The United States Congress, the legislative arm of the federal government, is a bicameral body composed of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This dual-chamber system, established by the Constitution, balances the representation of states and the populace, ensuring a robust and thorough legislative process. Each chamber has distinct roles, responsibilities, and… Continue reading The Structure and Function of the US Congress: A Comprehensive Overview
The political landscape of the United States has undergone significant transformations since Barack Obama assumed the presidency in 2009. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have evolved in response to changing demographics, economic conditions, and cultural shifts. This article explores the evolution of these two major political parties from the Obama era to the present,… Continue reading The Evolution of the Republican and Democratic Parties in the U.S.
The United States judicial system, with the Supreme Court at its apex, is a cornerstone of American democracy. Its decisions reverberate not only within the country’s borders but also across the globe, influencing legal standards and norms worldwide. This article delves into the structure of the federal judiciary, the pivotal role of the Supreme Court,… Continue reading The US Judicial System and the Supreme Court: Shaping Domestic Policy and Global Standards
Ahead of the European parliament elections in June, Germany has lowered the age limit on participation to 16. This makes it the largest of just a handful of states in the EU to allow people under the age of 18 to vote. Austria, Belgium and Malta have already enfranchised 16 and 17-year-olds, and Greece is… Continue reading Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections – but is it playing into the far right’s hands?
Knife is Salman Rushdie’s account of how he narrowly survived an attempt on his life in August 2022, in which he lost his right eye and partial use of his left hand. The attack ironically came when Rushdie was delivering a lecture on “the creation in America of safe spaces for writers from elsewhere”, at… Continue reading In Knife, Salman Rushdie confronts a world where liberal principles like free speech are old-fashioned
All prime ministerial memoirs are about shaping legacies. “History will be kind to me,” Churchill is alleged to have said before writing his own six-volume history. “For I intend to write it.” But among these memoir writers sits a sub-genre of leaders who need to do some pretty serious legacy shaping. Think Anthony Eden on… Continue reading Liz Truss’s lessons on how not to be a prime minister
Corruption has long been a scourge in parts of Latin America. Traditionally, it has funneled down domestic routes, with local politicians, business interests and drug lords benefiting from graft and dodgy dealings. Indeed, a 2022 report from Transparency International found that 27 out of 30 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have shown stagnant… Continue reading How China uses ‘geostrategic corruption’ to exert its influence in Latin America
Albania may be struggling with high levels of corruption at all levels of society, but the country is taking a new approach to tackling this crime with the introduction of a special anti-corruption body, known as Spak. Spak is made up of a special prosecution office, the national bureau of investigation, and special courts dealing… Continue reading How one of the most corrupt countries in Europe is tackling crime at the highest level
In the world championship of corruption, the competition is fierce. The NGO Transparency International has just published its list of countries according to the level of perceived corruption. The gold medal in the competition for the most corrupt country has just been awarded to Somalia, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Libya, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti,… Continue reading Corruption and war: two scourges that feed off each other
In the last two decades, the Spanish political scene has been characterised by convulsion. Among the many variables that shape this reality, one of them is the confrontation between the centre – Madrid – and the peripheral areas, some of which have their own distinct identity. In Spain there are different nationalisms, including Catalan or… Continue reading Does Spanish nationalism exist?
