On July 29, 2024, just hours after polls closed in Caracas, incumbent candidate Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner of Venezuela’s presidential race. Later that day, opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia issued his own proclamation of victory. The election results … Continue reading
Tag: corruption
Corruption and the Facade of a Strong Russia
For most people living in the Western world, Russia has historically been seen as a competitor, an adversary, or an angrily dissatisfied state. Whether that be the Soviet Union during the Cold War, or the modern-day Russian Federation under President … Continue reading
A path to disaster: Unpacking Lebanon’s Environmental Failures
“A thousand times dead, a thousand times relived,” echoes Lebanon’s history. Injustices. Corruption. Theft. Revolt. Resistance. Persistence. This phrase encapsulates the resilience of a nation striving to live in a country that mirrors its true essence, battling not just the … Continue reading
Crisis and Intervention: The Disastrous History of Foreign Interference in Haiti
In recent years, Haiti has endured crises at a level once thought inconceivable in the modern era. Fueled by political and economic turmoil, the nation has gone through widespread violence, dismay, and the effective collapse of its government. In 2018, … Continue reading
Corruption and Impunity in Guatemala’s National Elections
On June 25th, 2023, Guatemalans cast their ballots to elect a new president. In the months leading up to the election, elites ensured that any genuine alternative to the decadence of the political establishment was disqualified. Three candidates were barred… Continue reading
The Motivations and Implications of El Salvador’s Mega-Prison
At the end of February, President Bukele of El Salvador posted a video on Twitter that has since become viral and prompted divisive discussion. The video shows hundreds of detainees being transferred to the Center for Confining Terrorism (Cecot)–a new … Continue reading
Corruption and Bad Governance: How the Türkiye Earthquakes Could Have Been Prevented
On February 6, 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria, destroying all in their path and taking more than 45,000 lives in Türkiye alone. In Türkiye, more than 160,000 buildings collapsed or were severely damaged. Earthquakes … Continue reading
The Art of Resilience: One Year post-Thawra in Lebanon
Last year I published my first article about the Lebanese protests in October 2019. It seemed like Lebanon was on the brink of something marvelous, on the road to overthrowing a government system that had caused them more woes than wins. [...] Unfortunately, the situation got bleaker before it got better.