New Social Compact
Meritocracy: Merit, myth or paradox?
British sociologist Michael Young coined the term "meritocracy" in 1958, describing it as the “oligarchy of the future." He used the term as a...
Numeracy is non-negotiable for Africa’s future
Basic mathematics is the quiet engine behind everyday life and opportunity. We might not realise it, but it’s a vital skill needed to participate...
Redefining Empowerment: A Critical Look at Microcredit and Women’s Economic Agency
Introduction
In 1974, Muhammad Yunus began experimenting with an initiative to give small loans to impoverished rural women to foster a sense of empowerment through...
Public Logic Matters: Why Dissent Keeps States Healthy
In several corners of the world lately, the health of democracy within nations is being severely eroded, and the oxygen of civil liberty is...
Is Europe Still a Sustainability Leader? What the New SDG Report Reveals
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released its 2026 Europe Sustainable Development Report this week with a message that should alarm policymakers: Europe's sustainability...
When Democracies Fracture: How Domestic Chaos is Reshaping Global Security
Across the globe, democracy is in decline. Key democratic characteristics (citizen participation, representative accountability and informational transparency) are in deepening crisis. These cleavages, from...
Youth-Led Action in Conflict: Case Studies from Nepal and Iran
Introduction
Protests have long served as a significant tool for socio-political change, from the suffrage movements of the early 20th century to the Black Lives...
Bandwagon Effect: Systemic Barriers to Global Governance and SDGs 16
Development agendas borrow a term common in the study of global governance that is shaped not only by policy, but also by the decision-making...
The Age of Water Bankruptcy – Victims, Perpetrators and Processes
Introduction
A recent report from the UN Institute for Water, Environment and Health announced we have entered an age of ‘water bankruptcy’. The language of...
Embedded Journalism in Modern Wars: Access vs Objectivity
In modern warfare, the information is spread nearly as quickly as the missiles. Information on war zones is relayed to the world as it...