VIRGINIA POLICY REVIEW
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet The Staff
  • The Third Rail
  • Academical
    • Archived Podcast Episodes
  • Journal Submissions
  • Journal Issues

The Third Rail

An Online Publication of the Virginia Policy Review

The Highlight of Black History Month Everyone Should Embrace

3/20/2019

0 Comments

 
​The highlight of Black History Month took place when former President Barack Obama, along with basketball star Steph Curry, took center stage in Oakland, California to address issues facing young men of color. Obama and Curry were not there to talk about how to change federal policy. Instead, they discussed tangible ways in which young black men can facilitate stronger and safer communities.

The town hall event, sponsored by Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative,” stressed the values of community mentorship and personal responsibility. The topics raised were wide-ranging. Among them were ways to support young men without fathers, how to reject toxic masculinity, and the importance of embracing monogamy.

Obama spoke candidly about how communities need to raise the level of expectation for how young black men should act. Emphasizing that “real” men do not show their manhood by disrespecting others, or by putting women down, he tried to counteract some of the pernicious elements of culture that are found in some black communities. It was a timely reminder that a strong moral compass makes a difference in life.

He also talked about the value of education. Sitting next to one of the NBA’s greatest players, he told young men they had a better chance of being a lawyer or a doctor than a professional basketball player. In my mind, these nuggets of wisdom Obama imparted were not controversial. But unsurprisingly, some people were upset with him for raising these issues.

Read More
0 Comments

Another stolen election? Growing corruption and electoral malpractice are weakening faith in democracy.

3/6/2019

0 Comments

 
​Corruption is everywhere. According to Transparency International's 2018 Corruption Perception Index report, about two-thirds of countries in the world have very high levels of corruption. Democratic elections are supposed to be a means of granting citizens the voice to penalize corrupt leaders that are benefiting at the expense of the electorate. However, from my experience in my home country, Zimbabwe, and the results in many other developing countries, elections are frequently failing to hold leaders accountable. Elections strengthen dictatorial rule and further corruption by the ruling party under the guise of legitimized support by the voters. The failure to control corruption and lack of transparent administration of elections are a growing threat to democracy.
 
Allegations of election fraud are a common feature of the electoral cycle for most African elections. International observers swarm a country in an attempt to ensure that the incumbent government administers free and fair elections. However, this monitoring does not seem to be a significant deterrent for election fraud given how frequently opposition leaders call elections into question.  Just this past month, the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria were initially postponed, raising concerns of corruption and rigging.
 
Election fraud manifests itself across the world in different ways. Several African leaders in power have been accused of employing some of the following tactics to maintain power:
  • Turnout and vote buying: paying people to show up to the polls and to cast ballots in a candidate's favor.
  • Ballot rigging: tampering with voting machines, ballot papers, and/or ballot boxes.
  • Inaccurate result announcement: blatantly choosing to misrepresent the number of votes.
  • Coercion: using violence to intimidate voters into participating or avoiding the polls.
Vote and turnout buying tactics are particularly effective in areas with vulnerable poor populations as people get swayed easily through the provision of income or goods that can sustain their livelihoods. The negative involvement of the media through pro-ruling party propaganda, the use of violence, and the abuse of the courts are some key features of the most recent contested elections.

Read More
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Domestic
    Economics
    Education
    Electoral Politics
    Environment
    Gun Rights
    Health
    International
    Justice
    Law
    Politics
    Social
    Urban

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

ADDRESS

Virginia Policy Review
235 McCormick Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22904

EMAIL

​[email protected]

INSTAGRAM

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet The Staff
  • The Third Rail
  • Academical
    • Archived Podcast Episodes
  • Journal Submissions
  • Journal Issues