by Bernd Debusmann | 12 Feb 2019 | Americas, Decoders, Future of Democracy
Venezuela’s collapse predates Maduro and Chavez. Venezuela is afflicted by the “paradox of plenty” — oil abundance has impoverished the nation. A Venezuelan protester against President Nicolas Maduro and in favor of Juan Guaidó, Buenos Aires,...
by Christine Keilholz | 11 Feb 2019 | Decoders, Europe, Future of Democracy
Theresa May is racing to negotiate a Brexit accord that the UK Parliament can support. Our decoder explains why the deal hinges on the Irish backstop. Demonstrators hold banners on the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border on 26 Jan. 2019. (AP Photo/Peter...
by Jonathan Sharp | 8 Feb 2019 | Africa, Americas, Asia, China, Environment, Europe, Middle East
Instead of having too many babies, China is now having too few. A declining population is increasingly referred to in apocalyptic terms. Indians commuting in Bangalore, 11 July 2018 (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) The year 2018 saw a “historic turning point” in China’s...
by News Decoder | 7 Feb 2019 | Environment, Podcasts, Student Posts, Thacher School, United States
By Daisy Lawrence Faced with one of the most severe droughts in its history, Californians have had to grapple with the effects of water shortage in nearly every area of life. The students and faculty of Thacher School in Ojai, California are no strangers to this...
by John Mehaffey | 6 Feb 2019 | Europe, Nationalism, Sport
Ireland’s rugby team has a history of persevering through conflict. As Brexit reopens old wounds, rugby unites players and fans across borders. Ireland’s Devin Toner is held aloft during the most recent rugby game between Ireland and England, Dublin, Ireland, 2...
by Colin McIntyre | 1 Feb 2019 | Decoders, Europe, Nationalism
It’s a term taken from cricket and baseball. Now, a “backstop” holds the key to Britain’s messy exit from the European Union. Demonstrators on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland near Newry in Northern Ireland, 26...
by Colin McIntyre | 29 Jan 2019 | Donald Trump, Europe, Future of Democracy, Immigration, Nationalism
Europe faces a moment of truth in May. Voters will choose a new parliament, and far-right parties and populists could make big gains. The European Parliament debating chamber in Strasbourg, France (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) Far-right and populist parties...
by Jonathan Lyons | 15 Jan 2019 | Donald Trump, United States
Donald Trump has thumbed his nose at norms governing U.S. behavior towards the world. He inhabits a Hobbesian space of all-against-all. A section of a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, Mission, Texas, 15 Sept 2015 (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) For 24 months, Donald...
by Susan Ruel | 8 Jan 2019 | Asia, China, Globalization, Human Rights
China has exploded to superpower status since I lived there 40 years ago. On a recent visit, the progress was unmistakable. But so were shortcomings. The author dressed for work in many layers to teach all winter without heat in 1981-82 Thumb-sucker anniversary...
by Jonathan Sharp | 1 Jan 2019 | Asia
Hong Kong has a strong educational system. But its students are unhappy over the burden of work, and more and more are taking their own lives. Students do homework during a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong, 11 October 2014 (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) A bereaved Hong Kong...