Written by: Garrett Halak A tale of two opponents who garnered nationwide hatred and adoration has come to a conclusion. Current president, Jair Bolsonaro – also known as the “Trump of the Tropics” – and previous president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula) – “The most hated and loved man in Brazil,” exchanged passionate statements…
Tag: Garrett Halak
The Coup within a Coup – Burkina Faso’s Eagerness to Combat Chronic Insecurity
Written by: Garrett Halak Experiencing “deja-vu,” the people of Burkina Faso’s capital city, Ouagadougou, awoke to gunshots for the second time in 2022. Just nine months after the takeover of democratically elected leader President Roch Kabore’s residence, the rule of newly instated military leader Paul-Henri Damiba was cut short amidst yet another coup d’etat. Across…
The Anti-Coup Resistance that Halted Sudan’s Transition to Democratic Rule
Written by: Garrett Halak Sudan has been considered the “coup laboratory” of the world with a history of approximately 15 attempted coups, 10 of which were thwarted. For many, these coups are a part of Sudanese life, and while there existed hope for eventual stability in early 2021, another coup was impending. Throughout January of…
The Emergence of A Civil War – Increasingly Deadly Battles in Myanmar
Written by: Garrett Halak February 1st marks the one-year anniversary of the Myanmar military’s seizure of power and a prompt end to the country’s democratization process. The WIRe covered the inception of Tatmadaw’s rise to power in a previous article here. This coup d’etat occurred just prior to the second five-year term of Suu Kyi…
The Cuban Dissident Movement: Escaping the Grip of Communist Creed
Written by: Garrett Halak The single-party authoritarian country of Cuba has experienced a shift in citizen attitudes related to human rights and democratic principles. While the dissident movement in Cuba has been around for a number of years, nonviolent protests were revived during 2021 within the socialist state. The dissident movement calls for the replacement…
Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, but 6: The Trials and Tribulations of Lockdown in Australia
Written by: Garrett Halak While a post-pandemic ‘new normal’ seems near for the United States, Australia’s once-glamorous Covid-19 situation has become far from perfect. Still boasting a minute death toll in comparison to most other countries around the world, Australia remains far from victorious in terms of returning to mobility and normalcy. While lockdown lengths…
Government, Corporate Interests Enable Mozambique Ambush Slaughter
Written by: Garrett Halak With Syria and Iraq witnessing the end of ISIS, an insurgency conducted in the northern province of Mozambique has immobilized thousands and sparked the re-emergence of ISIS-affiliated violence. On March 24th, Palma became victim to a horrific ambush that has caused major concerns. At the height of this ambush, 17 vehicles…
The Coup D’etat that Halted Myanmar’s Democratic Rise
Written by: Garrett Halak With many clinging onto Myanmar’s young democracy and its promise of free elections, the citizens of the country have taken to the streets. Prompted by the coup d’etat that occurred on February 1st, Myanmar’s quasi-democracy is watching its own demise as the Tatmadaw regains political power. The Southeast Asian country of…
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