General Suharto began his three decade rule of Indonesia by orchestrating a series of massacres in which over 400,000 were killed.  Suharto and his secret police brutally quashed any hint of opposition. His rule was marked by massive corruption, as a small coterie of cronies and his children accumulated over $35 billion. The government engineered … Continue reading "Was Suharto’s New Order Better or Worse Than Snoke’s First Order?"

Ethiopia has been locked in a political crisis since 2015 when a wave of protests resulting in the imposition of a state of emergency in 2016. These protests need to be understood in a historic context. Modern Ethiopian history begins in the late 19th century when the rulers of Shewa united and centralized a divided … Continue reading "Can Abiy Ahmed Bring Ethiopia’s Political Crisis to an End?"

Donald Trump on April 4th 2018 announced 25% tariffs on $50 billion of goods imported from China. The tariffs are a response to Donald Trump’s perception that the US has long been losing a trade war with China. The US runs a $400 billion trade deficit with China as a response. However, in my opinion, … Continue reading "Trade War, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothin’!"

J.K Rowling covered the narrative of the second rise and fall of Lord Voldemort. It is a story that focuses on a few key individuals, and on their courage, hope and the power of love. However, it is impossible to understand the events surrounding the rise of Lord Voldemort without understanding the greater political, economic … Continue reading "Hyperinflation, Ministry Malfeasance, and Pureblood Revanchism: A Political Economy of the Wizarding World"

54 African nations just signed a landmark trade agreement to eliminate tariffs on 90% of all goods trade within the continent. The current trade patterns of Africa were shaped by colonial policies aimed at fostering the export of raw materials to Europe , and the import of industrial goods inwards. Globalization has been a powerful … Continue reading "Towards a More Perfect African Union?"

No individual represented Goonda Raj (Rule by Goons) more than Lalu Prasad Yadav. Lalu Prasad Yadav (or his wife Rabri Devi) governed the state of Bihar from 1990 to 2005. Bihar’s economy stagnated, with minimum growth in per capita incomes, as India’s economy accelerated rapidly. His rule saw the empowerment of gangsters, and the systematic … Continue reading "Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Criminalization of Indian Politics"

Punjab has been the breadbasket of India since the colonial era. The British recruited heavily from rural Punjab for it’s armed forces, and recognized that is was vital to keep rural Punjab prosperous and satisfied. The government invested heavily in irrigation and enacted laws favorable to farmers. Famine nearly struck Bihar and Maharashtra in the … Continue reading "The Rice of Wrath: How Obscure British Land Law and Free Electricity Created Economic Stagnation and Environmental Disaster in Punjab"

On February of  2018, the South African parliament announced plans for a constitutional amendment that would allow for the expropriation of land owned by white farmers without compensation. On the surface, these steps look similar to those taken by Robert Mugabe precipitating the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy and Peter Dutton , the Australian Minister … Continue reading "No, South Africa is Not About to Descend into Race War"

Ethiopia suffered a brutal famine between 1983 and 1985 that led to deaths of 400,000 people after the failure of rains and harvest throughout northern Ethiopia. Activists and journalized made the world aware of the scope of the tragedy and a tremendous  (including about $130 million by Live Aid) amount of money was raised to … Continue reading "They Know It’s Christmas: How Ethiopia is Escaping Drought and Famine"

The Philippines in the 1950s stood on a precipice.  The city of Manila had almost been totally destroyed in WWII. Population grew at around 3% a year, and the economy could barely keep up. Per capita incomes were a fraction of those in America, and the gap was growing even larger. Localized outbreaks of famine … Continue reading "017 – Miracle on Rice: The Green Revolution and the Feeding of the Philippines"