politics
Stories
Tanzania
Three Young Americans Looking For Zanzibar’s Radical Opposition Party
Walking down a quiet road on the northern periphery of Zanzibar City, Gordon, Helen, and I were clearly out of place. We were three young, sweaty, white Americans looking for ... read more
by David Harris
15 Dec 2005
Colombia
Up For Some Disorder, Anyone?
It was early February in Barranquilla, Colombia, and I was confused. Instead of facing the whipping winter wind and listening to the rustle of dried leaves, we were still walking ... read more
by Amy Thorne
15 May 2006
Blog Posts
Tunisia
Becoming Proust in Tunisia
I did not approach Tunisia as Proust, but as Griet. "From the moment I saw View of the Delft at The Hague Museum, I knew that I had seen the world's most beautiful painting," remarked Marcel Proust. There is never a solid block of color in this masterpiece of Vermeer’s ... read more
by Alexandra BetGeorge
02 Feb 2010
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Uganda
If they don't want to talk, there's a reason
Given northern Uganda’s violent political history, I was surprised to find virtually no serious political discussion. Political inquiries are often met with blank stares and ambiguous statements that trail ... read more
by Pete Muller
10 Feb 2009
United Kingdom
Be ready to talk American politics
The English are very involved in politics--especially American politics. Obama's election made front page news on all the papers, and anyone who knew I was American wanted to talk ... read more
by Ann Clark
06 Feb 2009
Chile
Politics as usual
Chileans are constantly complaining about their political situations and discussing the political situations of the major world players. In the conversations I was a part of, Obama and the promise ... read more
by Matthew Hintsa
10 Feb 2009
Jordan
Politics and life are inseparable
I had a friend who dropped a coin in the middle of a café, and as it rolled around, he stomped on it so that he could pick it back ... read more
by Adam Lichtenheld
10 Feb 2009
Bangladesh
Prime Minister -> Convict -> Prime Minister
As of April 2009, Bangladesh has been running semi-smoothly (there was an army mutiny about a month ago) with its newly elected government. Before the elections in late Dec 2008 ... read more
by Amy Adoyzie Lam
29 Mar 2009
Switzerland
Watch Your Borders
Switzerland has very few national laws; most things are determined by state. And Switzerland, a third of the size of Illinois, has 26 of them. This means that within a ... read more
by Chantal Panozzo
02 Apr 2009
Syria
Avoid talking about domestic politics while in Syria
Really. President Bashar al-Asad likes to listen closely – very closely – to his citizens, and there’s a saying in Syria: “Even the walls have ears.” President al-Asad does not suffer ... read more
by Mimi Hanaoka
11 May 2009
India
Be sensitive when it comes to the Dalai Lama
Whether Tibetans support the Dalai Lama’s middle way approach, which advocates autonomy for Tibet within China, or advocate full independence is a sensitive subject. His Holiness is so revered ... read more
by Emily Strasser
23 May 2009
Swaziland
The lion and the she-elephant
Politics in Swaziland are a bit complicated as the governing body is a mixture of traditional and Western forms of government. Swaziland is ruled by a king called Ngwenyama, or ... read more
by Mallory Primm
17 Jun 2009
Spain
The students still take to the streets in Europe
During my stay, a somewhat controversial piece of EU legislation called Plan Bolonia (a plan to universalize university education across EU member nations) sparked hot debate among students and academics ... read more
by Mike Mian
27 Jul 2009
Laos
Don't talk politics in public
When the communists took over Laos, many royalists left the country. A large number have returned, but few have wanted to regain their citizenship. As the government is somewhat wary ... read more
by Gabriel Shaya
25 Sep 2009
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Learn three languages at once
Language, like many things in the former Yugoslavia, is a matter of politics. What was once Serbo-Croatian is now arguably three new languages--Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian. But the division is mostly ... read more
by danielle hayes
06 Nov 2009
United Kingdom
Want to talk politics? Make sure you have a few hours to spare.
Drop the name of any recent Prime Minister – Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher – and you’re likely to get an earful. Or mention the phrase “Red Ken” in any ... read more
by Marshall Worsham
09 Nov 2009
Peru
Understand the complex history of the armed conflict
Not long before the tourist boom that started bringing hoards of foreigners to Machu Picchu, Peru went through a serious and traumatic internal conflict. The terrorist group the Shining Path ... read more
by Courtney Ng
12 Nov 2009
Thailand
King of the kingdom
As you drive around the streets of Thailand, you will see many photos of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, both popular figures. While neither holds direct power in Parliament ... read more
by Anna Schwaber
01 Dec 2009
Cyprus
Politics: approach with care
Sometimes the political situation in Cyprus seems like what the island revolves around, and other times it seems like an issue that everyone deals with by ignoring it. When discussing ... read more
by Madeline Blount
07 Jan 2010
Malawi
A complicated legacy
Malawi gained independence from Britain in 1964, and the country was led by Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda until 1994. Newcomers to Malawian political history will likely view Banda as a ... read more
by Rebecca Jacobson
05 Feb 2010
Israel
Try to stay out of it
My advice is to not get involved in too many political conversations. Many Israelis have VERY strong opinions, and have real life experience to back up their opinions. A majority ... read more
