We're not going in strict order here; South Africa is actually the last on the CIVETS list.
In general, we're all a lot more positive about Africa these days. Article after article after article talks about Africa's vast untapped consumer market, a growing middle class (incomes between $2 and $20 per day) now able to afford more -- life insurance, Danone yogurt, basmati rice (imported from India),Heineken-brewed cassava beer and cosmetics from Avon, all paid for with mobile banking.
Showing posts with label political. Show all posts
Showing posts with label political. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
Mexico party selects first woman presidential candidate (via BBC)
The Mexican voters choose a new president in July of this year (when the US political parties are just settling on their nominees).
Current president Felipe Calderón is not eligible for a second term (Mexico's presidents are limited to a single six-year term). He chose as his successor Ernesto Cordero (who was, up until September of 2011, the finance minister).
However, the PAN (National Action Party) did not agree, and chose a different candidate. The current nominee of the PAN is Josefina Vazquez Mota , who was formerly the education minister.
According to the BBC, though:
It happens in the US, too.
It happens in France.
It happens in Australia.
It happens in the UK, though it's been illegal since 1275...
Current president Felipe Calderón is not eligible for a second term (Mexico's presidents are limited to a single six-year term). He chose as his successor Ernesto Cordero (who was, up until September of 2011, the finance minister).
However, the PAN (National Action Party) did not agree, and chose a different candidate. The current nominee of the PAN is Josefina Vazquez Mota , who was formerly the education minister.
According to the BBC, though:
Opinion polls place her some distance behind the current frontrunner, Enrique Pena Nieto, the candidate of the party which ruled Mexico for more than 70 years, the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).And, it is most likely that the next president will be Enrique Peña Nieto from the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ruled Mexico for 71 years until 2000, leads the pack and looks set to return under the slick candidacy of Enrique Peña Nieto, a former governor of Mexico’s most populous state.However, there’s been some corruption corruption associated with Mr. Peña Nieto:
It was a mere $1.8 million, stuffed as brand new bills into two suitcases on a small jet travelling from the drug-raddled state of Veracruz to the home town of the man likely to be Mexico's next president. Suspicious? Officers from Mexico's Attorney-General's office confiscated the money last weekend during a search of the plane, which landed in Toluca, capital of the state of Mexico. They arrested the two men transporting the cash, who said they were Veracruz officials but could not present any paperwork on where the money came from. As rumours and speculation swirled, officials in the government of Veracruz acknowledged the money (25 million pesos) was theirs. They said they'd sent it to a publicity agency to pay for promotions for a carnival.
It happens in the US, too.
It happens in France.
It happens in Australia.
It happens in the UK, though it's been illegal since 1275...
AND because Elections ought to be free, the King commandeth upon great Forfeiture, that [no Man] by Force of Arms, nor by Malice, or menacing, shall disturb any to make free Election.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Russia's Future (or at least guesses about it)
Russia. Over the last few weeks, we've seen a fair amount of discussion as to Vladimir Putin's political future.
A brief recap. Mr. Putin served two terms as President of Russia (2000-2008). In the Russian system, the President is the one with the power and the Prime Minister is a figurehead. However, when Mr. Putin finished his second term in 2008, he was not eligible for re-election, so the new President was Dmitry Medvedev. Mr. Putin moved to the office of Prime Minister, but it's been pretty generally accepted that it's Mr. Medvedev who is the true figurehead here.
The current Russian constitution prohibits two consecutive terms, but additional non-consecutive terms are fine. So, Mr. Putin is running for re-election as President this year. Mr. Medvedev's future is unknown but not likely to be a glowing one. According to the Moscow Times,
Ok. Back to Mr. Putin. At one point, he looked like a sure thing for re-election. However, he's lost a lot of popularity recently. This week-end there were protests in Moscow (the symbol appears to be white ribbons or balloons). But, this sentiment in Moscow and among the bloggers does not appear to be universal. Mr. Putin doesn't have any credible opposition, and he's at least a known quantity. Per the New York Times,
There does seem to be little question (right now, at least) that Mr. Putin will win re-election, though he's unlikely to regain the popularity from his first two terms. Bear in mind two things. First, Russia has a tradition of autocratic leadership. As an autocrat, Mr. Putin is following right in the footsteps of Ivan the Terrible and Josef Stalin. Second. It may be an urban legend, but the same Josef Stalin is popularly quoted as saying "It's not the people who vote that count, it's the people who count the votes."
As a commentator for Forbes put it, Mr. Putin will be re-elected, but let's not mistake this for democracy:
Mr. Putin faces a number of challeneges in his third term (assuming that you, too, read "challlenge" as "a big problem that nobody knows how to solve, so it's dumped on your lap"). First, there's Russia's economic future. Recently, Mr. Putin announced that he believes that Russia's economic future depends on taking the currency earned from oil and gas exports and using that to build a modern economy. In an article, written by Mr Putin and published this past weekend (and much commented on), he says:
The second issue, perhaps not as urgent, is the nationalities question. Russia contains a large number of people who are not ethnically Russian and not necessarily happy at being part of Russia (such as the Chechens). The Russians aren't always absolutely delighted, either.
Ok. Enough for now.
A brief recap. Mr. Putin served two terms as President of Russia (2000-2008). In the Russian system, the President is the one with the power and the Prime Minister is a figurehead. However, when Mr. Putin finished his second term in 2008, he was not eligible for re-election, so the new President was Dmitry Medvedev. Mr. Putin moved to the office of Prime Minister, but it's been pretty generally accepted that it's Mr. Medvedev who is the true figurehead here.
The current Russian constitution prohibits two consecutive terms, but additional non-consecutive terms are fine. So, Mr. Putin is running for re-election as President this year. Mr. Medvedev's future is unknown but not likely to be a glowing one. According to the Moscow Times,
As for Medvedev — who at one point was branded with the tag "pitiful" on Twitter — analysts said his political future is anything but certain. "President Dmitry Medvedev is worse than a lame duck, he's a dead duck," said Nikolai Petrov, an analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center.
Ok. Back to Mr. Putin. At one point, he looked like a sure thing for re-election. However, he's lost a lot of popularity recently. This week-end there were protests in Moscow (the symbol appears to be white ribbons or balloons). But, this sentiment in Moscow and among the bloggers does not appear to be universal. Mr. Putin doesn't have any credible opposition, and he's at least a known quantity. Per the New York Times,
“Tell Putin to fulfill all of his promises, not just half of them,” said Sergei V. Verkhososov, 34, a mechanic from the nearby industrial town of Nizhny Tagil, who was bused in for the afternoon by his employer. “He needs to think about the future, and those people who fought for him. Take these words to him.”
.......
“In Moscow they insulted me, they insulted everyone who works honestly for the sake of the motherland,” Igor Kholmansky, a worker at a plant that makes train cars and tanks, said from the stage. “We came here today to say that the workers of the Urals are for stability, for Putin and for Russia.”
There does seem to be little question (right now, at least) that Mr. Putin will win re-election, though he's unlikely to regain the popularity from his first two terms. Bear in mind two things. First, Russia has a tradition of autocratic leadership. As an autocrat, Mr. Putin is following right in the footsteps of Ivan the Terrible and Josef Stalin. Second. It may be an urban legend, but the same Josef Stalin is popularly quoted as saying "It's not the people who vote that count, it's the people who count the votes."
As a commentator for Forbes put it, Mr. Putin will be re-elected, but let's not mistake this for democracy:
His December 15 response to charges of corruption displays his chutzpah. The Russian people do not need democracy, he assured viewers. He (purportedly among the world’s richest men) personally will ferret out and punish those who are corrupt. As an example, he accused a former cabinet member – now a lonely member of the opposition — of corruption.
In a remarkable display of double-talk, Putin dismissed bloggers and demonstrators: “If the people show their trust in me with the highest office of president, I will conditionally work in their interests. Whether I have this trust or not is not revealed on internet sites or demonstrations. In a democratic society, trust is shown only in voting. If I see that there is not such support I would not stay one day longer in office (polite applause).”
Mr. Putin faces a number of challeneges in his third term (assuming that you, too, read "challlenge" as "a big problem that nobody knows how to solve, so it's dumped on your lap"). First, there's Russia's economic future. Recently, Mr. Putin announced that he believes that Russia's economic future depends on taking the currency earned from oil and gas exports and using that to build a modern economy. In an article, written by Mr Putin and published this past weekend (and much commented on), he says:
Noting that “more than a quarter of Russia’s GDP is a result of the sale of gas, oil, metals, timber and other natural resources or primary commodities,” Putin admitted that “Russia depends on the world economy…more than most other countries do.”
..........
“Having an economy that does not guarantee stability, sovereignty, or decent prosperity is unacceptable for Russia,” Putin wrote. “We need a new economy with a competitive industrial sector and infrastructure, with a developed service industry and with an effective agricultural sector – an economy, operating on a modern technological base.”
The second issue, perhaps not as urgent, is the nationalities question. Russia contains a large number of people who are not ethnically Russian and not necessarily happy at being part of Russia (such as the Chechens). The Russians aren't always absolutely delighted, either.
Ok. Enough for now.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Internet Censorship
Real quick -- here it is. Note that this also happens in Europe.
Google: China decision painful but right - Yahoo! News
Google: China decision painful but right - Yahoo! News
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Russia and Ethnic Issues in the Caucasus
You've no doubt heard of Chechnya -- politically part of Russia, but ethnically separate. And, depending on which side you want to come down on, there are "Chechnyan terrorists" or "fighters for Chechen independence;" for a somewhat more balanced view, see "Russia struggles to keep grip in Caucasus." Me, I figure there's enough blame for all of the parties to have their share, and then some (where's my 10-foot pole when I need it...)
In any case, the Chechens are just one of many disaffected ethnic minorities in the Caucasus region, none of whom appear to have much use for their Russian rulers. There's the Republic of Ingushetia, as well.
Why does this matter? We'll talk about this next week in class. 10 free homework points to anyone who finds and prints and brings to class the CIA's map of the ethnic and religious groups in this region.
In any case, the Chechens are just one of many disaffected ethnic minorities in the Caucasus region, none of whom appear to have much use for their Russian rulers. There's the Republic of Ingushetia, as well.
Why does this matter? We'll talk about this next week in class. 10 free homework points to anyone who finds and prints and brings to class the CIA's map of the ethnic and religious groups in this region.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Ukrainian President in deeper hot water
Seems that the Ukrainian Parliament is Not Happy with Mr. Yushchenko's recent reorganization of his government. I'm guessing [crystal ball on] we'll see Yulia Tymoshenko running things by next year [crystal ball off].
BBC NEWS: Europe: Ukraine PM rebuff deepens crisis
BBC NEWS: Europe: Ukraine PM rebuff deepens crisis
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Nowegian Election Results
As we discussed last night in International, Scandinavian values are a bit different from ours. Specifically, there's a very strong sense that nobody should be in need. The result -- a social safety net that includes free education, health care, etc [this is the article Ashley was referring to]
This is, in part, financed from Norway's oil revenues (they're the world's 3d largest exporter of oil), but you'll find the same philosophy and similar programs in the rest of Scandinavia. As we discussed last night, this is different. Not better, not worse, just different. Remember that this social welfare system is funded by tax revenues, and Norwegian tax rates are very high.
The election.
Centre-Left Bloc Wins Norway Poll
The right-center party, under Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, lost to the left-center Labor Party, led by Jens Stoltenberg. It wasn't an issue of safety-net vs. no safety-net, just how far the social welfare system should go
In the news coverage, pay attention to the references to "blocs" -- specifically, neither Labor nor the Christian People's Pary can form a government unless they form a coalition with one or more minority parties.
One factor that didn't come into the elections was EU membership; Norwegian voters have rejected membership, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of sentiment for joining. In fact, Norway gets a lot of the benefits of EU membership (more on that in a couple of weeks), withough having to give up control over fishing rights. A 2004 article from The Economist, though, sees the matter somewhat differently:
The Norwegian Option
Your thoughts?
This is, in part, financed from Norway's oil revenues (they're the world's 3d largest exporter of oil), but you'll find the same philosophy and similar programs in the rest of Scandinavia. As we discussed last night, this is different. Not better, not worse, just different. Remember that this social welfare system is funded by tax revenues, and Norwegian tax rates are very high.
The election.
Centre-Left Bloc Wins Norway Poll
The right-center party, under Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, lost to the left-center Labor Party, led by Jens Stoltenberg. It wasn't an issue of safety-net vs. no safety-net, just how far the social welfare system should go
In the news coverage, pay attention to the references to "blocs" -- specifically, neither Labor nor the Christian People's Pary can form a government unless they form a coalition with one or more minority parties.
One factor that didn't come into the elections was EU membership; Norwegian voters have rejected membership, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of sentiment for joining. In fact, Norway gets a lot of the benefits of EU membership (more on that in a couple of weeks), withough having to give up control over fishing rights. A 2004 article from The Economist, though, sees the matter somewhat differently:
The Norwegian Option
Your thoughts?
Monday, September 12, 2005
Bush Suspends Pay Act In Areas Hit by Storm
The Davis-Bacon Act, Federal law since 1931:
However, it is legal to suspend enforcement in a national emergency:
Bush Suspends Pay Act In Areas Hit by Storm
Your thoughts???
"requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia construction contracts or federally assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay their laborers and mechanics not less than the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on similar projects in the area" (Department of Labor)For Louisiana rates, see this DoL page (scroll down to Orleans County [yes, I know it's not "county," but "parish" -- you tell the Department of Labor]).
However, it is legal to suspend enforcement in a national emergency:
Bush Suspends Pay Act In Areas Hit by Storm
Your thoughts???
Friday, September 09, 2005
Ukraine president sacks his cabinet
Just what we needed -- more depressing news. Incidentally, a lot of the background on this comes from an excellent paper written by one of this spring's graduating MBA students.
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian Orange Revolution gave us hope that not all of the former USSR was doomed to eternal corruption and tyranny (the Baltics excepted). A reform cadidate, Viktor Yushchenko, survived attempted poisoning and one rigged election to become the democratically elected president of Ukraine. (map and information) Yushchenko rose to power in part because he was seen to be highly competent -- his background was in finance and banking, and people believed that he could put the government's financial house in order and begin to eliminate corruption. In addition, Yushchnko was a good-looking, charismatic speaker (his present appearance owes a lot to the dioxin poisoning).
Fast-forward from January to September. The financial and corruption issues haven't really been addressed; according to the BBC, "infighting" among the Yushchenko administration has taken precedence over getting things done. So, yesterday, Yushchenko cleaned house; chief among the cleanees was Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister (head of state). Did Yushchenko want to get to work without political conflict among his top advisors? Did he want to dispose of a potential threat to his power? It's worth noting that Tymoshenko has been urged to form an opposition party or bloc. The defeated candidate for president, Viktor Yanukovich, is returing to Kiev and has "hinted he may cooperate with sacked PM Yulia Tymoshenko." Now, if you really want to go in for conspiracy theories, read this article from Pravda......
For complete coverage of this story and some background, see:
Ukraine President Sacks his Cabinet
Orange Revolution in Turmoil
Putin Still Bitter over Orange Revolution
Ukraine: Why The Road West Will Be Rocky
Earlier this year, the Ukrainian Orange Revolution gave us hope that not all of the former USSR was doomed to eternal corruption and tyranny (the Baltics excepted). A reform cadidate, Viktor Yushchenko, survived attempted poisoning and one rigged election to become the democratically elected president of Ukraine. (map and information) Yushchenko rose to power in part because he was seen to be highly competent -- his background was in finance and banking, and people believed that he could put the government's financial house in order and begin to eliminate corruption. In addition, Yushchnko was a good-looking, charismatic speaker (his present appearance owes a lot to the dioxin poisoning).
Fast-forward from January to September. The financial and corruption issues haven't really been addressed; according to the BBC, "infighting" among the Yushchenko administration has taken precedence over getting things done. So, yesterday, Yushchenko cleaned house; chief among the cleanees was Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister (head of state). Did Yushchenko want to get to work without political conflict among his top advisors? Did he want to dispose of a potential threat to his power? It's worth noting that Tymoshenko has been urged to form an opposition party or bloc. The defeated candidate for president, Viktor Yanukovich, is returing to Kiev and has "hinted he may cooperate with sacked PM Yulia Tymoshenko." Now, if you really want to go in for conspiracy theories, read this article from Pravda......
For complete coverage of this story and some background, see:
Ukraine President Sacks his Cabinet
Orange Revolution in Turmoil
Putin Still Bitter over Orange Revolution
Ukraine: Why The Road West Will Be Rocky
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