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Culture Politics

Cuba: The Ultimate Socialist Paradise?

By Nikhil Bandlish Cigars, classic cars, Castro and ‘Communism’: What do they all have in common?  Just under 100 miles south of Florida lies what was once the promising socialist nation-state of Cuba. We’ve all heard the stories. The lynchpin in the Cold War during the missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs, Cuba was flying […]

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Culture Politics Society

The Coup In Myanmar

By Katie Dominy On the morning of 1st February 2021, the world woke to news of an unfolding political crisis in Myanmar. After formally transitioning to democratic rule in 2011, the military (or Tatmadaw) had launched a coup, seizing control from the democratically-elected National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The Tatmadaw attempted to justify the […]

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Culture Politics

Belarus: On The Edge Of Democracy

This report was compiled by Rory Gannon A nation’s path to democracy is rarely smooth. Throughout history, newly independent countries have struggled to consolidate new governments. In 2015 Myanmar’s first free and fair elections were not eagerly embraced by the military that had held power in the country for over twenty years. The following election […]

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Culture Politics Society

The Story of Israel and Palestine: Part One

By Katie Dominy When you hear the term ‘Israel-Palestine’, what are the first words, images, or phrases that come to mind? To hazard a guess, ‘conflict’, ‘war’, and ‘destruction’ are probably at the forefront of many people’s minds when they hear this infamous double-barrel. In the international news cycle, we sporadically hear mention of upsurges […]

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Culture Politics Society

Power, Poverty, and Principles: A Modern History of Venezuela

By Nikhil Bandlish Amidst what has been one of the most tumultuous periods in recent political, social, and medical history, 2021 may be the year that planet Earth attempts to turn the page of what has undoubtedly been a testing chapter. For the Western world, the last few years may have been characterised by the […]

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Covid-19 Culture

How Does Lockdown Impact Our Mental Health?

By Jude Holmes “It Was the Winter of Despair”  “Now is the winter of our discontent/ Made glorious summer by this sun of York” are the famous opening lines of Shakespeare’s Richard III, probably written at the end of 1593. The year 1593 had started much as 2021, with an ominous rise in London plague […]

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Culture Politics

Long Read: Derailing the Trump Train?

The Story of Donald Trump’s Election Victory and Defeat in Memes By Loui Marchant In November 2016, the results of the US presidential election sent much of the world’s media into a tailspin of shock and confusion. Among certain online communities, however, the news came not as a surprise but as a validation that memes […]

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Culture Politics Society The World In Review

October 2020: The World In Review

In this series of articles, our foreign affairs editor Colin McGinness provides a concise roundup of the biggest geopolitical events from the past month. Asia Protests in Thailand have continued in spite of the central government’s announcement of a “severe” state of emergency. Protesters are seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who came […]

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Culture Latin America 2020 Series Politics Society

What Does The Next U.S. President Mean For Latin America?

In this upcoming series of articles, Nikhil Bandlish will examine how the result of the U.S. election will impact Latin America. In this first piece, Nikhil provides a historical overview and outlines why – no matter the president in the White House – diplomatic habits can be hard to break. With the U.S. set to […]

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Culture Society

A Period Of Inequality: Menstruation Across The World

By Katie Dominy Time of the month. Having the painters and decorators in. Riding the crimson wave. The Red Army. Aunt Flo. Lady time. In 2020, a supposed era of body acceptance and positivity, the very topic of menstruation is still shrouded in euphemism and innuendo.  Even when periods aren’t being referred to in crude […]