The China Labour Bulletin website provides maps displaying incidents of labour strikes that have occurred in recent years. While of course these should be viewed with a hefty grain of salt, they may be worth scrutinizing all the same. This image below shows the number of strikes in general that have occurred since 2011: asContinue reading “Labour Strikes in China”
Expect the Unexpected: 10 Reasons North Korea Could Soon Change Course
1. Russia’s economy is currently in disarray as a result of falling natural resource prices, slow economic growth in Europe, and its rivalry with the United States. Russia has been an ally of North Korea because it sees North Korea as a counterweight to the Chinese, Japanese, and US-backed South Koreans, the other powers inContinue reading “Expect the Unexpected: 10 Reasons North Korea Could Soon Change Course”
The Provincials — Image of the Day
The graph above shows the size of countries’ largest provinces or states in relation to their overall populations. So California, for example, is home to approximately 12 percent of the total population of the United States, whereas Ontario is home to 39 percent of Canada’s population and Punjab to 47 percent of Pakistan’s. The biggest standoutContinue reading “The Provincials — Image of the Day”
Eurozone Geopolitics (and the Future of “Czechia”)
Since 2001, when Greece adopted the Euro as its currency, seven countries have joined the Eurozone. Slovenia began using the Euro in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008, Slovakia in 2009, Estonia in 2011, Latvia in 2014, and Lithuania in 2015. These countries are small. Together, they are home to around 14.5 million people, justContinue reading “Eurozone Geopolitics (and the Future of “Czechia”)”
Satellite Geopolitics in Eastern Europe
During the past year, the primary focus of the US-Russian rivalry has centred around Iran. The United States put an end to Western sanctions against Iran, and also chose to keep American troops in Afghanistan who support, among others, many of the tens of millions of Afghans who are Shiite Muslims or who can speakContinue reading “Satellite Geopolitics in Eastern Europe”
Seniors Discount? Oil Prices and Old Rulers
Today’s low oil prices are probably not the result, even in part, of elderly men ruling over the world’s major energy-exporting nations. Still, it may be worth noting that the sons of Saudi Arabia’s modern founder, Abdulaziz bin Saud, are finally nearing the end of their long royal lifespans, while the leaders of energy-endowed countries like Iran,Continue reading “Seniors Discount? Oil Prices and Old Rulers”
US Legal Immigration — Image of the Day
With all the disgusting Trump talk on the issue of illegal immigration that has been going on, the other main source of American newcomers – legal immigrants – is sometimes overlooked. The maps above were made by Giorgio Cavaggion, using data from the Department of Homeland Security of immigrants who “became legal permanent residents during the fiscal yearContinue reading “US Legal Immigration — Image of the Day”
Capital Idea — Image of the Day
Countries have different way of ordering their own provinces and capital cities, and how they choose to do so may sometimes say a lot about what sort of politics they have. Where countries’ capital cities are concerned, there is usually something akin to one of the following four set-ups: The Argentine model: the country’s capital cityContinue reading “Capital Idea — Image of the Day”
Texas: The Real Swing State
There are, in a certain sense, three big political regions in the United States: the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Southwest. The Northeast has a temperate climate, excellent natural harbours along the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes, and a long border with Canada. The Southeast has a sub-tropical climate, less-than-excellent natural harbours (excepting New Orleans),Continue reading “Texas: The Real Swing State “
East Asian Trade – Image of the Day
From Finally Passing Gas: 10 Winners and Losers of the Panama Canal Expansion: A typical assumption has been that China and Japan will be the primary beneficiaries of the canal. China, after all, leads the world in importing commodities and exporting bulk goods, and Japan has accounted for 40% of the world’s LNG imports –Continue reading “East Asian Trade – Image of the Day”
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