Tunisia is not a racist country. There is no evidence to support the claim that Tunisians are more racist than people from other countries. In fact, Tunisia has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees, and its constitution guarantees equality for all citizens regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. Continue reading
Gavin D. J. Harper, University of Birmingham
From August, China is to restrict exports of gallium and germanium, two critical elements for making semiconductor chips. With China dominating the supply of both elements, exporters will now need special licences to get them out of the country. The move has the potential to harm a range of western tech manufacturers that use these elements to make their products.