World News

Latest Articles

Lights on Shame: A Commission in Ireland Reveals the Weight of Stigma

The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was established in 2015 by the Irish government. Its role was to investigate these institutions in force from 1922 to 1998, where unwed women were hosted to deliver their babies. The final report was submitted on 30th October 2020 and published in January, causing a stir among public opinion.
(Here, the article aims to present the reality and the report’s results. A huge role in reporting this grim reality was played by historian Catherine Corless).

Remembering the Persecution of Homosexuals During the Nazi and Fascist Regimes

Sexual minorities were one of the social groups persecuted during the nazi and fascist regimes. Despite the end of the dictatorships, sexual and gender minorities were still persecuted in some European countries. Only decades after WWII, the LGBT+ community started claiming their space and their memory. As a result, the erection of monuments in memory of the persecution of homosexuals during the holocaust was one of the first steps to pay tribute to those who died and suffered.

Reddit vs. Wall Street: Regulating is the Best Way Forward

In January 2021, failing company GameStop saw the value of its shares soar by 1.700%. It was the beginning of the Reddit vs Wall Street confrontation. Behind the unexpected rise were Reddit users. Their purpose was to show discontent with the unfair dynamics of the financial market. Despite the popular support for the initiative, small investors encountered heavy financial constraints. All in all, the impression was that “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”.

The financial market, though, is a human creation. As such, none of its features are either “natural”, nor necessary. This means that the system can be corrected and improved. And this “David vs Goliath”-like clash helped pointing out some elements that need to be reformed or regulated. Therefore, the first part of this article will sum up the events. The second part will point out the most problematic issues arisen. Finally, the third part will suggest some corrections that could improve the health of the financial market.

Child Marriage as a Contemporary Form of Slavery

Increasing amounts of scholarship in the international law community are showing that an inextricable link exists between child marriage and contemporary slavery. In light of this, child marriage can no longer be treated lightly or simply discounted as being part of culture. Child marriage violates the human rights of the child and goes against one of the key non-derogable international law norms: the prohibition of slavery.

Navalny: Harbinger of Democracy or Flash in the Pan?

The arrest of Alexey Navalny upon his return to Russia has triggered widespread protests. For many, they represent the first step towards democratization. This article, though, argues that things are more complicated. The first problem is that Navalny is a much more controversial figure than he seems. In fact, his idea of democracy might be very different from the Western concept of democracy. The second problem is less idiosyncratic and more strategic. Namely, the Russia regime seems willing to lock up Navalny for quite some time. And this alone, could leave protestors without a leader and without purpose.