Tag: democracy

11. Apr 2011

Thailand’s Political Conflict – A Jasmine Revolution? by Christian Stampe Jensen

InFocus

The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt and the political unrest that it has sparked in neighbouring countries throughout the Middle East has raised the question how these events influence popular uprisings and struggles for democracy in other parts of the world. In Thailand, political unrest and conflict between ‘Red Shirts’ and ‘Yellow Shirts’ have been […]

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10. Mar 2011

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s Retirement from Politics

Buddhism, democracy, InFocus, Tibet

Today, the 10th
of March 2011, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama announced that he will transfer his
formal authority to the leader that the exile-Tibetans chose in the upcoming
elections for a Tibetan Prime Minister-in-Exile.

 

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2. Mar 2011

Are the “flower revolutions” in the Middle East and North Africa endangering stability in China? by Christian Göbel

China, democracy, InFocus

These are fascinating
times, as the uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East might well be the
beginning of a “Fourth Wave” of Democracy. The late political scientist Samuel
Huntington once likened clustered incidences of democratizations to “waves”. After
the apparent ebbing out of the “Third Wave”, which between 1974 and the early
1990s swept over Southern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe, the
time might have come for another democratic push. As a political scientist
studying stability and instability of authoritarian regimes, I am extremely

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27. May 2010

While vacationing in Thailand, we forgot to pay attention by Anya Palm

democracy, InFocus, Thailand


What just happened in Thailand? Was Thailand not supposed to
be a peaceful vacation paradise with perfect beaches and charming smiles?
Didn’t we just spend a couple of leisurely lazy days looking at stunning
temples and eating delicious street food from the stalls with not a care in the
world? (Yes, we did. In 2009, about 11 million foreigners visited Thailand.)

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16. Mar 2010

Thailand coining the definition of non-democracy by Anya Palm

democracy, InFocus, Thailand

Defining democracy is, if not an impossible, then an
immensely difficult task. However, defining what it is not is easy, very
easy:  Amongst other things, it is NOT democracy
to gather a mass rally and declare that the sitting government must dissolve
within 24 hours, or else…

Nevertheless, this explicit threat is exactly what was
brought to the political table in Thailand’s
capital, Bangkok,
this week. Under a rally. For democracy.

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