Iran and equality

           In chapter 12, Roskin states that many Iranians are against replacing their traditional culture with Western culture. No necessarily that they do not want to be modern, because they do, but they would like to do it within their own means of values and religion. 

Today, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a religious moderate, was endorsing gender equality. He publicly stated that he is not in favor of "those who consider women's presence in society as a threat". He admitted that Iran still has a ways to go in terms of achieving equality opportunities and rights for men and women, however I believe this is a clear example of Iran's modernity. 

President Rouhani said that Islamic rules state that "man is not the stronger sex and woman is not the weaker one." With that being said, is religious documentation as a reference enough to change the Iranian people's views on gender equality in their country? A few cases that prove otherwise: Last year, a constitutional body in Iran ruled that women could not run in presidential elections, only parliament. The year prior to last, several universities in Iran banned females from about 80 degree courses. This an example of how people can be stuck in the hole of traditional thinking without opening their eyes to the fact that women have made an impact on society.
the link to the story

Nigeria and budget cutting

Mohammed Abubakar, the Inspector General of Nigeria's Police announced the promotion of 24,118 police staff. This was a joyous occurrence for those promoted, as well as for the thousands of families and friends. However there was one slight issue: as these officers were given promotions, budget was also cut. In 2013, it was at N293.5bn, and was reduce this year by N13bn! According to Inspector General Abubakar, pretty soon they will not even be able to pay salaries.   Now the question is where is all the money being cut out going? The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Aloma Muhktar argued that “a situation where budgetary allocation to the judiciary continues to drop while the general government budget is on steady increase every year is clearly an impediment to the quick and effective dispensation of justice in Nigeria and on the whole a set back to the current effort at transforming the judiciary.”The Ekiti State House of Assembly members have since noticed that N480million was being dedcuted monthly from the state accruable revenue. Also, it seems that there may be illegal deductions of oil revenues from the federation account by state governors. In the last three years, according to Kayode Fayermi, Ekiti State governor, over N4.62 trillion had been deducted from the Federation Account in only the last three years. Now what exactly is the deal here?

link

The Philippines: Social Progress Index

The Philippines' Social Progress Index is at 65.86.

Click on the link here!

Brasil Politics

According to one of the think-tanks of Brazil's Center for Public Leadership. Mr. Luiz Felipe d'Avila believes that the country's past has an everlasting imprint on its current politics. 26 out of the 32 registered political parties names consist of words like: "social", "democrat" and "workers". There is a strong disliking to the label of being "right-wing" because of the country's past of a military dictatorship.With that said, even those parties who are not on the left side of Brazil's political spectrum, do not call themselves the right. Why is that? The issue with this is that many voters run the other way when they see the term "conservative", even though they still hold right-winged views on issues. As Roskin mentions in the chapter, Brazil inherited some defective basic institutions that left the country stuck in old quarrels. How long do you think it will take for Brazil to get over their past? It seems that the voters are just as defective as the institution.

link

Mexico relations with Canada

Mexico is angry that Canada refused to lift a visa requirement for all visitors from Mexico to start a movement in "false-refugee claims". However, Mexico and Canada's beef goes back, way before the visa issue. When Canada did was hesitant to sign the NAFTA, and joined to protect the access to the trade market of America. Canada has always chosen to secure deals with the US and leave Mexico as it's redheaded stepbrother in the family of North America. It seems that Mexico and Canada have always been competing for affection from the US ever since. The Mexican ambassador to Canada however, has described relations between the two countries as having "post-NAFTA old age with flaws, limitations and increasing wrinkles". 

In 2011 there was a survey conducted in Canada regarding attitudes toward Latin America. A whopping 48% had negative views of Mexico. There were only 16% of respondents who believed that Mexico was vitally important to Canada! When they were asked the same questions about the US, 70% believes the US is vitally important to their country. 

Shows what kind of light Mexico is under for the Canadians!

link

Ch. 8 India

Just like their former colonial masters, India's political power is vested in the hands of a Prime Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru, the reason why India's PM position is so powerful, should have set a great example for the future PM's and other ministers. However, in the news article I found, it is said that Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is accused of vote-rigging! He asked supporters to vote twice for his party in elections which are to start in April. Urging the voters to wash off the ink which would be marked on their fingers after voting was probably not the smartest idea although he claims he was only joking. This just gave his opponents fuel! Now Minister Pawar is being slammed with comments that his actions were a "blatant contravention" of Election commission's code of conduct. Although his party reps backed him up in stating he was not serious about his comments, the Agriculture Minister is now given a deadline to explain himself, and is found to be in violation by the Election commission themselves.

I guess people need to think before they speak!

the link to this story

                                            "WELL I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY."

China becoming more Urban!

According to Roskin, every year there are about 13 to 21 million rural Chinese who move to cities for work. Historically 90% of the population live in the countryside and it seems that this number will continue to decrease. On March 16th 2014, the proportion of permanent urban residents of China's entire population is going to hit a whopping 60% by the year of 2020. (This info is in accordance to an unveiled urbanization plan by the central government) 

This ratio is comparable to developing countries with similar per capita income levels as China. Apparently, urban household registration in itself will incase to 45% in 2020, which will be a 10.7% increase from 2013. This means about 100 million migrants will settle in the urban areas! Something to keep in mind: many of China's best entrepreneurs actually fled from rural poverty for urban opportunities. 

Who cares about the hukou now?! 

link 

Incase you are interested...

          So I found a pretty cool source for global political news! You have to subscribe, but the information is well worth it! I feel like it would be beneficial for this class in particular since it does geopolitical analysis in the realm politics, economics, and (for those interested) military.
 

http://www.stratfor.com/

Japan's Cabinet Approval Rating

          I found it interesting to learn that Japan's institutions pretty much resemble Britain, yet with different functions. In the Japanese constitution, it is specified that the Emperor has absolutely no government-related powers. He exists for ritual and ceremony, and serves as more of a figure of tradition for the younger folks. In Britain, The Queen is in name the head of state, the armed forces, and the head of the Church of England. In practice however, she does not actually exercise any authority, but she still serves as a counterbalance to the PM. Having read in the book that Japan's streak of PM's have been "weak, and rarely the real power", I decided to find a poll on the approval rating of the current Japanese PM. Following former PM Koizumi who ruled from 2001-2006, I was surprised to read that there have been six PM's in five years! From the date I found, the current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet has shown it's approval rating at 60% based on an opinion survey that was done nationwide. According to "The Yomuiri Shimbun", this was opinion survey was conducted last Friday and Sunday, and the rating has not changed much from its previous 62% polls from early January. The percentage of respondents who said they had not felt positive effects of the economic recovery under the Abe Cabinet stood at 77%, up from 73% in another previous poll. How long do you think this one is going to last?
 


source : this article

Merkel Unhappy With US and Britain

          As Germany is the most industrialized and populated country in Europe, its advanced technological achievement is still potentially threatened by others. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor issued a statement which strongly admonishes the US and the UK regarding the recent surveillance and spying activity scandals. Although I do not doubt the same behavior is being reciprocated by Germany, Merkel said that "Western powers sacrificing freedom in the quest for security are sending the wrong signal to billions of people living in undemocratic states." Merkel said that "Actions in which the ends justify the means, in which everything that is technically possible is done, violate trust, they sow distrust". The female chancellor has also made claims that her cellphone has allegedly been tapped by the NSA; Merkel is making a pretty bold statement in my opinion. She wants to talk ethics, and freedom, yet Germany has its own violations of rights going on in their country as well.  Merkel, who was actually raised under communism in the former East Germany has expressed her efforts for a European no-spying agreement along with data privacy rules. 

Do you think that Germany spies on their own citizens and others as well, and that this whole statement is just a form of posturing?

link to the article!

How do the French really feel about Muslims in France?

          France has about five to six million Muslim immigrants, which is more than both Germany and Britain. They flee the harsh conditions of unemployment in the former French colonies in West and North Africa, expecting a better life in France. However, most of them are subject to the dirtiest, low-paid work. There is a lot of racism that goes on, and the issue is not being helped by the fact that most French people want Muslim immigrants sent home because there are "too many of them." On top of that, all of France's main parties are against any more newcomers, which now has legal immigration very tight. This sounds pretty familiar if you ask me! However, maybe there are some things that those in the National Front (who advocate turning Muslims away) should pay attention to before giving the cold shoulder. Although the Muslims are unwanted by most, they seem to pay a huge contribution to bashing the gays, which is something the National Front is totally into. According to the article I came across, the Muslim's made a prominent contribution in a protest against gender equality teaching in schools and fertility treatment for same-sex couples. A 54 year old Muslim father said “I am opposed to gender theory lessons in schools, I am opposed to same-sex marriage, we are in the process of destroying the fundamentals of French life." The Muslims seems to have a great deal of French nationalism for being the outcasts in society.

So does the National Front really want the same group of people who are supporting their issues to be sent home?

Photo: Tony Todd/FRANCE 24

http://www.france24.com/en/20140202-thousands-french-conservatives-march-family-values/

Chapter 2 : Britain

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547303/Lib-Dems-declare-war-rich-Danny-Alexander-launch-tax-raid-pensions-multi-million-pound-homes.html

I thought the Chapter we read was very dense with information so I decided to find an article which reflected on just a small, but important factor. From what I've gathered, the history of England is predominantly about keeping the monarch's and noble's power in check. With that said, it seems this is not only done so in the political realm, but the economic realm as well. The Liberal Democrats, or the "Whigs", are planning to set out a £4 billion double raid on wealthy people's income. These guys mean business; they are ready to impose a 1 percent levy on the value of homes which are over £2 million. This is expected to help them raise about 2 billion! And it doesn't stop there, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander is now planning to create two even higher rates for those with homes worth more than 5 million and 10 million. I guess all those Hollywood folks with their beautiful, ginormous flats in Primrose Hill and Mayfair are going to have to start paying up pretty soon!

Ukraine losing legitimacy?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25838962

"Can Revolution lead to democracy?" But what if there is already a "democracy" in place?

Ukraine has been up to some shady business lately. The people are unhappy because of their government's poor decision to link up with Russia and refuse to sign a planned treaty with the EU. Although their "demographic bulge" seems to range between the age of 15-64 with a whopping 74%, people came together to peacefully protest against this political move. However, the response of the Ukraine government is what was most shocking! The government attacked fundamental human rights by challenging their own democracy. On January 14th, they chose to pass a bill which radically limits the freedom to assembly. It demands that permission to form a protest must be obtained from police. That doesn't even make sense now does it? How can people get permission to protest from the very people who will stop their protests? Now the Ukrainians have taken it upon themselves to react violently after having their rights taken away. According to my article, already two confirmed dead on the third day of violence. I don't see this going very well.

This bill opens the gates for censorship, and punishment for speaking out against authorities. This does not sound the least bit democratic to me. Perhaps they are still learning since they've only been a democracy since 1990, but this is going to end very ugly if the authorities don't shape up and stop trying to be a Vladimir Putin imitator.