Jeffrey Smith

Nota: Este archivo abarca los artículos publicados por el autor desde el 1 de diciembre de 2008. Para fechas anteriores realice una búsqueda entrecomillando su nombre.

MundoÁfrica

By now it’s no secret: Democracy is under attack worldwide. A Who’s Who of selfish leaders, from ascendant populist demagogues to long-reigning dictators, has turbocharged the assault on democratic institutions. Leaders on both the right and left of the political spectrum have elbowed their way into the fight, and the contagion has affected all regions of the world. It also shows little sign of abating.

This corroding commitment to democracy on the part of political elites has naturally filtered down to the average person. According to a recent survey, a median of 51 percent of people polled in 27 countries are dissatisfied with how democracy is working for them.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoÁfrica,

African nations are on the verge of taking an extraordinary step to rescue democracy in a country where its fate is hanging in the balance. The West African regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, is resolutely trying to persuade Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to step down after losing a national election. If Jammeh refuses, the consequences could be serious. Regional leaders have even authorized a military force to intervene in defense of the clearly expressed will of Gambia’s voters.

Africa has never seen anything like it. The African Union, which has been notoriously hesitant to criticize its own members on human rights issues, has stood firmly behind ECOWAS.…  Seguir leyendo »