Zimbabwe in the Run-Up to The Elections

Discussions on Constitutional Reform

As a result of international and regional pressure, a government of national unity (GNU) was formed in 2009 comprising the ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement of Democratic Change (MDC). Far-reaching political and economic reforms, along with reforms to the election system and the media, were originally set out in a governmental agreement but there has been little progress in implementing the agreement as the government is split and the reforms have been consistently blocked by the ZANU-PF. However, recently there has been some progress.

A Partial Success

An Initial Assessment Of Eleven Years Of German Army Involvement in Afghanistan

There are a growing number of suggestions in the media that after eleven years of deployment by the German army (Bundeswehr) expectations initially set by the international community could not be met. Indeed, the security situation remains fragile. However, it would be unfair to ignore the partial successes that have been achieved. In some regions at least, stability is possible, but it requires concentrated effort and continuity. Nobody wins if Afghanistan once again descends into chaos. Realistic assessments are needed.

Democracy And The Rule of Law in Mexico

Modern Mexico officially laid the foundations for the rule of law with its constitution of 1917. From a legal positivist point of view, Mexico meets all the requirements of a constitutional state under the rule of law. However, all observers are unanimous in their belief that, despite these high standards, Mexican rule of law is in reality a morass of inefficiency, uncertainty and corruption.

Editorial

On 1 July this year, Mexico elected a new President and a new Congress. Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) will take up office on 1 December. In the past, the PRI had held the presidency for 71 years. This dominance had some disastrous consequences, particularly in the areas of corruption and internal security. But now the old “state party” is back and has a fresh young face at its helm. It remains to be seen to what extent Peña Nieto will be able to break down the fortifications of the old party structures.

Mexico’s Agenda For Economic Reform

Can The Obstacles Be Overcome?

Although Mexico is always complaining that it is not classified with the BRICS nations, it only achieved an average growth rate of 1.55 per cent under President Vicente Fox and of 1.53 per cent under President Felipe Calderón – significantly lower than the growth levels seen in the BRICS grouping. According to the OECD, Mexico needs to find a way to improve its low levels of productivity, something that will only be achieved with fundamental and far-reaching reforms.

Race In The 2012 United States Elections And Beyond

The result of the 2012 United States presidential election is widely considered to be very tight. Both campaigns put an emphasis on the minority vote in this election cycle – visible not only in the strong efforts to put a high number of representatives of minorities on the agenda during both conventions. American minorities have increased their share of the vote from 12.5 per cent in 1988 to 25 per cent in 2008. The United States are projected to be “majority minority” in 2050. In the long run, these ethnic politics are unsustainable, and profoundly unhealthy for the country.

Returning to the Past or Entering a New Phase of Transition?

The PRI Wins the Mexican Presidential Elections

The 1st of July 2012 was the big election day, the Mexican “Super Sunday”. Polls had been predicting for months that the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) and its candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto (EPN) would form the next government. As president, Peña Nieto will have to rely on the opposition in order to progress the very reforms that the PRI had blocked in the past in its role as the largest party of opposition.

Senegal After The 2012 Presidential And Parliamentary Elections

Pole of Stability in Volatile Region

In the post-election period, Senegal has once again come to be regarded as a beacon of democracy, which does, however, have to assert itself and retain its course in a volatile environment. Meanwhile, Senegal’s economy is only developing sluggishly. There have been repeated accusations that the elites are enriching themselves at the cost of the population.

Critical Energy Infrastructure at Risk of Cyber Attack

Over recent years, cyber attacks and cybercrime have become a massive threat to industry and governments alike. They have caused worldwide losses amounting to hundreds of billions of Euros. According to former anti-terrorism advisor Richard Clarke,between 20 and 30 states have the capability to launch cyber warfare. Increasingly, governments find themselves under threat, along with their communication channels and infrastructures.

Decision on the Rule of Law

Reasons for and Consequences of the Judgment “Mike Campbell vs. The Republic of Zimbabwe”

Farmers and large landowners were threatened by expropriation without compensation by the Zimbabwean government under the so-called “Fast-Track Land Reform” (FTLR) shortly after the turn of the millennium. The Campbell case made the most significant contribution to drawing attention to the government’s departure from the rule of law, it also established risks to the future stabilization of the country: an undermining of trust in Mugabe’s regime and infection of the community of states in Southern Africa with a disregard for the rule of law.