Democracy

Muntazer Zaidi famously threw his shoes at former President Bush in protest of the U.S. invasion of his country

How Troll Farms & Fake News are being Weaponized against Iraq’s Women Politicians

As Iraq’s elections approach, internet dirty tricks multiply

Tunisian women hit campaign trail as equals to men

The 2011 Tunisian Revolution resulted in a constitution that recognizes the equality of women and men (even the US doesn’t have that)

Democracy

As Lebanon prepares to vote, Amnesty for the disenfranchised provokes Fierce Debate

contributors

Haley Bobseine | (Informed Comment) | – – After almost a decade of multiple postponements stalling the national political process and depriving citizens of their right to vote, Lebanese parliamentary elections will be held next month under a new legal framework. Passed in June 2017, the new election law replaces the majoritarian system with multi-member […]

Authoritarianism

Egypt’s Electoral Farce: Polls show Al-Sisi lacks legitimacy & gov’t is Unstable

contributors

By Pamela Abbott & Andrea Teti | (The Conversation) | – – Egyptians are voting in presidential elections on March 26-28. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who grabbed power in 2013, is set to win another term by a landslide. Yet this is far from a sign of strength: opposition candidates have been silenced, and even pro-government […]

Corruption

The Russians aren’t the only election hackers

Juan Cole

By Reese Erlich | (48hills.org ) | – – The US has interfered in elections all over the world — and this Russian ‘crisis’ is a big deal about very little Welcome to the latest Washington crisis. The American people are supposed to be petrified at the threat posed by Russian spies who hack our […]

African-Americans

Worse than Russian Hack: GOP Voter Suppression planned in 20 States

contributors

By Jen Herrick | ( Otherwords.org) This year, at least 20 states are considering laws that would make it harder to vote. When President Trump created the “Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity” last spring — and put notorious vote suppressor Kris Kobach at the helm — voting rights advocates had decades of good reasons […]

Democracy

Russian campaign Interference looks like ISIL in Polarizing Techniques

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Mueller inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election campaign has now brought indictments against specific Russian individuals and organizations, including the crony of Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as “Putin’s chef” because the Russian president throws his business large numbers of high level government […]

Donald Trump

Russiagate or Deep State? What Some Progressives Get Wrong on Russia

contributors

By John Feffer | ( Foreign Policy in Focus) | – – The bizarre denialism of some on the left and right about Russiagate doesn’t bode well for the future of American politics. When it comes to the Russiagate scandal, progressives usually take one of two positions. Glenn Greenwald talking Russiagate on Fox News’ Tucker […]