Development

Turkey: Impressive aid record mired in bad practices

In the sphere of international aid and development assistance, Turkey is a rising star. Tackling the Syrian refugee crisis with unsurpassed dedication, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has simultaneously continued to deliver aid everywhere from Africa to Latin America. In 2010, Turkey delivered $1 million in disaster relief to Haiti in the wake of the
CONTINUE READING

Human Rights

How internet activism and street art can change Iran

In late May, an Iranian court sentenced eight people to 123 years in prison for administrating Facebook pages that the judiciary claims spread anti-government propaganda and insulted the country’s leaders. In Iran, Facebook and other social media sites were officially banned in 2009 after opposition members used them to organize protest rallies following the disputed
CONTINUE READING

Politics

The Polish drift: from Europeanization to Autocracy

1989. Poles vote in their first since World War II, clearing the path for the Eastern Bloc states to abolish communism and join the free world.

2015. Less than two months after the parliamentary election and barely six months after the presidential one, tens of thousands flood the streets of major Polish cities. All chanting with one voice: “Freedom, equality, democracy!”

Poland leaves the Western world wondering: How could this have happened? What went wrong?
CONTINUE READING

Why do some countries have low levels of corruption?

There is much evidence supporting the idea that certain countries, which today can be called ‘clean of corruption’, had widespread and systemic corruption in the past. If we take corruption to be one of the main barriers impeding economic development and redistribution of wealth, we may start by asking ourselves how some countries like Norway, Australia or Singapore managed to reduce their levels of corruption so significantly, to the extent that corruption is now a rare occurrence. What can be done to reduce corruption levels?
CONTINUE READING

Greece, what now?

In 1986, we started talking about the common market, later known as the single market. In 1999, we started talking about the common currency, later single currency too. The fact that the Eurozone did not meet any of the Optimal Currency Area criteria was no secret back then and is no secret now. That Greece
CONTINUE READING

Culture

How internet activism and street art can change Iran

In late May, an Iranian court sentenced eight people to 123 years in prison for administrating Facebook pages that the judiciary claims spread anti-government propaganda and insulted the country’s leaders. In Iran, Facebook and other social media sites were officially banned in 2009 after opposition members used them to organize protest rallies following the disputed
CONTINUE READING

25 films to raise our political consciousness

We tend to associate politics with two extremes: a ridiculous and tacky public performance or an office where behind closed doors shady characters decide on their advantage the fate of the rest of the mortals. Cinema, in some curious cases, has been able to lucidly interpret both aspects. Today we introduce you our selection of 25 films that will raise your political consciousness.
CONTINUE READING

55 stunning 2013 World Press Photo prize-winning photographs

Best images of the year World Press Photo, founded in 1955, is an independent nonprofit organization based in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), known for holding the largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest. Every year in February an independent international jury consisting of thirteen members, and composed of graphic designers, photographers and representatives of press
CONTINUE READING