Kameel Majdali's Road Ahead

It is not unusual for North Korea to be in the news. This highly-armed Stalinist state rattles the sabres from time to time. There are warnings, sanctions, negotiations, and then things go quiet. Yet the current crisis is different - and more dangerous - than anything we have seen before. It has been said, with reason, that the stand-off with North Korea is the biggest confrontation since US President John F. Kennedy faced off Nikita Krushchev of the Soviet Union in the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis. This was probably the largest and most dangerous incident in the entire Cold War. As a refresher, the Soviet Union placed nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba, which is only 140 kilometres off the US coast. This was simply too close for comfort. President Kennedy solemnly warned that if the missiles were not removed, America would invade Cuba. For 13 days the world held its breath. It was the closest thing we have seen of Armageddon in living memory. Being a rational player, t...

First, there was the UK ‘In or Out’ Referendum on European Union membership on June 23, 2016. Despite the support of business, media, major political parties, and the UK Prime Minister himself, the ‘Leave Campaign,’ popularly known as ‘BREXIT,’ prevailed. Immediately, the pound sterling dropped to a 30 year low, the stock market fell, and the global economy was shaken. On the other side of the world, Australia went to the polls on July 2nd in a ‘double-dissolution’ election. This means that all seats in the Australian parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate, were up for grabs. By all accounts, the fact that the election was on a knife’s edge for days afterwards, and the prospect of continued political instability, does not bode well for the ‘land down under.’ The ruling Liberal-National Coalition government, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, asked to be returned to power for a second term. Mr. Turnbull, who was not originally elected as PM, successful...

Australia is the envy of much of the world. Known for its high standard of living, relaxed lifestyle, plenty of warm beaches, and political stability, it is understandably a favoured haven for migrants from around the world. At the centre of this stability is the Australian Constitution of 1901, which has provided a healthy dose of ‘ checks and balances, ’ ‘ balance of power, ’ and an apolitical head of state. The results speak for itself: no civil wars, race riots, or outlandish scandals that have crippled the United States. In every way Australia is considered a ‘ model democracy. ’ Yet there is something very unsettling happening. On the evening of September 14th, 2015, Malcolm Turnbull successfully challenged sitting Prime Minister Tony Abbott, thus becoming Australia ’ s 29th PM. Take a step back: Australia has had 5 prime ministers in 5 years. Even Israel, with its raucous parliament, minority governments, and all-too-frequent elections, is starting to look like t...