Editorial | Politics without Center - Argentina’s Government Ignores the Dissatisfaction of the Growing Middle Class | Vociferous Protest against the Old Elites - Bulgaria’s Young Middle Class Takes to the Street | A Constitution for all Tunisians - New Constitution Provides a Glimmer of Hope – Many Challenges Still Lie Ahead | Senegal, two Years into the Macky Sall Administration - Stability, Better Governance but Few Tangible Results | Hero or Traitor? Differing Perceptions on Edward Snowden, the NSA and Data Production in Germany and the USA
Show table of contentsProtests from the Middle Class
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Editorial
According to the World Bank, almost two billion people will be grouped into the middle class in 2030. Following an increase in numbers, now an agenda for structural change is required, because economic growth and income increases alone have not led to progress in democracy and rule of law in many places. Through our political consultancy work we want to support efforts to prevent a situation where we would be confronted with “growth without development” a few years down the line.
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Politics without Center
Argentina’s Government Ignores the Dissatisfaction of the Growing Middle Class
Fear of an economic crash like the one in 2001/2002 has become a constant companion for people in Argentina. At greatest risk are those who have most to lose: the Argentinians from the middle class with their hard-earned wealth. But so far, they have reacted with astonishing acquiescence regarding the stagnant economic development and rising inflation and crime rates. However, protests from the middle class are on the rise. Does President Cristina Kirchner get under pressure?
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Vociferous Protest against the Old Elites
Bulgaria’s Young Middle Class Takes to the Street
In Bulgaria, during the nearly 25 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the old communist elites have brought large parts of the state and the economy under their control. Elements of a well-functioning democracy such as quality journalism, legal certainty as well as policies committed to the welfare of the people are partly or totally absent. However, a civil societal protest movement from the Bulgarian middle class is emerging. They hope for support from Brussels to push for necessary reforms.
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A Constitution for all Tunisians
New Constitution Provides a Glimmer of Hope – Many Challenges Still Lie Ahead
On 26 January 2014, the Tunisian transitional parliament adopted the new constitution with an impressive majority. The international reaction to what has been achieved has been full of superlatives: “the most modern constitution in the Arab world” and “a model and example for the rest of the Arab world”. However, disappointment about the political class is increasing. What are the reforms the Tunisians are calling for and how do the political parties respond?
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Senegal, two Years into the Macky Sall Administration
Stability, Better Governance but Few Tangible Results
The peaceful transition of power from President Abdoulaye Wade to President Macky Sall in April 2012 raised high expectations among the people of Senegal. In his government program Sall set out five priorities: agricultural reforms, price reductions in basic foodstuffs, solving the energy crisis, settlement of the Casamance conflict and streamlining government institutions. But his main task is to restore the government’s legitimacy.
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Hero or Traitor?
Differing Perceptions on Edward Snowden, the NSA and Data Protection in Germany and the USA
After his escape to China and Russia, a majority of Americans turned against Edward Snowden. In Germany however, he is increasingly portrayed as a hero. Most Germans welcome state intervention in their daily lives to a much greater degree than Americans, but not when it comes to intelligence activities. But even in the US, some politicians are now also promoting the adoption of the Freedom Act which would curtail the powers of intelligence agencies.
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Protests from the Middle Class
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About this series
International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.
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Editor
Dr. Gerhard Wahlers
ISBN
0177-7521
Benjamin Gaul
Head of the Department International Reports and Communication
