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Tag: Democracy


The resignation of Britain’s Prime Minister after the historic Brexit vote offers an informative view on leadership, writes Mary-Jean Nleya, 24, a Correspondent from Botswana. As the media is abuzz with the resignation of David Cameron as British Prime Minister, there are leadership lessons to glean from his conduct. On Wednesday, July 13, 2016 David Cameron …

“Cameron’s leadership offers two lessons” Read More »

With election day looming, Angelique Pouponneau, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, questions the rules about eligibility to run for office and speaks with youth who have stepped into the political arena. In some countries, the only eligibility requirement to run for election as a member of parliament is to be aged 35. They do …

“Not too young to run for office” Read More »

Cameroon is introducing new national ID cards to its citizens, writes Medjom Colbie, 23, a Correspondent from Yaounde in Cameroon, who explains how a decree signed in August marks the beginning of a secured system and a campaign for the identification card. According to the decree of 04 August, 2016, describing the procedures and the delivery of the national …

“Cameroon introduces new ID cards” Read More »

Legislation setting the voting age creates a conflict for potential voters, writes Angelique Pouponneau, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, who argues the rules should make more effort to enfranchise interested youth. It happens in nightclubs all the time: “ID please,” says the bouncer. If you are below the age of 18 you should …

“The disenfranchisement of youth” Read More »

Bangladesh has the same branches of governance as other countries, but Naim Ebna Rahman, 20, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, notes complexities have endured since 1971. He looks at some of the reasons, and recommends how to strengthen those branches. After emerging as an independent nation, several military coups from 1975 to 1995 interrupted the …

“Strengthening democratic governance “ Read More »

The news media has a vital role as both a conduit and a filter of the news, writes Ibrahim Olalekan, 27, a Correspondent from Abuja in Nigeria, who argues the news media must exercise responsibility and standards in fulfilling that role. McQuail (2005) says that the term “gatekeeping” has been widely used as a metaphor to describe …

“Gate keeping in the Nigerian media” Read More »

As Kenya’s 2017 election approaches, Joshua Orawo, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya, has been thinking about elections in Africa and the customary tendency of candidates to resort to their communal-support bases in anticipation of any election. Certain intricacies surround any general election in Africa, and they are not exclusive to Africa. One of these is …

“The social contract stands breached…” Read More »

Nigerians voted for change in the most recent election, but as Emmanuel Olutokun, 23, a Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria writes, change has to come from both the leadership and the people.  Nigeria’s present administration rode into power on the mantra of change. Many Nigerians did buy into it because the insight was apt, but …

“In this campaign, where does change begin?” Read More »

Will Nicholl, 23, a Correspondent in London, UK, notes that in the aftermath of the events of the last six months, commentators have done their best to find patterns through which to make sense of the world. He argues for the need to take a longer viewpoint. Tempting though it is to pivot the narrative onto …

“Take your narcissism, the left didn’t do it” Read More »