Political results of gender inequity
And what are the political results of cultures perpetuating female subordination?
Why are African women more at risk of violence? Nigeria tells a patriarchal tale
As the United Nations launched its 16-day worldwide campaign to combat violence against women on Sunday, I was reminded of how, while it is a global problem, it is one that leaves women in developing countries particularly vulnerable.
A UN report shows women in Africa are most at risk of violence. In Nigeria where I grew up, 23% of women have been victims of physical or sexual violence committed by a previous husband…
While poverty affects both genders in sub-Saharan Africa, it affects women more: 122 women aged 25 to 34 live in extreme poverty for every 100 men of the same age. For such women, the decision on whether to leave a violent partner would involve practical issues of food and shelter for herself and her children. However, the problem is much more than just economic. I also have friends who are middle-class professionals yet tolerated years of domestic abuse.
In their cases, when they complained to their families that their husband was abusing them, they were usually told they must have done something to “disrespect” him. While Nigeria is a multicultural society comprised of hundreds of ethnic groups, each with their own traditional value system, what they all have in common is a view of the male as an authority figure who deserves automatic “respect” from his wife. This involves the expectation she will regularly acknowledge her subordinate position to him in the household.
If he is abusive, it is thus often attributed to the woman not playing her role properly, not being a “good wife”. When one of my friends who spent many years in the UK before marrying and relocating to Nigeria complained to her family about how her husband was treating her, she was told she had “spent too long living among white people where everything is upside down and the women control the men”…
One issue that is often grossly under-appreciated is that tolerant attitudes towards domestic violence have a domino effect on society, producing adults traumatised by childhood experiences of seeing their father regularly abuse their mother. How does a society that lets its children witness such consequence-free abuse expect them to grow up fair-minded sensitive adults?
Non-governmental organisations combating violence against women do their best, but the harsh realities of life in a society with endemic poverty, a nonexistent social safety net and weak formal mechanisms for safeguarding the vulnerable, compel too many women to make unfortunate choices for themselves and their children…
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Labels: gender, Nigeria, political culture, politics
What?!?
State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) account for the majority of Chinese GDP, so the connection between the Communist Party and economic activity has always been close. But how does it make sense for China's richest person to be a member of the Communist Party?
Jack Ma, China’s Richest Man, Belongs to the Communist Party. Of Course.
Jack Ma, China’s richest man and the guiding force behind its biggest e-commerce company, belongs to an elite club of power brokers, 89 million strong: the Chinese Communist Party…
It may sound contradictory that the wealthy Mr. Ma belongs to an organization that got its start calling for the empowerment of the proletariat. But Mr. Ma’s political affiliation came as no surprise to many Chinese and China watchers. Though it still publicly extols the principles of Karl Marx, the Chinese Communist Party largely abandoned collectivist doctrine in the post-Mao era, freeing private entrepreneurs to help build the world’s second-largest economy after the United States.
In fact, the disclosure reveals a party that is eager to prove its legitimacy by affiliating itself with capitalist success stories. Mr. Ma is a tech rock star in China, and his membership in the party could prod others to follow his lead…
Today’s party isn’t exactly exclusive. Its members represent nearly 7 percent of China’s population. Its ranks include government officials, businesspeople and even dissidents. Being a member often suggests a desire to network and get ahead rather than express one’s political views.
For businesspeople in particular, membership is more often a matter of expediency. Party membership provides a layer of protection in a country where private ownership protections are often haphazardly enforced or ignored entirely.
Though its constitution still describes members as “vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class imbued with communist consciousness,” the party has veered away from its communist roots and welcomed private entrepreneurs since 2001…
The star power of the Chinese entrepreneur class has dimmed since Xi Jinping became the country’s top leader in 2012. Under Mr. Xi, the Communist Party plays a bigger role in not only Chinese politics but also the economy and everyday life. Any entity with more than three party members is required to set up a party cell. Some three-quarters of private enterprises, or 1.9 million, had done so in 2017, according to official data…
The disclosure of Mr. Ma’s membership reflects the thinking that the party controls the economy and society, said Guo Yuhua, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing and a critic of the party…
In recent weeks, amid signs of a slowing economy and an intensifying trade war with the United States, China’s leaders have taken a softer tone toward private enterprise, making supportive remarks and promising tax cuts.
Making it clear that Mr. Ma, the most successful businessman in China, is a member could strengthen the party’s legitimacy…
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Labels: China, Communist Party, guanzi, politics
Not solely a beauty contest
The creative director of the Miss Nigeria pageant is quoted as saying that the contest winner will not be chosen on the basis of "physical attributes alone." She then describes the attributes the winner should possess, but doesn't describe how those things will be assessed. (Sound familiar?)
Miss Nigeria - Organisers Say Winner Won't Be Determined By Looks Alone
The organisers of 'Miss Nigeria' beauty pageant, Daily Times Nigeria, have said that the 2018 winner will not be chosen based on physical attributes alone.
The creative director of Miss Nigeria, Ezinne Akudo- Anyaoha, disclosed this at a media interview held in Lagos on Wednesday.
 |
| Anyaoha |
"We are committed to finding a young lady who defies the stereotypical perception of beauty queens as just superficial," Ms Ezinne, who won the Miss Nigeria pageant in 2013 said.
"Miss Nigeria 2018 must embody all the attributes of a strong female leader. She must be beautiful, socially conscious and committed to positively influencing young women across the country and continent."…
The organisers added that the competition is open to ladies between 18-25 years old with "exemplary leadership qualities".
"They must also be able to align excellently with the organisation's mission to empower women beyond beauty.
"In addition, six core targets would be crucial in the selection of the ultimate winner of its prestigious title this year.
"They include Education, Environment, Arts & Culture, Health, Financial Management and Technology."
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Labels: Nigeria, political culture
Update to Cultural Revolution study groups
During the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China, there were study groups in farm fields, factory floors, classrooms, and neighborhoods. The only study materials were
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, the "little red book."
President Xi is updating the ideology study.
Courseware on Xi thought launched
Courseware on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been launched for free download on several websites including people.com.cn and xinhuanet.com.
The courseware, developed by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Ministry of Education (MOE), contains 30 subjects that focus on basic spirit, connotations and requirements of the thought.
The courseware is aimed at helping officials and the public, especially college teachers and students, to learn, understand and grasp the thought.
The CPC Central Committee Publicity Department, the MOE and the working committee of the central and state organs have jointly issued a circular calling for further study of the thought via the courseware.
[The courseware does not seem to be available in English.]
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Labels: China, ideology, leadership, politics
Politics and warfare
President Buhari offers his campaign comment about the military attack.
Metele attack: President Buhari speaks of deep shock
Nigeria's leader has vowed to close the "loopholes" which allowed militants to reportedly kill dozens of soldiers at a base in north-eastern Borno state.
President Muhammadu Buhari addressed last Sunday's attack publicly after the army acknowledged it had taken place.
It had been reported that at least 40 soldiers died when an Islamist militant group targeted the base in Metele.
But the army refused to confirm the reports until Friday, when they put out a release disputing the death toll…
The president - who faces an election in three months time - added no responsible leader "would rest on his oars... to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens".
As a result, he planned to meet with military and intelligence chiefs "in the coming days" to plan their "next steps".
Mr Buhari came to power in 2015 after promising to defeat Boko Haram militants, who have caused havoc in Nigeria through a wave of attacks as they attempt to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.
But while the army has retaken most of the territory the militants once controlled, they are still able to carry out deadly attacks.
In a statement, released on Friday evening, the army admits that it is operating in "trying times", which is a rare if veiled admission that the military is experiencing serious setbacks in the fight against the jihadists, says BBC Africa editor Will Ross…
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Labels: conflict, leadership, Nigeria, politics
Armed warfare in Nigeria
Armed warfare in Nigeria
As the presidential campaign begins in Nigeria, the warfare in the northeast continues and gets more complex. How will politics reflect this continuing warfare?
Nigerian Islamists kill scores of soldiers in military base attack
Islamic militants in Nigeria may have killed as many as 100 soldiers in an attack on a military base, according to media reports and security officials.
The reported death toll is among the highest since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 and comes as the country prepares for elections in three months.
The worst losses came when militants overran a military base in the village of Metele in the north-eastern state of Borno on Sunday.
The area is the centre of an insurgency waged by Boko Haram, which was founded nine years ago to bring strict Islamic law to swaths of Nigeria, and a second newer group linked to Islamic State.
Nigeria’s military and government have repeatedly said they are on the point of defeating the militants. However, raids on military bases have continued over recent months, inflicting significant casualties…
The increase in violence in north-east Nigeria follows a power struggle among militant leaders.
In the first major rift, the Isis-linked group split from the one led by Boko Haram’s veteran leader, Abubakar Shekau, after arguments over his indiscriminate targeting of civilians in raids and suicide bombings…
Analysts believe this breakaway faction, known as the Islamic State in West Africa, has a new hardline leadership after a further internal struggle and is responsible for the recent kidnapping and killing of aid workers…
A spokesman for the presidency on Thursday said the military would issue a statement, while the military did not respond to requests for comment. The government and military often decline to acknowledge the scale of losses in the north-east.
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Labels: conflict, corruption, Nigeria, politics
Campaigns begin in Nigeria
The official date for campaigning by presidential candidates in Nigeria has come. Here's Buhari's opening speech.
Buhari Launches Campaign Manual, Says - Let's Not Set Nigeria Ablaze
The president spoke yesterday during the launching of his campaign… at the State House Villa, Abuja.
"I am not unmindful that the National Assembly and the presidential campaign starts today… I will implore candidates to go about the campaigns peacefully and decently. We have no other country, let us not set it ablaze because of politics," he said.
The occasion was attended by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha and other top government officials…
Noting that the next four years will be quite significant for the country, Buhari said "Nigeria is faced with a choice to keep building a new Nigeria - making a break from its tainted past which favoured an opportunistic few…
"We know that, to succeed, moral integrity and conscience must continue to form the dominant character of our nation and its leadership. Corruption is an existential threat to Nigeria. Despite the gains we have made in closing the gates, we know that there is still much ground to cover to stop systemic corruption," he said.
The president said they have worked hard to fulfil their campaign promises.
"First things had to come first. We were a nation at war - but we
delivered on our commitment to secure the territorial integrity of our
nation in the face of a raging insurgency that devastated many parts of
the North East. We liberated 17 Local Government Areas from the grip of
insurgency. Brokering and sustaining peace in the Niger Delta has also
been crucial to stabilizing the polity."
"Four years ago, we promised Nigerians real change - in what we do and how we do it. Nigerians sent a clear message in the last election, and our platform offered a new, ambitious plan for a secure, prosperous and corruption-free country.
"We have worked hard to fulfil our promises - and while the road may have been difficult, over the last three and a half years, we have laid the foundations for a strong, stable and prosperous country for the majority of our people," he said…
He said despite the difficult circumstances presented by weak oil prices and reduced oil production they delivered on their commitment to make public investments to spur economic growth, job creation, and broad-based prosperity.
"Agriculture continues to expand our economic base, as do our investments in our deficient infrastructure across the length and breadth of this nation. We implemented a responsible and transparent fiscal plan for the challenging economic times that saw us doing more even with lesser oil revenues," he said…
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Labels: elections, leadership, Nigeria, politics
Brexit politics
PM May tries to explain why Brexit is a good idea to the association of the UK's top business people at the
Confederation of British Industry meeting.
Brexit plan will stop EU migrants 'jumping the queue'
Theresa May is renewing her efforts to sell her draft Brexit withdrawal agreement - saying it will stop EU migrants "jumping the queue".
She said migration would become skills-based, with Europeans no longer prioritised over "engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi".
The PM also insisted to business leaders at the CBI that the withdrawal deal had been "agreed in full"…
There has been widespread criticism of the draft 585-page withdrawal agreement - and the short paper setting out what the UK and EU's future relationship could look like - which are set to be finalised and signed off at an EU summit this weekend.
Two of the prime minister's cabinet ministers resigned over the proposed deal, while others are believed to be trying to change its wording.
Speculation continues over whether the number of Tory MPs submitting letters of no-confidence in Mrs May will reach the 48 required to trigger a confidence vote on her leadership of the Conservative Party.
Why are people unhappy with the deal?
The draft document sets out the terms of the UK's departure, including how much money will be paid to the EU, details of the transition period, and citizens' rights.
The transition period - currently due to last until 31 December 2020 - will mean the UK is officially out of the EU, but still abiding by most of its rules. During this time, the two sides hope to negotiate a permanent trade deal.
The UK and the EU want to avoid a hard Northern Ireland border whatever happens, so they agreed to a "backstop" - described as an insurance policy by Mrs May - aimed at achieving this if the sides cannot agree a trade deal that avoids a physically visible border.
The backstop would mean Northern Ireland would stay more closely aligned to some EU rules, which critics say is unacceptable. And the whole of the UK would be in a single custom territory - effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union.
The critics say that during the transition period, the UK will still abide by most of the EU's rules but have no power over setting them - and there is no system for the UK being able to leave any backstop deal without the EU's agreement, so it could become a permanent arrangement…
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Labels: Brexit, politics, UK
Cultural Appropriation
Labels: China
Communist, yes. Marxist, no.
This is going to take some fancy explanation.
Chinese campus crackdown on young Marxist activists expands in major cities
At least 16 of 22 Chinese labour activists – many of them recent graduates from elite universities – who disappeared in five cities over the weekend were still missing early on Wednesday, as authorities widened their crackdown against emerging grass-roots activism led by young Marxists.
Students at Peking University (PKU)… have been warned by the university over the past two days – in the presence of their parents and others who appeared to be plain-clothes police – to ignore the weekend purge.
But the group, which gave the estimate of the numbers of activists still missing, has vowed to keep fighting for their freedom.
The latest purge follows the earlier detention of about 50 activists after a labour rights protest that began in Shenzhen at the end of July…
“Many students were told the weekend incident was a law enforcement action by relevant departments targeting [suspects] of illegal activities,” a Peking University student, close to the activist schoolmates, said, refusing to be identified for fear of retribution.
“They also warned students against taking further radical actions as the university would no longer tolerate them…
The authorities had already stepped up their watch and control on Marxist student groups in universities after the Jasic campaign. But on Friday evening, in an organised effort, 19 people, including young Marxists recently graduated from elite universities, labour activists and workers were violently snatched in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen…
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Rule of International Law
Keep an eye on this topic. Will Russia (Putin) accept rule of law?
Russia Navalny: Strasbourg court condemns detentions of Putin foe
 |
| Navalny |
Europe's top human rights court has found that the repeated detention of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was politically motivated.
Mr Navalny filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and was there to hear the ruling on Thursday.
The court found that his seven arrests between 2012 and 2014 had been aimed at "suppressing political pluralism".
Since then, police have arrested him several times again under protest laws.
"We've won," he tweeted after the verdict. "Completely. The government has been thrashed. They recognised Article 18 [of the European Convention on Human Rights]. Hurray!"
[Выиграли. Полностью. Правительство разгромлено. 18 статью признали. Ура! https://t.co/V1yeMPLFmT
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) November 15, 2018]
Under Article 18, citizens' rights and freedoms may not be restricted for political purposes.
Since leading mass protests in Moscow in 2011-12, he has campaigned against corruption under President Vladimir Putin and has embraced political causes such as opposition to the raising of the retirement age…
The court found that Mr Navalny's allegation that he had become a "particular target" "appeared "coherent in the context of a general move to bring the opposition under control"…
Russia was ordered to pay him damages and costs of €63,678 (£55,409; $71,950).
"It is a very clear judgment," Mr Navalny was quoted as saying by AFP news agency after the ruling.
"The European court recognises that it was a politically motivated arrest and persecution. It was very important not just for me but for other people all over Russia who are arrested every day."
The ECHR's role is to rule on alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, which Russia ratified in 1998 when it joined the Council of Europe, an organisation which upholds the rule of law in Europe…
Russia has taken issue with previous ECHR verdicts such as one in 2014 which ordered Moscow to pay compensation to shareholders in the defunct Russian oil firm Yukos.
In 2015, the Russian parliament passed a law allowing the country's Constitutional Court to overrule ECHR judgements…
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Labels: judiciary, rule of law, Russia
Economics, trade, and politics
This analysis concentrates on economics, but the questions for CompGov students revolve around the effects of sanctions on Iranian government and politics. Will moderate or hard line forces be strengthened?
Can Iran survive sanctions?
New tough sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector, imposed by the United States, come into force on Monday [12 November].
The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, has responded robustly.
"There is no doubt that the United States will not achieve success with this new plot against Iran as they are retreating step by step."
Iran is heavily dependent on its exports of oil, and renewed sanctions, if effective, would hit the economy hard.
 |
| Iran has the fourth largest reserves of oil. |
The EU has proposed supporting companies trading with Iran despite these new sanctions.
But will these companies risk being hit by secondary sanctions which would limit their own ability to trade with the US?
But other countries, including those of the European Union, believe Iran is holding to its part of the bargain on the nuclear deal and have made clear their intention not to follow America's lead.
Such is the dominance of the US in global trade, that even the announcement of the renewed sanctions has been enough to trigger a wave of international companies pulling their investments out of Iran, and its crude oil exports have been falling.
The latest US measures exclude any company that trades with Iran from doing business in the United States…
The US has made it clear it wants eventually to cut off Iran's oil trade entirely, but has allowed eight countries to maintain imports as a temporary concession to give them time to reduce imports. US allies such as Italy, India, Japan and South Korea are among the eight, the Associated Press reports…
In order to allow companies to trade with Iran and not face stiff US penalties, the EU plans to implement a payment mechanism - a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) - that will enable these companies to avoid the US financial system.
Like a bank, the SPV, would handle transactions between Iran and companies trading with it, avoiding direct payments into and out of Iran.
So when Iran exports oil to a country in the EU, the company from the receiving country would pay into the SPV.
Iran can then use the payment as credit to buy goods from other countries in the EU through the SPV…
The US had insisted on cutting exports to zero but that seems unlikely as it would increase the price of oil, says Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at Birmingham University.
In addition to the countries allowed to continue buying Iranian oil, the backing of China, Iran's largest trading partner, may also prove critical…
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Labels: economics, Iran, politics, sanctions
Brexit fears coming true
Pro-Brexit politicians deny that Britain's economy will be damaged by leaving the EU. Anti-Brexit pols will point to the closing of a Michelin factory in Scotland.
Michelin workers' shock at factory closure
Dundee Michelin factory workers have spoken of their shock after the company announced its intention to close the plant, with the loss of all 845 jobs.
The tyre factory will close by mid-2020 after the French firm deemed it "unsuitable" in the current climate…
Michelin Dundee manager John Reid said… "Clearly we have been operating in a very difficult market context for more than a year.
"We've had our volume cut three times this year.
"This year we actually produced the lowest volume we've ever produced in the factory, so it was clear that something fairly fundamental was happening."…
The union Unite has said the closure would be a "hammer-blow" to the city.
Michelin said the Dundee site, which opened in 1971 and specialised in smaller tyres, has suffered because of a shift in the market towards low-cost products from Asia.
The trade union representing many of the Dundee workers said it had not given up the fight to keep the factory open.
Unite's Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: "Unite has been aware of the challenging market situation facing the Michelin Group…
He added: "The workforce can be assured Unite will fight tooth and nail to save our factory, we will leave no stone unturned to keep this factory open.
"Unite will work day and night to ensure that all options remain on the table."
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Labels: Brexit, economy, politics, UK
Nigeria political history
Is Ernest Osogbue's analysis, published in
The Guardian (Abjua), believable? Why? Why not?
Why did he neglect to mention how many of the elected presidents were military "dictators" before being elected?
Military Hangover And The Nigerian Democracy
This year marked the 19th anniversary of civilian rule, albeit democracy in Nigeria. Never in the history of the country has there been such a long uninterrupted rule by ‘bloody civilians’ without the all-knowing Nigerian military stepping in to stem the negative drift.
First, it was in January 1966, when a group of Majors… ousted the civilian government… Then in July of the same year a counter coup, that ultimately led to the fratricidal Nigerian civil war which ended in 1970, with the then Head of State Yakubu Gowon declaring that there was no victor and no vanquished.
On July 30th 1975, Gowon was overthrown by members of his own government…
December 31st 1983 [another coup] swept away the Shehu Shagari administration and brought in Mohammadu Buhari… senior members of his government overthrew him on August 27th 1985…
Ibrahim Babangida emerged from this coup and remained in office until August 26th 1993…
General Sani Abacha… [took] over as Head of State on November 17th 1993…
A critical look at the above leadership sequence would yield the fact that since independence in 1960, military rule was pervasive in Nigeria until 1999. Nigeria was under colonial rule until 1960; by 1966 there was a coup. Military rule was briefly interrupted between 1979 and 1983. From 1984 to 1999 military rule was the order of the day.
While Nigerians have been screaming at the slow pace of political and economic development of the country, and have been making efforts to find reasons civilian rule or democracy has not yielded the expected results, one factor they have overlooked as being a challenge to democratic development is ‘military mentality’…
Democracy presupposes a civilian government based on procedures, where the constitution as the supreme law of the land holds sway at all times, with nobody being above the law and everyone equal before the law with the law being impartial.
A careful observer would notice that the average Nigerian has a tendency to behave in a military fashion; we are either rushing in a panic or urging those ahead to give way or be crushed. This shows in our everyday life of impatience characterized by such terms as ‘now now’, ‘quick quick’ and ‘sharp sharp’. A walk down a street in Abuja or Lagos, or indeed any major city in the country is a nightmare for anyone who has ever lived in a civilized environment. Driving on the roads is no better, as many drivers act like animals in the jungle jostling each other for space…
The command and obey structure of the military which brooks no arguments or alternative positions has pushed the average Nigerian into unconsciously accepting that following procedures is a sign of weakness and that might is right. In our daily lives it is manifest when citizens wantonly disobey traffic rules, disrespect each other, jump the queue, drive against traffic and blatantly offer and accept bribes in order to circumvent official procedures…
Other subtle manifestations of our military hangover include our attitudes in public places, when we shout at each other, leave our phones ringing at its loudest and shout while answering the call without caring about our neighbors. We shout at our children at home, shout at our husbands and shout at our wives. Our car horns are left blaring at the slightest opportunity with total disregard of the law against noise pollution.
Police arrest and detain citizens without bringing them to trial and they are left languishing in detention for months incommunicado. Even the military and all other mushroom organizations can now arrest and detain citizens without recourse to the laws of the land. How can democracy be deepened, how can the dividends of democracy reach the people when the people themselves are daily involved in the raping of democracy?
While leaders at various levels may be culpable in the institutionalization of military mentality in our democracy, it is pertinent to point out that the average citizen must take his own share of the blame…
As a matter of urgency, citizens must begin to imbibe decorum in their public activities, showing respect for one another and obeying the simple rules of society. On the part of our leaders, they must understand that it is in their best interest and the interest of our democracy to jettison all attitudes of governance carried over from military rule.
We must consciously make effort to wean ourselves of these attitudes. Democracy is a process that requires procedures to succeed, expecting immediate results is not a democratic norm, we must all therefore acquire the virtue of patience. Our democracy can only be deepened and the dividends accrue to all citizens, when attitudes and behaviors that tend to undermine democracy are done away with and condemned by all Nigerians.
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Labels: history, leadership, Nigeria, political culture
Democratic centralism
Supervision by whom? of whom?
Can you identify a "job" in another political system that is analogous to supervision in China?
Senior CPC official urges better supervision
A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official has called for better work from resident disciplinary supervisors.
Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, made the remarks at a televised work conference on supervision…
 |
| Zhao Leji |
It is a distinctive Chinese practice to have disciplinary supervisors stationed at various entities of public office, Zhao said.
Resident supervisors must enhance political supervision to ensure the Party organizations under their watch fulfill their political responsibilities of governance, Zhao said.
Supervisors should focus on leading officials and strengthen regular supervision as they have the advantage of being around, he added.
Zhao urged supervisors sent to central Party and state entities to do better work while pledging that more supervisors will be sent to centrally-administrated financial companies.
Oversight over centrally-administrated companies, Party chiefs and presidents of colleges and universities is also being strengthened, he said.
Zhao requires resident supervisors be honest and clean and asked them to always maintain political integrity.
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Labels: bureaucracy, China, political culture
Cultural Revolution language again
During the Cultural Revolution, there was a lot of talk about gender equity and the importance of women's roles. The language has reappeared.
BTW, do you know why so many of President Xi's official positions are mentioned in the official Communist newspaper?
Xi stresses upholding socialist path with Chinese characteristics for women's development
President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed upholding the socialist path with Chinese characteristics for women's development and mobilizing women to make achievements.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when meeting the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation.
Underlining the Party's leadership over the work of women's development, Xi said the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation should be the theme of the contemporary women's movement.
Efforts should be made to promote gender equality, enable women to play an active role in all sectors, and mobilize them to contribute to the reform, development and stability of the nation on the frontline, Xi said.
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Delay of "game"
The delay of an annual meeting of Chinese leaders might be due to the U.S. election schedule.
‘The biggest story in Chinese politics right now’ – silence over Communist Party’s autumn meeting
As China’s ruling Politburo wrapped up its October meeting on Wednesday, there was still no word on a key autumn meeting of the Communist Party, which according to party convention should be taking place soon…
Analysts said the likely delay of the Central Committee meeting – expected to focus on mid to long-term economic policies – might suggest a lack of consensus among the Chinese leadership over how to battle the growing headwinds facing the world’s second-largest economy.
The autumn plenum that comes a year after the party’s national congress is largely seen as the most important full meeting of the party’s roughly 400-strong political elite, who gather behind closed doors at least once a year…
Many people are watching its slowing economy, faltering stock markets and the dispiriting retreat of its beleaguered private sector. Their gloomy outlook is exacerbated by the prolonged trade war with the United States, which threatens to spill into all-out conflict in spheres ranging from technology to geopolitics to defence…
Beijing might also be waiting for the results of the US midterm elections and the meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires to make a better assessment, he added.
“The key factor that has led to the change of the situation China faces in the past year is the US factor,” [Chen Daoyin, a political observer in Shanghai] said. “It is hard for the Chinese leadership to make concrete responses given all the uncertainties at the moment.” …
He also said the Communist Party elites appeared yet to reach a consensus on the future course of the country, citing the sometimes conflicting messages from Xi’s recent tours of the northeastern rust belt and the liberal southern province of Guangdong…
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Boko Haram attacks more people
Despite the president's assertions, Boko Haram does not appear to be defeated.
Nigeria: 'Villages totally burned' in deadly Boko Haram attacks
At least 12 civilians have been killed in multiple Boko Haram attacks targeting two villages and a camp for those displaced by fighting in northeastern Nigeria…
Boko Haram fighters arrived in seven trucks late on Wednesday and attacked Bulaburin and Kofa villages, as well as a camp in Dalori village outside Maiduguri…
"The terrorists attacked and completely burned Bulaburin and Kofa villages and burnt half the Dalori 2 IDP (internally displaced persons) camp," Babakura Kolo, civilian militia leader, told AFP news agency.
The fighters invaded the camp after overrunning troops and the militia and "burnt half the camp" by setting fires and firing rocket-propelled grenades on buildings…
The area has been attacked multiple times before by the Boko Haram faction loyal to Abubakar Shekau.
Despite government insistence that Boko Haram are near defeat, northern Nigeria is still hit by heavy fighting.
Since the group launched its campaign in 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people and forced two million others to flee their homes in northeast Nigeria.
Over the years, the armed group - which wants to form a breakaway Islamic state - has kidnapped thousands of adults and children.
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Just The Facts! 2nd edition is a concise guide to concepts, terminology, and examples that will appear on May's exam.
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Labels: cleavages, Nigeria, terrorism
Just The Facts! 2nd edition is a concise guide to concepts, terminology, and examples that will appear on May's exam.
