Central Asia – Catalyst

Electoral Unrest in Kyrgyzstan

November 1, 2020December 29, 20205 min read Emily Duecker

Kyrgyzstan has a reputation of being one of the only countries in central Asia to have a semi- democratic government. This is evidenced by the semi-free and fair elections that have been held yearly since its independence in 1991. Despite this, the country is no stranger to political unrest. In the past 15 years, two presidents have been overthrown by revolts, and recent developments in the ongoing situation hint there could be a third.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Discussing the Effectiveness of the Chinese Government’s Response

February 5, 2020December 29, 20204 min read Enkhuun Byambadorj

Fear and panic engulfed China’s usually vibrant and thunderous New Year festivities, as the country was faced with the outbreak of a novel coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China, the capital of Hubei province. December 8th, 2019 witnessed the first death … Continue reading

The United States’ Use of Human Rights as a Bargaining Chip in its Trade War with China: Why Here? Why Now?

November 15, 2019December 29, 20206 min read Laurence Campanella

As the trade war rages on between China and the United States, President Donald Trump’s recent strategy of calling out the human rights abuses of President Xi Jinping’s administration comes as an interesting development. The trade war can be traced … Continue reading

David Malpass at McGill: An Uncertain Future For the World Bank?

November 12, 2019December 29, 20206 min read Ariana Castillon

On October 7th, McGill was chosen by the World Bank to host the first major policy signaling-address of its new President, David Malpass. Ahead of his afternoon speech in Pollock Hall, Malpass held a Q&A session with thirty students from … Continue reading

Mongolia’s Raw Coal Ban Promises Results… But What Kind of Results?

November 4, 2019December 29, 20205 min read Enkhuun Byambadorj

This is a story of development – the aid-dependent economy, deep public mistrust in the government, rapid urban migration, and a silent plague that blankets the sky in the cold winter months.

For the 1.5 million people living in Mongolia’s … Continue reading