Caijing magazine is one of the few Chinese publications to have earned a high journalist reputation both nationally and internationally, while also remaining relatively untouched by Chinese media censors. But how? Evan Osnos unpacks the reasons in his piece in this week’s New Yorker (July 20) profiling Hu Shuli, Caijing’s founding editor. Throughout this piece…
DetailsWhy are so many nations rich with highly concentrated resources so frequently undemocratic? The long-debated “resource curse” gets new evidence from Dr. Gilbert Maoundonodji, a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow. He argues that in Chad resources actively hinder a nation’s ability to foster democratic development. In this post, we’ll take a look at Dr. Maoundonodji’s arguement, then…
DetailsThere’s a new media group in Liberia, and we’re happy to welcome the Liberia Media Initiative for Peace Democracy and Development to the community. Civil society in Liberia one aspect of the governance framework that is doing pretty well, picking up a lot of the slack that formal government institutions might otherwise do. The media…
DetailsIn a blogger-focused forum yesterday, acting-CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Rodney Bent, spoke to the importance of “risk-taking” in aid and development. Risk taking isn’t new in development (“Let’s build dams! With loans!”) but it’s refreshing to see the risks being borne by the people making the decisions. The MCC wants transparency, and…
DetailsThe president and government ministers in Timor-Leste have voiced their support for Xanana Gusmão, the current prime minister accused of corruption. Opposition leaders have denounced Gusmão’s actions as “cronyism.” And, finally, Xanana Gusmão has spoken publicly on the allegations he faces. The PM’s first words: “I don’t want to explain any more…” Yesterday, Gusmão expressed…
DetailsIn Accra on Saturday, US President Barack Obama spoke to the need for African nations to increase the strength of their institutions and promote good governance as an essential component to successful development programs. Obama also had some kind words to our lead Ghana reporter, “Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the…
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