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35282. A Life’s Work Battling Religious Illiteracy
- Author:
- Meg Murphy
- Publication Date:
- 11-2015
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University
- Abstract:
- As prejudice toward Muslim Americans heightens, a Harvard professor welcomes the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims, and a champion of pluralism
- Topic:
- Religion, Pluralism, Faith, and Literacy
- Political Geography:
- Middle East
35283. The Africa Capacity Report ACR 2015: Capacity Imperatives for Domestic Resource Mobilization in Africa
- Publication Date:
- 01-2015
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
- Abstract:
- The Africa Capacity Report (ACR) 2015 sends a very clear message: with official development assistance to Africa diminishing, the continent will have to rely more on mobilizing domestic resources if it is to implement its development agenda. The ACR 2015 shows that this is possible, with a good number of African countries providing practical success stories based on strategies and initiatives that can easily be adapted to other countries. However, the capacity gaps to generate savings and taxes from domestic resources and allocate them to economically and socially productive activities remain glaring.
- Topic:
- Development, Science and Technology, Natural Resources, Capacity, Innovation, and Human Resources
- Political Geography:
- Africa
35284. Election Audits: International Principles that Protect Election Integrity
- Author:
- International Foundation for Electoral Systems
- Publication Date:
- 04-2015
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Foundation for Electoral Systems
- Abstract:
- The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Democracy International (DI) have released a new joint white paper that identifies best practices for election audits in developing democracies. Election audits, which are increasingly used as a means of settling disputes about electoral results, are often conducted as ad hoc processes without clearly defined standards and procedures. In this collaborative effort, IFES and DI put forth recommendations to guide electoral management bodies in preparing for election audits. As the international community continues to support electoral processes in developing democracies around the world, it is critical to come to consensus on standards that should be applied both to assess the need for an election audit and to conduct such an audit. This white paper is the first effort at building that consensus. Elections in developing and post-conflict environments can offer countries a path to democracy and their citizens the prospect of a better life. The peaceful and credible resolution of electoral disputes is of special importance in these contexts, where legal frameworks for elections are sometimes ambiguous, the rule of law may be weak, and allegations of fraud are commonplace and frequently legitimate. Drawing on their extensive involvement in several recent election audits in developing democracies, IFES and DI seek to define the most important considerations for audits, based on the premise that they should be used only in limited circumstances and according to clearly defined and predetermined frameworks. Ad hoc audit processes, conducted absent a clear regulatory framework, can weaken the credibility of election outcomes and undermine the ability of new democracies to provide effective governance and to hold elected officials accountable to their citizens.
- Topic:
- Elections, Election watch, Conflict, and Rigged Elections
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
35285. Nigeria Post-Election Survey
- Author:
- International Foundation for Electoral Systems
- Publication Date:
- 10-2015
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Foundation for Electoral Systems
- Abstract:
- The mood in Nigeria is extremely upbeat following the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections, which led to the first democratic transfer of power in the country’s history. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) conducted pre- and post-election surveys in Nigeria focusing on perceptions of electoral integrity, opinions of election administration, and satisfaction with Nigerian democracy. Knowledge Perception InfographicFrom the December 2014 pre-election survey to the July 2015 post-election survey, satisfaction with democracy more than doubled with a 56 percent majority expressing satisfaction with the way democracy works in Nigeria, up by 30 percentage points in the pre-election phase (26%). Similarly, while only 23 percent of respondents in the pre-election phase believed Nigeria is a full democracy or a democracy with minor problems, 51 percent now believe Nigeria is a full democracy (18%) or a democracy with minor problems (33%), marking a net increase of 28 percentage points. Perception Integrity InfographicNearly three-quarters of Nigerians believe that both election integrity and the organization of the elections were better in the 2015 than in the previous polls in 2011. And while the survey indicated voters had to wait for several hours to get accredited and vote on Election Day, overall, 83 percent of voters assessed their voting experience to be good or very good. Indeed, confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also registered a sharp increase by 16 percentage points, moving from 68 percent in pre-election levels to an overwhelming 85 percent after the elections. From December 2014 to July 2015, public awareness of the INEC and its Chairman at the time of the elections, Professor Attahiru Jega, increased by 16 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
- Topic:
- Public Opinion, Elections, and Survey
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Nigeria
35286. Egypt: Three Years after Tahrir Square
- Author:
- Andrew Thompson and Shreen Abou El-Naga
- Publication Date:
- 05-2015
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Centre for International Governance Innovation
- Abstract:
- In the final episode of Inside the Issues Season Four, Shreen Abou el-Naga joins host Andrew Thompson for a discussion on Egypt three years after Tahrir square. Has Egypt's revolution stalled? What role are the new intellectuals playing in shaping the country's future? Has the human rights situation, specifically for h, shifted? Tune in to access the full discussion and learn more about life in Egypt today.In the final episode of Inside the Issues Season Four, Shreen Abou el-Naga joins host Andrew Thompson for a discussion on Egypt three years after Tahrir square. Has Egypt's revolution stalled? What role are the new intellectuals playing in shaping the country's future? Has the human rights situation, specifically for women, shifted? Tune in to access the full discussion and learn more about life in Egypt today.
- Topic:
- Human Rights, Law, Political Activism, Popular Revolt, and Reform
- Political Geography:
- Arabia and Egypt
35287. Foreign influence in the Middle East: changes in perceptions and expectations
- Author:
- Mathilde Dugit-Gros
- Publication Date:
- 09-2015
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Arab Reform Initiative (ARI)
- Abstract:
- Has Western involvement in the Arab Spring generated more scepticism in North Africa and the Middle East about foreign influence? This study compares public opinion about foreign influence across five MENA countries: Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Tunisia. Using data sets from the second and third waves of the Arab Barometer, the study compares the periods pre- and post-2011.
- Topic:
- International Relations and International Affairs
- Political Geography:
- Middle East
35288. The War in Sinai: A Battle against Terrorism or Cultivating Terrorism for Future?
- Author:
- Ismail Alexandrani
- Publication Date:
- 09-2015
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Arab Reform Initiative (ARI)
- Abstract:
- It is not yet clear what narrative will be told by history, but a dominant media narrative, the official one, has already been found for the on-going turbulence in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. It appears that social media in the Nile Valley has preceded its counterpart in the Sinai Peninsula in developing this narrative due to geographical and demographic factors which are out of the control of the security and military authorities in Egypt. The main bridge connecting the northern Sinai with the Nile Valley has been closed since 30 June, 2013 (setting transport links back to the time when ferries made their way across the Suez Canal between great sea ships) and the military and security authorities have, to a great extent, succeeded in concealing whatever is happening on the ground that contradicts their narrative
- Topic:
- War and International Affairs
- Political Geography:
- Egypt
35289. An Empirical Analysis of Claimant Tactics in the South China Sea
- Author:
- Christopher D. Yung and Patrick McNulty
- Publication Date:
- 11-2015
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Abstract:
- China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have used a wide variety of tactics to protect and advance their maritime territorial claims in the South China Sea. China is the most active user of the nine categories of tactics identified in this paper, with the exception of legal actions, and accounts for more than half of all military and paramilitary actions since 1995. Empirical data support the argument that the 2011 U.S. rebalance to Asia did not spur disruptive behavior in the South China Sea. China became more active in protecting and advancing its claims around 2009, before the rebalance was announced. The unclassified database used in this analysis undercounts military and paramilitary actions, but captures enough activity to provide a representative sample. A classified version that captures more activity would improve the potential to develop the database into an Indications and Warning tool to assist in monitoring and managing tensions in the South China Sea.
- Topic:
- International Affairs
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
35290. Global Knowledge Networking: Smart Strategies for Promoting Innovative Learning and Leader Development
- Author:
- Walter L. Christman, Frank C. DiGiovanni, and Linton Wells II
- Publication Date:
- 04-2015
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Abstract:
- Dealing effectively with contemporary security challenges requires prepared coalitions of partners that are able to operate together. The Global Knowledge Networking (GKN) initiative supports local decisionmaking and makes knowledge actionable. Its core is the “composable organization,” where people, ideas, processes, and technology can be brought together as needed. The GKN supports initiatives from NATO’s Wales Summit, focused especially on interoperability and capacity-building. A proposed Gulf Knowledge Center test bed also would support recent decisions by a Gulf Cooperation Council Summit concerning military command and education. Building new learning tools with coalition partners can improve common understanding and shared procedures. This vision is a key part of the next generation of training and readiness capability, led by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness). The GKN initiative could be adapted for regions beyond the Gulf.
- Topic:
- International Affairs
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus