Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of UPF Lund and The Perspective. How the latest additions to the UN human rights council have confused and exasperated many. On October 13, 2020, the UN General Assembly underwent their yearly secret-ballot election to vote in new member
How Safe are Journalists in the EU?
Freedom of the press is a core pillar of the EU. But one can observe cracks in this fundamental. Warsaw and Budapest are accused of infringing upon it, but those deep rifts are also reaching neighboring countries. Has the overall situation for European journalists changed, and how can we protect
Development of Whom? China’s Development Project of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port
In December 2017, the government of Sri Lanka officially handed over the Port of Hambantota to China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd., one of China’s state-owned enterprises, following the contract agreed and signed in July that year. This 99-year lease was a result of a massive amount of debt that
By ▶︎ Talking Greenish: Episode 3 – Corporate Lobbying
Listen to it on iTunes (UPF Lund) Talking Greenish: The podcast dealing with all things climate policy. For this episode we delve deeper into the intriguing world of corporate lobbying mainly in the US and the EU, discussing the reach of it, the economic effects and our thoughts and opinions on the
By UPF Webzine
Arms/Articles/Conflict/Corruption/Democracy/Europe/Human Rights/Immigration/International Relations/Migration/Uncategorized
Off-The-Books Diplomacy: Italy And Libya – Beyond Official Agreements
A photo of the Libyan Coast, with a view to the Mediterranean Sea / Wikimedia Commons It is often said that, in politics, there is no room for morality. Indeed, sometimes a State accepts a certain degree of external injustice in order to cope with internal problems. That is, unfortunately,
A Governments Guide to Revoking Autonomy: The Curious Case of Kashmir
Source: Kashmir Global In the days leading up to August 5th the inhabitants of Indian-administered Kashmir would experience a series of foreboding events. The telephone networks and internet access were cut off, public gatherings were banned, tens of thousands of troops were sent in, tourist were instructed to leave Kashmir
By UPF Webzine
Activism/Articles/Conflict/Corruption/Democracy/Egypt/Human Rights/International Relations/Middle East
Whatever Happened to the Hope of Tahrir Square?
Photographer: Zeinab Mohamed As the largest protests Egypt has seen in years have been met with violence, it may be time for Western countries to reassess their support for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s authoritarian regime. This should come along with the realisation that the state of human rights in the North
The Persistent Problem Of Child Soldiers In Myanmar
Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948, yet its political situation has been unstable and entangled in complex civil conflicts involving the six major ethnic groups in Myanmar; the Arakanese, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Karenni, Karen, and Mon. Each of these groups have their share of grievances against Tatmadaw, the Myanmar
Salvini: A Populist Force to be Reckoned With?
Right wing populism is on the rise globally, and studies show that the hybrid use of mass and social media is the perfect combination for its further expanse. Among the populist forces who excel in this strategy is Donald Trump, and recently he seems to have met his European equal:
An End to Corruption: Jair Bolsonaro And Brazil’s Expanding Militia
A councilor executed in the streets, the leading presidential candidate jailed before the election, and a controversial politician rising to fame from previous anonymity. In the world’s fifth largest country with potentially the largest oil reserves in the world, corruption has been running rampant with paramilitaries increasingly spreading their influence.