Democracy

Kenyan elections on Monday stir fears of ethnic violence

3 Mar 2013

Down in the valley there's a clue why. Sunshine gleams off the metal roofs of housing built for families displaced by ethnic violence that followed Kenya's general election five years ago. More...

A year after free election, grass-roots democracy in Wukan withers

2 Mar 2013

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the fair election in Wukan, a remote Guangdong fishing village known for its remarkable civil resistance that won "real democracy" in the form of a direct,...

Democracy needs time in Wukan village

26 Feb 2013

The people of the Guangdong fishing village of Wukan are at a crossroads. Almost a year after a landmark election that replaced corrupt officials with leaders of protests against illegal land...

'We're open to ideas' in fight for democracy

26 Feb 2013

The pan-democrats may reach a consensus on pursuing universal suffrage by the end of the year, but getting public backing will be key to its success, an academic involved in the process says. And...

'Unlikely radical' Gilbert Goh's call for protest resonates in sedate Singapore

16 Feb 2013

Gilbert Goh is an unlikely radical. But as anger swells over living costs and immigration in Singapore, the bespectacled 51-year-old unemployment counsellor is moving beyond the fringe of...

Opinion

Alex Lo

Church developers remain unbowed by government rules

George Chen

A house is not a home until it becomes affordable

Tom Holland

Signs of nightmare scenario in China's latest economic data

Wukan democracy leaves village divided

Some elected leaders of a Guangdong village renowned for its democratic elections say the village is not ready for the democracy its residents aggressively aspired to a year ago. Villagers in...

When China's collective vision meets America's individual voice

The governing systems of the world's two largest economies are in crisis. As the United States has been grappling with a fiscal cliff, China faces a social cliff. Without major reform, both will...

The limits of open government

A troubling outcome of the ongoing financial crisis has been a collapse of trust in democratic institutions and politicians. Can greater "transparency" - the new political mantra of civic...

Myanmar lacking in mutual trust

The reformist government of Myanmar has taken another significant step towards ensuring strong foundations for the country's young democracy.

Pan-democrats' focus on democracy has let down Hongkongers

I have now reached a point where I care far less about Hong Kong achieving universal suffrage than having to pay nearly half my income in rent. How can it possibly excite me to be able to vote for...

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Leung's gamble on livelihood issues

On reflection, what is most fascinating about Leung Chun-ying's first policy address is the way in which his thinking mirrors that of the Chinese Communist Party.