Online debate: From Tahrir Square to Hong Kong
14 October 2014

Online debate: From Tahrir Square to Hong Kong

The Hong Kong student protests have brought back memories of the youth uprisings in West Asia. Gateway House debates the differences and similarities of these movements that have so dramatically changed our world – and more is yet to come. From Tahrir Square in Egypt to Hong Kong, social media has been the driver for change

egypt2 Courtesy:
3 July 2014

Where journalism is a crime

The recent sentences handed out to three Al Jazeera journalists show how far Egypt has moved away from the democratic ideals of the Tahrir Square protests. Egypt now shares space with North Korea, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea and Iran in Freedom House’s 2014 report

zuma2 Courtesy: GovernmentZA/Flickr
20 May 2014

South Africa: new contender emerges

The African National Congress party which has won its fifth consecutive victory in the elections faces a long-term challenge, both on the streets and at the ballot box. The newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters party has cut into the ANC’s base significantly in habitual strongholds like Gauteng, the economic hub

Jacob Zuma Courtesy: GovernmentZA/Flickr
15 May 2014

Polls in South Africa: lack of choices

The African National Congress has swept the polls in South Africa but high unemployment, violent labour strikes and allegations of crony capitalism has seen an erosion of the ANC’s support base among the black middle class voters whose backing the ANC has traditionally enjoyed

election symbols_Ballot box Courtesy: Rama/Wikimedia Commons
22 April 2014

50 elections in 2014: a year of democracy

The year 2014 will witness elections in some of the biggest countries including India, Brazil and Indonesia. Like in India, the participation of youth voters is likely to be an important determinant in the outcome of the elections. Gateway House examines the presence of issues common to India and the major countries going to the polls in early 2014

Mandela UN NMF Photo Matthew Willman UN Courtesy: Matthew Willman/UN/NMF Photo/
6 December 2013

Honouring Nelson Mandela

In 1993, Nelson Mandela said: “We will have to go on striving to prove that King was right…when he said that humanity can no longer be tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war.” By learning from the tenacity of this striving, rather than by measuring outcomes, we can best honour Mandela

food sedurity Courtesy: Rigues/Flickr
8 November 2013

Food security and WTO

A recent UN report praises governments for promoting the right to food. At the same time, India’s Food Security Act will encounter resistance at the WTO meeting in Bali in December. Can India play an exemplary role in the global power struggle over food security?

mugabe governmentZA flickr Courtesy: GovernmentZA/Flickr
7 August 2013

Zimbabwe: The road to stability?

The ZANU-PF party’s recent victory in the elections in Zimbabwe is fraught with allegations of manipulation. Reactions have varied, but South African President Jacob Zuma has endorsed the outcome. How will Mugabe’s re-election impact relations with South Africa? What will be the impact on Zimbabwe’s economy?

egypt Courtesy: oxfamnovib/Flickr
18 July 2013

Protests in democracies – patterns and problems

Elections are meant to be a suitable recourse in democracies if citizens feel that the government does not represent them. However, the recent protests in Brazil, Turkey and India show that people feel political classes are too far removed from their every day realities to address their grievances