Venezuela’s long history of racism is coming back to haunt it
Over the last four months, hardly a day has gone by without news coverage of the political and economic crisis in Venezuela. At least 124 people have been killed, some by security forces, while participating in or accidentally encountering opposition-led street demonstrations. The mainstream media narrative is of an increasingly…
North Korea knows it can’t afford to go to war
Don't worry about North Korea, says UEA's Ra Mason, it knows that it can't afford to go to war. Watch his analysis and read his blog in full below. The current flare-up over North Korea’s missile tests and Donald Trump’s belligerent response is frightening for many, but anyone worried that…
EU referendum: one year on – the member states
How is Brexit seen in other national capitals a year after the referendum? UEA's Hussein Kassim offers his analysis. Despite the UK’s well-earned reputation as an “awkward partner”, none of the member states wanted to see it leave the EU. They have been perennially puzzled by the UK’s domestic debate…
Minority report – Single party minority governments are pretty common and reasonably durable
A government without a majority in the legislature is exceptionally rare, right? Dr. Chris Hanretty myth busts this assumption as the UK heads towards one. Following the general election earlier this month, it looks as though the UK will get a single party minority government formed by the Conservative party…
Running elections: it’s an expensive job, and cash-strapped local authorities have to do it
Local authorities are responsible for running elections. But do they have enough money to do the job properly? Toby S James and Tyrone Jervier say the introduction of individual voter registration has made it much more expensive to compile the register. Authorities whose budgets have been cut are less likely…
Just how far has Jeremy Corbyn come – and how far could he still go?
Jeremy Corbyn’s stock has been on a wild ride in the last couple of years. When he was elected leader of the British Labour party in 2015, many of his parliamentary colleagues greeted him with disapproval and dismay. The ensuing 18 months of his leadership saw him stumble through various…
To sleep or not to sleep? Everything you need to know about #GE2017 election night
It’s going to be a long night as the UK goes to the polls for its snap 2017 general election. So should you stay up all night or take a democracy nap? Here are the key moments to look out for and the seats which might indicate early on whether…
Theresa May’s “enough is enough” speech – a thinly veiled call for assimilation which undermines the British values she praises
In her speech on responding to recent terrorist attacks, following the London Bridge attack on 3 June, the Prime Minister framed the threat posed by Islamist terrorism as one coming from outside the UK, by linking this threat to current military operations in Iraq and Syria and by invoking the…
The Final Straight
A short note on how and why my election forecasts differ from current polls Some polls suggest GE2017 will be close. Others, not so much. My forecast continues to suggest that the Conservatives will finish with a healthy lead in vote share, and a large majority. I thought it helpful…
At the Chicago Forum on Global Cities: The future of global cities must contend with their past
As figures from politics, business and civil society gather for the annual Forum on Global Cities this week, Simon Curtis reflects upon how those discussions must be informed by a solid understanding of the historical emergence and unique characteristics of global cities. A host of leading figures from politics, business…