Ce Qui Reste: Legacies of Decolonization in Guinea and Gabon

By most metrics, many African states underperform. Some scholars argue that neo-colonial systems established after independence are to blame, as they perpetuate dependence on former overlords. Others contend that continued failures of African leaders and political institutions prevent their countries from succeeding. I analyze two specific cases from French Africa diametrically opposed in their experiences of decolonization. In Guinea, the French left abruptly, taking everything they could carry. In Gabon, they stayed, and continued to direct the country’s politics and economy. What differences does this disparity have on state success after independence? To answer this question, I assess the impacts French actions had on three aspects of the postcolonial societies: rule of law, political participation, and development strategies. Each element is critical for a successful state– institutions must be bound by rules to be trusted by citizens and enterprises, citizens must have a voice (if not necessarily a vote) in government, and people must be able to meet their basic needs. I find that the rule of law failed in both states, though for different reasons. While political participation was limited in both cases by mass arrests, it was almost mandatory in Guinea, and discouraged in Gabon. While French interests ensured Gabon maintained the economic status quo, Guinea’s ambitious planned economy squandered resources on unprofitable investments. All told, the two extremes of French decolonization both resulted in the ruling party dominating, giving them complete authority to make, remake, and break the rules at their leisure

Christian response amid economic suffering due to the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused suffering not only in the health sector but also in the economic sector. Christians are also not spared from this economic suffering. The purpose of this article is to find out how Christians should respond amid the economic suffering caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic. This research used a qualitative method and based on library research to find out the response of Christians amid economic suffering in Acts 11:27-30 and to confirm the implications for Christians today in responding to the economic suffering caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusion drawn from this study is that Christians should have faith in God who sustains their lives during the pandemic and take actions that are in line with their faith. The prosperous Christians should be willing and ready in blessing the other Christians who are suffering more. Likewise, Christians who are in economic decline respond by trusting in God's providence and humbly receiving God's blessings through the gifts of brothers and sisters who love them. Christians need to with the government in dealing with this economic suffering until the COVID-19 pandemic ends

No God-Damned Thailander Can Be Trusted to Do a Job Without Getting Political Minded : The Free Thai Movement and the Politics of Independence During World War II

My research project focuses on the Free Thai movement that emerged in America. Based on an analysis of a variety of primary sources, particularly declassified wartime documents and memoirs of Free Thai members, it seeks to explain the nature of this movement: what determined its course as well as outcome? Because the Free Thai was a liberation movement, one generally assumes that it was an organization of a military nature. While that is somewhat true, my research shows that the Free Thai movement was fundamentally characterized by political elements. There are two factors which have already been established in Free Thai historiography as the most important factors that shaped the movement: its members’ desire to restore national sovereignty and the support of the Allies. However, a close examination of the Free Thai mission in China in 1943 reveals a powerful undercurrent. Interpersonal politics within the movement, shaped by sociopolitical realities at home, not only greatly influenced the organization itself, but was also intimately linked to the Allies’ effort to liberate Thailand. The Allies’ involvement was determined by inter-Allied politics, their interests in Thailand, and their perceptions of Thai politics. On the other hand, the dynamic between the members of the Free Thai movement was characterized by mistrust and political paranoia, rather than personal ambition or party politics. These elements dictated the fate of the movement as well as of postwar Thailand

Funding Freedom: Philanthropy and the Palestinian Freedom Movement

This report outlines the increasingly severe attacks on organizations that support Palestinian rights and offers human rights funders a roadmap for creating the conditions to give sustainably, consistently, and without doing harm.There is an extraordinary gap between the enormous amount of money raised annually to support continued Israeli apartheid and the amount raised to fight for Palestinian liberation. Funding Freedom exposes the strategies used to silence those who stand up for human rights and offers clear recommendations on how to overcome them. This report is a call for our philanthropic partners to meet the moment and take an ethical stand on the side of human rights organizing.Funding Freedom analyzes the current and historic conditions that curtail the resourcing of an increasingly visible movement for Palestinian rights. Drawing on four in-depth case studies and dozens of interviews with individual donors, foundation and funder network staff, and leaders of Palestinian organizations, it illustrates the current challenges and opportunities.The report includes a number of important recommendations for funders who support or want to support Palestinian rights. In addition to providing clear guidance to funders facing external challenges, the report calls on them to do more to reverse harmful dynamics that have plagued philanthropy for decades, such as the marginalizing and silencing of Palestinian voices, dangerous political litmus tests, and harmful investing practices

The diplomacy of intervention in the middle Republic: the roman decision of 201/200 B.C

El artículo argumenta que la histórica decisión mundial de intervenir en la crisis geopolítica que estaba convulsionando Grecia en el invierno del 201/200 a.C. tuvo varios elementos determinantes, sobre los que destacó una cultura greco-romana que, en general, observaba la intervención del más fuerte a favor del «injustamente tratado» como una buena acción, como un signo no tanto de poder como de virtud

The defamatory potential of ad hominem criticism: guidance for advocacy in public forums

Ad hominem criticism seeks to discredit an argument by attacking the qualities of the arguer, rather than the merits of the argument. Although there are compelling reasons to avoid ad hominem criticism, it may sometimes be appropriate as a means of responding to ‘expert’ arguments advanced in public forums. However, conservation biologists should evaluate the defamatory potential of any proposed ad hominem criticism and consider whether the criticism: (1) impugns a person’s reputation in a trade, profession or business; (2) has a factual grounding that is based on evidence that could be used in court; and (3) is better formulated as a statement of opinion than as a statement of fact. From a defamation perspective, the purpose and context for an ad hominem criticism is critical and conservation biologists should always consider whether, if viewed objectively, their conduct in making the criticism would be assessed as fair-minded, reasonable, and supportive of debate over an issue of public interest. Isolated and unsupported ad hominem remarks should not be made. Conservation biologists should also be aware that there are circumstances in which critiques of the methods, analyses, logical approaches, and conclusions of an expert could be said to be defamatory of that person, but that courts also recognise the importance of scientific debate. Conservation biologists should carefully consider the wording of any proposed ad hominem criticism, particularly in terms of the precise facts to be alleged and the particular evaluative words or phrases to be applied, and should also ensure that the criticism has a proper purpose, is well supported, and clearly distinguishes between comments that express an opinion and those that state a fact

Climate Justice Charter

The latest news from our planet is threatening: climate change, pollution, forest loss, species extinctions. All these words are frightening and there is no sign of improvement. Simple logic leads to the conclusion that humanity has to react, for its own survival. But at the scale of a human being, it is less obvious. Organizing one’s daily life in order to preserve the environment implies self-questioning, changing habits, sacrificing some comfort. In one word, it is an effort. Then, what justifies such an effort? The personal choice to act in order to preserve our environment is often made by simple altruism. This choice is based on our love for other human beings: our love for the others grounds our effort. Our moral values, our ethical reflections and our religious beliefs are the deep core of these choices. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15.12 NRSV). This Charter shows the moral and religious values that can help us react regarding the current environmental crisis and it should empower us to transcend the ideas of effort and sacrifice in order to consider the respect of the shared house, in a prophetic fulfillment of the being