Trapped in a downward political and economic spiral, the instability in Venezuela caused by a weakening democracy and the spread of violent crime has profound consequences for Latin America and the rest of the world. As Nicolás Maduro enters another presidential term bankrupt and isolated, the deep roots of organized crime that support his government will
Corruption has been identified as the single most significant obstacle to economic and social development; its claws are systematic, enduring and far-reaching and have long been considered a hindrance to good governance. US$1 trillion is paid in bribes annually while an estimated US$2.6 trillion is stolen through corrupt activities – a sum that is equivalent
In the past week, eight senior executives in the South African office of KPMG, a global auditing firm, resigns after an internal investigation reveals the firm had missed red flags regarding the integrity and ethics of businesses owned by the Gupta family. Although the investigations did not identify any evidence of illegal behavior or corruption,
Reportedly, a record number of Kenyans participated in the general election, mostly casting ballots in support of Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga; the sons of Kenya’s first president and first vice president, respectively. There were eight contenders in the running to become the leader of one East Africa’s most successful countries, but apart
On Tuesday, August 8th, the South African parliament narrowly voted to keep President Jacob Zuma. The no confidence vote on President Zuma came at a time when South Africa has been in an economic decline and its standing with the international community has faltered. This would be the sixth time in Zuma’s presidency where a
Last week, the Pakistani Supreme Court issued a verdict that illegitimated the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from being eligible for political office. The verdict concluded a case that was brought forward by Pakistani politician Imran Khan at the onset of the release of the Panama Papers. This latest verdict is added to a long
On Tuesday, July 25th, the Israeli cabinet moved to switch from the use of metal detectors to security cameras at the Al Aqsa Mosque. The metal detectors had sparked a great degree of opposition from Palestinian worshipers. A wave of violence erupted between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan in the past two weeks. The violence started
On July 5th, 10 human rights activists, including the director of Amnesty International (AI)-Turkey, were taken into custody for involvement in terrorist activity. Prosecutors accuse the activists of aiding in crimes in the name of a terror organization, albeit not being a member. The activists released their statements shortly after this ruling had been made.
Upon his return from exile in Saudi Arabia, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was poised to initiate an era of Pakistani politics intent on eradicating government corruption, introducing more liberal social reforms, and elevating the economic status of the struggling country. Promising to transform Pakistan into an “Asian tiger” with “zero tolerance for corruption” and
As Samuel Huntington claims in his essay titled “The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century,” every movement happens in waves. There appear to be trends in the way that countries move towards democracy and globalization. Many people have called the Arab Spring a fourth wave considering the number of Middle Eastern countries that
Corruption is a substantial obstacle for economic development and business growth. It is startling that “every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes, while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 percent of global GDP,” according to the UN Factsheets. Collective action is needed in order
As protests emerge once again across Brazil, with nearly 1 million demonstrating across 200 cities, we are left to examine the factors behind Brazil’s discontent. Taking a step back, we should ask ourselves instead the bigger question: What is the source or instantaneous juncture that awakens slumbering grievances, and as a result, mobilize social and
It is widely understood that the culture of corruption facing developing countries worldwide has a seismic affect concerning numerous aspects of the economy; most notably – hindering foreign investment and hampering economic growth. Corruption has also the tendency to distort markets and obstruct sustainable development, with estimates according to the African Development Bank (AfDB) suggesting that the
