…often the result of sweat and tears. How Democracies Die is full of historical examples.’ Samy Ahmar: ‘A useful reference is “Why Nations Fail” in which the distinction between extractive…
Fukuyama’s history of the State, Book 2: Political Order and Political Decay
…(and less crudely propagandistic) than Why Nations Fail (although both books argue backwards from the desirability of liberal democracy). If you want to see a fairly acrimonious exchange between the…
Where are development’s venture capitalists?
…change by backing 10 projects knowing that nine will fail (and on the tenth ‘fit’ one, he/she will make enough money to more than compensate for the other failures). Could…
What does Civil Society think of Adaptive Management? Not that much, it turns out.
…– in particular – to secure authority to experiment and security to fail. Those conditions – how to eke out the space to try, test. fail, and learn – and…
Taxation of the World’s Super-Rich has collapsed: as 1 in 8 people go to bed hungry, that has to change
…fund the loss and damage caused by runaway climate breakdown. Every billionaire is a policy failure. Every billionaire is a sign of an economy that is failing the majority. It…
Optimistic or pessimistic about Covid-19? No need to choose
…in Gothenburg (Sweden) warned that, for the first time since 2001, more countries (92 nations, home to 54% of the world’s population) are autocracies than democracies, and that 35% of…
What is happening on global bank taxes? Robin Hood reports from the frontline
…government debt in advanced OECD nations will be 40% higher largely as a result of the financial crisis and new Oxfam research shows the poorest nations face a $65 billion…
Reforming FIFA: what can we learn from experience with (other) corrupt autocrats?
…has provided enormous scope for cheap vote-buying. This is deeply rooted in the history of FIFA itself and a power structure developed by richer, elite footballing nations. With Europe’s oligarchs…
Highly Topical Book Review: Plagues and the Paradox of Progress, by Thomas Bollyky
…those changes in wealthier nations in the past.’ The citizens of Niger are poorer now (GDP per capita) than they were 25 years ago, yet a person born in Niger…
Mia Mottley on Slavery, Poverty, George Floyd, Climate and the Future of the World
…Council five nations who more reflect an imperial order than the diversity of the 193 nations of the world today. Not until we understand that there is only one human…
Dignity not Destitution: Oxfam Proposal for an ‘Economic Rescue Plan for All’
…stimulus. 3. Increase aid now. High income nations should immediately increase aid to support the lowest income nations, meeting their commitment of 0.7% of GDP now, including by funding the…
How Buddhist Tax Accountants and Whistle Blowers can change the world
…not so well? Fail to tell you client about the latest ruse. Fail to save them that extra couple of percent. A work to (moral) rule? Every penny counts. …