Democracy

Pakistan’s post-election crisis – how anti-army vote may deliver unstable government that falls into military’s hands

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

But several days later, it remains unclear what the result of the vote will yield.

Key Points: 
  • But several days later, it remains unclear what the result of the vote will yield.
  • Both of the leading contenders have claimed victory, amid allegations of vote rigging and disputed ballots.

Is it clear who will govern Pakistan next?

  • The results as they stand mean that no party is in a position to form a government on its own.
  • The Pakistan People’s Party, or PPP, secured 54 seats, placing it third.
  • This puts it in a position to help another party form a coalition at the federal level.

With the most seats, is the PTI the front-runner to lead a coalition?

  • Even before the final election results became known, the PTI claimed it had won 170 or so seats – enough for it to be able to form a government.
  • This suggests the PTI isn’t ready to accept that it did not get enough votes to form a government outright.

That doesn’t sound very stable. Is it?

  • Pakistan is now entering an uncertain scenario, which is, in effect, a post-election political crisis.
  • The country may need another national vote before too long to secure a more stable and workable government.

The election has been called flawed in the West. Is that fair?

  • There was a terrible attack in the restive province of Baluchistan on the eve of the election that killed 28 people.
  • But fears of widespread violence on the day of the election did not materialize.
  • The country is a military-dominated state, with generals that have long been involved in the country’s politics – and elections.
  • There has been a great deal of criticism in the West about cellphones and mobile internet services being blocked on election day.

Will anyone be pleased with the election result?

  • A split national assembly and weak government plays into the military’s hands.
  • Should the PMLN govern as the major party in a coalition, it will be in a position of relative weakness and will need the army’s support, especially if the PTI engages in widespread protests against the election results.

Are there any positives from the election?

  • But the negatives are seen by most to outweigh the positives and the 2024 elections are being viewed as equally – if not more – manipulated and controlled than the 2018 exercise.
  • The turnout this time around is estimated to be around 48%, which is lower than in 2018 when it was 51%.
  • But what they helped deliver may only help continue Pakistan’s political malaise as it heads into a new, uncertain period.


Ayesha Jalal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Statement by Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC in Support of Israel, the Only Jewish State, and Condemnation of Moody's Downgrade Decision

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, February 10, 2024

Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC operates as a single-family office, managing the financial affairs and investments of its principal, Jake P. Noch, with no outside clients.

Key Points: 
  • Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC operates as a single-family office, managing the financial affairs and investments of its principal, Jake P. Noch, with no outside clients.
  • In response to Moody's downgrade, Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC wishes to express its profound disappointment and concerns over the assessment.
  • Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC urges Moody's to reconsider its downgrade decision and conduct a more thorough assessment that incorporates the fundamental thesis on Israel's security and economic potential.
  • Furthermore, Jake P. Noch Family Office, LLC reaffirms its unwavering support for Israel and its commitment to promoting fairness and transparency in financial assessments.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa aims for upbeat tone in annual address, but fails to impress a jaundiced electorate

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, February 10, 2024

The country goes to the polls any time between May and August and there was no doubt that Cyril Ramaphosa would use the occasion to burnish the governing African National Congress’s reputation.

Key Points: 
  • The country goes to the polls any time between May and August and there was no doubt that Cyril Ramaphosa would use the occasion to burnish the governing African National Congress’s reputation.
  • Numerous opinion polls suggest the ANC will fall below 50% of the vote nationally for the first time, providing opportunities for opposition coalitions.
  • A party needs to win 50% or more of the seats in parliament to form a government on its own.
  • In his 105-minute address Ramaphosa tried to remind his audience of the government’s achievements over the past three decades of democracy.

The contested record

  • Poverty: In 1994 71% of South Africa’s population lived in poverty; today 55% do, he said, citing World Bank figures.
  • Employment: The president devoted paragraphs of his speech to job opportunities created by various government programmes.
  • Real unemployment – the expanded definition – is around 42%, up from 15% in 1994.
  • Energy: On the continuing power cuts Ramaphosa pledged that
    the worst is behind us and an end to load-shedding is in reach.
  • But evidence shows land reform has a mixed record of successes and failures.
  • Health: the president spoke of a new academic hospital under construction in Limpopo province.

What was left unsaid

  • In one ill-advised one in 2019, the president fantasised about bullet trains, when his audience were desperately waiting for the resumption of service on slow train commuting routes.
  • The 2024 speech offers fertile material for opposition parties to score points against the ANC.
  • It will be more of the same from both sides all the way to voting day.


Keith Gottschalk is a member of the African National Congress, but writes this piece in his professional capacity as a political scientist.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s aims for upbeat tone in annual address, but fails to impress a jaundiced electorate

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

Numerous opinion polls suggest the ANC will fall below 50% of the vote nationally for the first time, providing opportunities for opposition coalitions.

Key Points: 
  • Numerous opinion polls suggest the ANC will fall below 50% of the vote nationally for the first time, providing opportunities for opposition coalitions.
  • A party needs to win 50% or more of the seats in parliament to form a government on its own.
  • Adding to the moment was the fact that this was the last state of the nation address of Ramaphosa’s term.
  • In his 105-minute address Ramaphosa tried to remind his audience of the government’s achievements over the past three decades of democracy.

The contested record

  • Poverty: In 1994 71% of South Africa’s population lived in poverty; today 55% do, he said, citing World Bank figures.
  • Employment: The president devoted paragraphs of his speech to job opportunities created by various government programmes.
  • Real unemployment – the expanded definition – is around 42%, up from 15% in 1994.
  • Energy: On the continuing power cuts Ramaphosa pledged that
    the worst is behind us and an end to load-shedding is in reach.
  • But evidence shows land reform has a mixed record of successes and failures.
  • Health: the president spoke of a new academic hospital under construction in Limpopo province.

What was left unsaid

  • In one ill-advised one in 2019, the president fantasised about bullet trains, when his audience were desperately waiting for the resumption of service on slow train commuting routes.
  • The 2024 speech offers fertile material for opposition parties to score points against the ANC.
  • It will be more of the same from both sides all the way to voting day.


Keith Gottschalk is a member of the African National Congress, but writes this piece in his professional capacity as a political scientist.

Crowell & Moring's Martin Redish Releases New Book: Due Process as American Democracy

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

In Due Process as American Democracy, Redish develops a new approach to procedural due process, grounded in foundational precepts of American political theory.

Key Points: 
  • In Due Process as American Democracy, Redish develops a new approach to procedural due process, grounded in foundational precepts of American political theory.
  • Redish argues that American political thought comes from an adversarial understanding of democracy where individuals need to protect their own interests, because no one else can be trusted to do so.
  • Redish writes that a skeptical vision of democracy informs the separation of powers and operates as the protector of liberal democracy.
  • When applied to procedural due process, adversary democracy dictates skepticism of both judges and those who seek unilaterally to represent the individuals' interests in court.

Why John Dewey’s vision for education and democracy still resonates today

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

John Dewey was one of the most important educational philosophers of the 20th century.

Key Points: 
  • John Dewey was one of the most important educational philosophers of the 20th century.
  • Dewey’s writings continue to influence discussions on a variety of subjects, including democratic education, which was the focus of Dewey’s famous 1916 book on the subject.

Why revisit John Dewey’s philosophy on education and democracy now?

  • I think it is time to revisit Dewey’s philosophy about the value of field trips, classroom experiments, music instruction and children playing together on playgrounds.
  • Dewey’s philosophy of education was that children “learn by doing.” Dewey argued that children learn from using their entire bodies in meaningful experiences.
  • This focus on tested subjects means that public school students in places such as Texas have less time for arts education.

What role did Dewey see for public schools in preserving democracy?

  • For Dewey, modern societies can use schools to impart democratic habits in young people from an early age.
  • Dewey believed that schools could teach immigrants what it means to be a citizen and incorporate their experiences into American culture.
  • Dewey opposed “racial, color, or other class prejudice.” Segregated schools violate Dewey’s ideal of treating all students as possessing intrinsic worth and dignity.

How closely does today’s education system resemble Dewey’s vision for education?

  • I would argue that the education system resembles the vision of modern testing pioneers like Edward Thorndike more than Dewey’s.
  • Dewey thought that standardized tests serve a small role in education.
  • According to a 2023 Education Week survey of teachers, nearly 80% feel moderate or large amounts of pressure to have their students perform well on state-mandated standardized tests.

How popular are John Dewey’s views today?

  • But Dewey opposed vocational education that slotted children from a young age into a career path.
  • However, he opposed a two-tiered education system that denied working-class children a well-rounded education or that equated human flourishing with making widgets.
  • Educators and scholars such as Diane Ravitch, Deborah Meier and Yong Zhao cite Dewey and apply his insights to current education debates.
  • For many people who read Dewey today, his call for democracy in education still resonates.


Nicholas Tampio does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

It may be too late to stop the great election disinformation campaigns of 2024 but we have to at least try

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

Votes are scheduled in India, Pakistan, Mexico and South Africa, to name but a few.

Key Points: 
  • Votes are scheduled in India, Pakistan, Mexico and South Africa, to name but a few.
  • A hotly contested election will be held for the European parliament in June and the US presidential elections are on the horizon in November.
  • A general election is also due in the UK at some stage in the coming year.

AI, deepfakes and disinformation

  • We are already seeing parties use AI to analyse data on voting patterns and targeting voters in real-time with algorithmically-driven ad placements.
  • Deepfakes – false or manipulated texts, images, video and audio – are already being spread via the gaming of algorithms with the intention of manipulating voters.
  • There are allegations that deepfakes were used in an attempt to sway voters in Argentina, New Zealand and Turkey in the past year.

Bad actors

  • NATO and the European Union have also warned against the threats to democratic cohesion caused by Kremlin-fuelled disinformation campaigns.
  • Human Rights Watch reports increased attacks against ethnic and religious minorities including Muslims, as well as journalists and opposition leaders.

Taking action

  • Calling for action now is almost moot as it’s probably already too late.
  • The fact that there are so many elections happening simultaneously around the world in 2024 only exacerbates the problem.
  • An urgent global effort among nations is needed to set the ground rules for how the use of AI is to be regulated, particularly around elections.
  • The worry is that the pace at which the technology is advancing is outpacing efforts to safeguard the public.


Tom Felle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

USC Announces New Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- USC, together with Leonard and his late wife Pamela Schaeffer, is launching a new institute to be anchored in Los Angeles and in the university's new Capital Campus in Washington, D.C. The mission of the Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service is to strengthen democracy by training generations of public leaders and advancing evidence-based research to shape policy that addresses the nation's most pressing issues, USC President Carol Folt announced today.

Key Points: 
  • The mission of the Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service is to strengthen democracy by training generations of public leaders and advancing evidence-based research to shape policy that addresses the nation's most pressing issues, USC President Carol Folt announced today.
  • By combining and expanding two outstanding programs — the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and the Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service — USC's new institute will be able to significantly increase their scope, size and impact.
  • Schaeffer said the new institute has the potential to have a long-lasting impact at a time when the United States needs it most.
  • A gift in 2009 enabled the university to create the namesake USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

Press release - Venezuela: MEPs condemn attacks on opposition’s presidential candidate

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

The text also strongly condemns the attempts to prevent other opposition politicians, such as Henrique Capriles, from holding public office.

Key Points: 
  • The text also strongly condemns the attempts to prevent other opposition politicians, such as Henrique Capriles, from holding public office.
  • Respecting the Barbados agreement could be a turning point towards democracy
    MEPs condemn the attacks, alleged forced disappearances, arrests and arrest warrants against the opposition, civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, and the interference of Nicolás Maduro’s regime in the electoral process.
  • The Maduro regime is in clear breach of the agreement, signed last year in Barbados by representatives of the Venezuelan government and the opposition, to hold free and fair presidential elections in 2024.
  • If all points of the Barbados agreement were respected, Venezuela’s 2024 elections could mark a turning point from a corrupt autocracy to a return to democracy, they stress.

Press release - MEPs condemn continuous Russian efforts to undermine European democracy

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 433 votes in favour, 56 against and 18 abstentions, Parliament expresses its complete outrage and grave concern about the continuous efforts by Russia to undermine European democracy through various forms of interference and disinformation.

Key Points: 
  • In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 433 votes in favour, 56 against and 18 abstentions, Parliament expresses its complete outrage and grave concern about the continuous efforts by Russia to undermine European democracy through various forms of interference and disinformation.
  • At the same time, the resolution also points to other cases of MEPs knowingly serving Russia’s interests including through fake electoral observation missions to Russian occupied territories.
  • The resolution also notes that Russian interference in Catalonia would be part of a broader Russian strategy to promote internal destabilisation and EU disunity.
  • Parliament also calls on the relevant judicial authorities to undertake effective investigations into the connections of MEPs allegedly associated with the Kremlin.