South Asia – Catalyst

Authority, Liberty, and COVID-19 in the World’s Greatest Democracy

November 13, 2020December 29, 20207 min read Santhindu Wijesooriya

The United States, with its decentralized government, has completely lost the battle against the novel coronavirus. China, Canada, and Sri Lanka, however, with their greater executive authority, have collectively demonstrated that the United States had no excuse for their malpractice. The three nations and their adherence to executive jurisdiction, demonstrated noteworthy abilities to combat an unanticipated crisis, leaving humanity to observe the capital of individual liberty and freedom in utter dismay.

Education in Bangladesh During COVID-19

November 7, 2020December 29, 20203 min read Kibel Aker

While many lockdown restrictions were later lifted on May 31st, the reopening of educational institutions was delayed to September. During this time, the country opted to adopt remote learning. However, Bangladesh didn’t have the digital infrastructure to move their complete education system to an online platform as planned.

COVID-19 and the Increase in Child Marriage

October 30, 2020December 29, 20204 min read Jasmine Acharya

With schools closed and lockdowns in effect, more and more women and girls are facing sexual abuse and gender-based violence. During this pandemic, the usual social fabric that protects many women and girls from domestic violence is not available as lockdown has forced many women and girls to become completely isolated.

The Indian Migrant Labour Crisis and Its Implications

October 22, 2020December 29, 20204 min read Mehak Balwani

Often, governments are expected to provide help to the vulnerable during a pandemic. Yet instead of giving workers the job security and resources they needed, governments of several predominantly agricultural states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, commenced changes to labour laws. These have largely benefitted industries, leaving informal labour more vulnerable than ever.

The Demise of Path Dependency: Pakistan’s Economy

March 12, 2020December 29, 20206 min read Laurence Campanella

As inflation continues to soar and global market tumult intensifies, Pakistan’s economy continues to face “serious challenges on [both] the fiscal and external fronts.” In the past three months, Pakistan has experienced rising non-performing bank loans, plummeting exports, as … Continue reading

The Indian Supreme Court’s Verdict on Religiously Disputed Land and Its Implications

January 9, 2020December 29, 20206 min read Mehak Balwani

While the short-term fear of communal tensions has garnered multiple precautions by the government, religious organization belonging to all faiths, as well as police forces, there is the long-term worry that non-Hindu minorities, particularly Muslims, will begin to feel like second class citizens, creating deep division between communities.

Giving Rivers Rights: A Novel Approach to Protecting the Environment

January 7, 2020December 29, 20205 min read Maeve Williams

Land and water are integral components of capital accumulation: they are means of wealth accumulation. In a capitalist system, rivers are largely defined as instruments of labor. This paradigm posits that it is logical, if not natural, for humans to subjugate nature to extract resources and access wealth.

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

Interview with Weeam Ben Rejeb

April 8, 2019December 29, 20202 min read Catalyst McGill

By The Catalyst Editorial Board.

Last week, our team met with Weeam Ben Rejeb to talk about her upcoming article “Disasters as Opportunities: The Disaster Capitalism Pitfall” in the new edition of Chrysalis. Her article explores the ways in … Continue reading