Affective polarisation is fuelled by negative campaigning that’s become a staple of modern electoral messaging
One potential explanation for the intensity of partisan political hatred in the US comes from a 2022 study published in the British Journal of Political Science. Examining data from 20 Western democracies since the mid-1990s, it found that people’s anger over political disagreements on issues like migration, religion and LGBTQ+...
Divided we stand: Why political animosity is fed by ‘affective polarisation’, no longer policy
Congress, mired in perpetual gridlock, struggles to pass even the most essential legislation, undermining the principles of democracy. This legislative stalemate reflects a broader societal trend where Americans increasingly see those with opposing views not merely as adversaries, but as enemies.
Reformed poacher offers hope for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry and endangered wildlife species
Tembanechako Mastick and a group of men scanned bushes near their village in southeast Zimbabwe, on the hunt for the den of hyenas that had recently attacked livestock. Scattered fragments of goat bones showed the way, and Mastick peeped cautiously into a deep hole in the earth. “They are probably...
Russia tightens hold on Sahel region and Africa’s west coast as US scrambles to retain disgruntled allies
Niger’s closer ties with Russia come a month after senior US officials visited Niger and expressed concern over the country’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran. Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Niger’s military, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, criticised the “condescending attitude” of the Americans for denying the Nigerien people the right to choose which countries they partner with.
Supermarket redlining: Why Black families in American pay more for food than Whites
Experts say Black households, on average, pay disproportionately higher prices than whites at the checkout line, with few options for bargain-hunting in food deserts and less access to fresh, nutritious food. Coupled with chronically high, post-pandemic inflation and food producers’ continued price spikes, they say, Black households are at greater risk of food insecurity than whites.
Drunk with power and booze-driven state-funded Wazalendo militias, DRC army accused of same crimes M23 rebels commit
Outside of Goma, Wazalendo groups have used their newfound legitimacy to increase their revenue-raising activities, setting up roadblocks in the areas they control where trucks, motorbikes and pedestrians must pay taxes to get through.
Irony of DR Congo turning to abusive Wazalendo militias to help national army to fight M23 rebels
Increasing Rwandan support has allowed the M23 to massively expand its footprint this year, overshadowing other insurgencies in the east and raising the risk of a major regional conflagration between Rwanda and DRC and its allies.
Taliban took my life: No respite for scientists and researchers during three years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan
More than 15 million people in Afghanistan needed emergency food or cash assistance in 2023, according to the World Food Programme. Women’s rights have deteriorated and girls are banned from education once they reach 12, albeit with some recent exceptions made for medicine. Female university staff are restricted from teaching.
Israeli whistleblowers expose the horror Palestinian prisoners live in at Sde Teiman military base
Since October 7, the number of imprisoned Palestinians has nearly doubled, from 5,192 before the war to 9,623 as of early July, exacerbating a preexisting issue of overcrowding, according to human rights group HaMoked, which tracks Israel’s prison population and was among the groups who petitioned to close Sde Teiman.
Irony: US asks Israeli military to investigate itself after video evidence of rape of Palestinians in Sde Teiman prison
While rights groups inside Israel moved aggressively to protect the rights of Palestinians detained in both its military camps, as well as prisons within its official government prison system, the United States showed little urgency around the issue.
