New Zealand is far from a tyranny. But there are signs its democratic institutions are not as robust as they might be – with the proposed ‘fast-track’ legislation bringing concerns to a head.
Douglas Yates, American Graduate School in Paris (AGS)
Gabon’s military ruler risks becoming the country’s third autocratic leader if he fails to generate economic growth and return the country to democratic paths.
Students have now been protesting on Australian campuses for weeks. But as the camps become more established, so, too, do concerns about student safety.
One-third of Americans think that “rule by a strong leader or the military would be a good way of governing their country.” Are they losing faith in democracy?
The coalition is increasingly using parliamentary urgency, cutting the public service and fast-tracking legislation – all of which risks upsetting the equilibrium between government and the governed.
People love to hate bureaucracy, but regulatory agencies play key roles in modern society. Conservatives want to cut back their power, but a political scientist proposes a different option.
Joseph G. Amoroso, United States Military Academy West Point and Lee Robinson, United States Military Academy West Point
Members of the military take an oath before service, but it’s to the Constitution, not a specific person. West Point professors explain how young officers learn the importance of their allegiance.
Marlee Bunch, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fannie Lou Hamer became one of the most respected civil rights leaders during the 1960s in part because of her resistance to racist voting laws in Mississippi.