It is a rather challenging time for observers of international politics to keep up with the developments in world politics. Those who focus on great power rivalry nowadays are trying to make sense of what is taking place among the great powers and power blocs.Over the last couple of years, there have been significant shifts and transformations in the relations between major world powers. Adding more complexity to these shifting dynamics, alignments, unpredictabilities, uncertainties and foreign policy decision-making crises there are also significant movements within the domestic politics of great powers. The rise of populism and protectionism in the U.S., the economic problems in Russia and the power consolidation in China together with the increasing euroscepticism and anti-European Union sentiments among the citizens of the EU member countries make the already complicated scene more difficult to analyze.It would be sufficient to see the developments in the last one week to … [Read more...] about Checks and balances in world politics
Political
The next Koch doesn’t like politics
Last May, Chase Koch, the 41-year-old son of billionaire businessman Charles Koch, gathered about two dozen wealthy young professionals for a weekend retreat in Vail. This was no regular Koch get-together, the kind of uber-elite gathering of big ideas and bigger checkbooks that Charles and his brother David have made a feature of their political activity for the better part of a generation. It was six months before the most consequential midterm elections since the mid-1990s. President Donald Trump was threatening massive tariffs on steel and aluminum. House Speaker Paul Ryan had just announced he would retire from Congress. But the group assembled in Colorado’s swankiest resort wasn’t there to talk about how to block the impending blue wave, or to listen to seminars promoting free trade, or debate the future of Republicans in the House of Representatives. In fact, politics barely came up. And yet this meeting — which received no media attention at the time — … [Read more...] about The next Koch doesn’t like politics
Could politics make you a profit?
When uncertainty comes calling – from any angle – we’re used to being warned to hold fast, to stay the course, and any number of other journey-related metaphors for doing absolutely nothing until this particular period of volatility settles back into calm. There’s no doubt that advice is valuable, crucial even, for most of the bizarre sets of circumstances UK consumers, savers, investors and homeowners have been found themselves facing at various times in the last 10 years. None have been as unprecedented and unpredictable as the one playing out right now. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, and frankly who could blame you, you’ll know that the political upheaval since the triggering of Article 50 in the process to leave the European Union unleashed economic uncertainty. That uncertainty threatens every aspect of our financial lives from the security of our incomes to the cost of a loaf of bread. Join Indpendent Minds For exclusive … [Read more...] about Could politics make you a profit?
BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? at Bishop Luffa School ‘brings politics to life’ for students
An episode of BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? aired from Bishop Luffa School in Chichester tonight to an attentive audience of more than 300 people. Another 120 people were on the waiting list for the politics show, which had a panel this evening of Brexiteer Peter Bone, Home Office minister for Immigration Caroline Nokes, Labour's Hilary Benn and Lib Dem party leader Vince Cable. While Brexit dominated the discussions, some of the most attentive people present at the broadcast and reception afterwards were the students eager to ask about local issues and the future of the government.Vince Cable said the audience in Chichester had been 'remarkable'."Extremely well attended, very engaged, very quick on the uptake, a very good audience," he said."I get as frustrated as anyone else by the fact that Brexit dominates everything, we should be talking about education and the economy."The 45-minute programme sped by in four questions from the audience ranging from whether May was 'nebulous', to … [Read more...] about BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? at Bishop Luffa School ‘brings politics to life’ for students
White House Christmas poem captures the year in politics
WASHINGTON - It's been two decades since Greg Clugston started writing his annual poems capturing each year in the White House. Since Bill Clinton was president, Clugston's poems have detailed both the politics and headlines in the nation's capital — all to the rhythm of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. This year was no different with Clugston, a White House correspondent for Salem Radio Network, capturing everything from the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling and the separation of migrant families at the border to the Oval Office meeting with rapper Kanye West and summits with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. ‘Twas the night before Christmas and in the White House, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes Border Wall funding soon would be there. POTUS was sleeping, all tucked in his bed, … [Read more...] about White House Christmas poem captures the year in politics