Articles — Davis Political Review

The First & Only Nonpartisan Political Commentary Magazine at UC Davis: Covering Campus, State, National, & Global Politics.

A Grim Rebound: Coups in Sub-Saharan Africa Rise

A Grim Rebound: Coups in Sub-Saharan Africa Rise

Sudan was just weeks away from having its first civilian head of state since 1989 when the fledgling democracy was jolted by a military coup. This coup, the third in the nation's short 36-year history, is only one of four successful military coups that have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021, affecting over 90 million people across the region. Since 2019, the number of coups in sub-Saharan Africa, which had been declining since 2001, has doubled, relapsing back to the levels last seen in the 20th century.

Featured, GlobeAidan KatoDecember 30, 2021Sub-Saharan Africa, military coup, sudan, Mali, Guinea, Chad, Democracy, democratic backslidingComment

How Changing the African Narrative Can Change the Region

How Changing the African Narrative Can Change the Region

If I were to ask you what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Africa without any fear of social judgement, what would you say? The Lion King, poverty, coups, corruption, civil war, tribalism, zebras, and rhinos are all valid and understandable answers that most Westerners would respond with, including the writer of this article. Whether it be through mainstream media, disney movies, or controversial headlines, the West has looked at the African continent through a pitiful yet indifferent orientalist lens for centuries.

Featured, GlobeNour TahaDecember 23, 2021Africa, perception, orientalism, Sudan, Tunisia, democracy, South Africa, activistsComment

A New Afghanistan: Countering the Saviorism Myth

A New Afghanistan: Countering the Saviorism Myth

During 2001-2021, many girls and women in Afghanistan relished the freedom of being able to pursue an education or earn their own wages. They no longer were required to be chaperoned by male relatives when leaving their home. Women also experienced greater representation in politics. In 2005, 68 out of 249 seats were reserved for female members in the lower house of parliament, and 23 out of 102 designated for women in the upper house.

Featured, GlobeSerena BroomeDecember 21, 2021afghanistan, women, women's rights, saviorism, afghan women, educationComment

Giving a Hand Up with a Hand Out: Part 2

Giving a Hand Up with a Hand Out: Part 2

The U.S. has one of the highest child poverty rates in the developed world, and children have the highest poverty rate among any age group in America. Our country is more than wealthy enough to resolve this issue — the continued existence of child poverty is a policy choice. How does a country that prides itself on its exceptionalism, reckon with the fact that so many of its youth sleep hungry or on the street?

Featured, NationMarcos LopezDecember 18, 2021child poverty, housing, health insurance, poverty, housing choice vouchers, medicaid, ACA, affordable care actComment

The Afghanistan Project: American Jingoism Gone Wrong

The Afghanistan Project: American Jingoism Gone Wrong

The American populace, fueled with rage and revenge following the attacks on September 11, 2001, and the George W. Bush Administration took that anger and radically shifted the geopolitical position of the United States. Initiating the War on Terror, Bush placed the blame for the attacks on the Taliban, a militant group which had taken control of Afghanistan only a few years earlier in 1996.

Featured, GlobeAndy EssaDecember 3, 2021Afghanistan, International Relations, international News, 9/11, Taliban, George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, Mujahideen, September 11, Afghanistan Papers, Afghan, NATO, EU, Andy EssaComment

The Supreme Court: Stage for a Culture War’s Climactic Fate

The Supreme Court: Stage for a Culture War’s Climactic Fate

On October 2nd, thousands of women marched in the streets of Washington D.C. and surrounded the Supreme Court, demanding that the justices uphold their right to an abortion. They shouted, “My body, my choice,” holding up signs of protest as they marched with fervor.

Nation, FeaturedJonathan SunkariNovember 18, 2021abortion, supreme court, reproductive rights, american politics, roe v wade, Roe v. Wade, Texas, pro life, pro choiceComment

Periods: Poverty and Proposals Around the World

Periods: Poverty and Proposals Around the World

Years ago, when Rachel Krengel and her family went into debt, Krengel said that menstrual products became “the first thing under the bus.” Krengel was forced to ration her menstrual products and would regularly use sanitary pads for close to a full day, instead of the recommended three to four hours—not only was this a health risk, but Krengel’s everyday functioning was disrupted by this. In fact, Krengel would have to sacrifice menstrual products to put food on the table instead.

Globe, FeaturedElizabeth ChoNovember 12, 2021period poverty, menstrual health, reproductive rights, women's healthComment

Military Turmoil in Myanmar: A Resurfaced Crisis

Military Turmoil in Myanmar: A Resurfaced Crisis

On February 1st, military tanks began rolling into the capital city of Myanmar, Naypyitaw, and two other large cities, Yangon and Mandalay, effectively blocking roads. In an early morning raid the same day, the military (known as Tatmadaw), detained the democrat civilian leader Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the government. The military had successfully carried out a coup d'etat and officially seized control of Myanmar.

Featured, GlobePriyal ThakralSeptember 28, 2021myanmar, military coup, burmese, myanmar election, election fraudComment

Voting is Sacred: The Fight for Democracy in Myanmar

Voting is Sacred: The Fight for Democracy in Myanmar

In the Nov. 8, 2020 parliamentary election in Myanmar, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 out of 476 seats. The Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP)—a proxy for the Burmese military—lost to the NLD by claiming only 33 seats. The USDP contested the results, appealing to the Union Election Commission. The commission dismissed the allegation of voter fraud due to a lack of evidence.

Featured, GlobeSerena BroomeSeptember 23, 2021Myanmar, election, military coup, National League for Democracy, USDP, RohingyaComment

Politics: A Money Game

Politics: A Money Game

American politicians are often humorously characterized in pop culture as disgustingly rich, self-serving, and entirely uncaring of the people they govern. They might be depicted smoking cigars, scheming, and cutting ruthless deals with other slimy characters to secure a big stack of cash. But how much of this caricature is fiction?

Featured, NationSadia SadiqSeptember 21, 2021lobbying, political bribery, politicians, corruption, Citizens UnitedComment

Giving a hand up with a handout: Policies to Eliminate Child Poverty

Giving a hand up with a handout: Policies to Eliminate Child Poverty

Nearly eleven million kids live in poverty in the U.S., or 1 out of 7 children. In the land of opportunity, many are denied resources equal to that of their own peers. With millions of children falling behind due to lack of food, stable housing, and healthcare, there is ample work to be done. Current assistance for low-income children and their parents is a patchwork of niche programs, temporary assistance, needless requirements, and bureaucratic burdens. To fix these broken aspects, assistance to the poor should embrace the goal of ensuring each child receives, at a minimum, adequate nutrition, housing, and healthcare.

Nation, FeaturedMarcos LopezSeptember 16, 2021child poverty, united states, poverty, policies, family security act, snap program, cash for kids, child tax creditComment

Running the Government and Living on Food Stamps: The Life of a Congressional Staffer

Running the Government and Living on Food Stamps: The Life of a Congressional Staffer

Congressional staffers are perhaps the most overworked and underpaid individuals on Capitol Hill. These finely dressed, experienced and educated individuals are the engine that keeps the federal government running. Yet murmurs of living off of food stamps and being unable to afford dry-cleaning can be heard echoing throughout the offices of our nation’s representatives.

Featured, NationMaya ClarkSeptember 13, 2021congress, congressional staff, united states, salary, pay raise, equal pay, diversityComment

Rainbow Flags and a European Crossroads

Rainbow Flags and a European Crossroads

The rainbow flags that filled Munich’s Allianz Arena during the European Championships soccer game between Germany and Hungary on June 23, 2021, signaled the approach of a new storm cloud over the European Union. A week prior, Hungary’s pseudo-autocratic ruling party Fidesz and its prime minister, Viktor Orban, passed a law banning the depiction of LGBTQ content in schools or for anyone under 18 years old. The justification given was typical for the Hungarian government, which sees itself as a bulwark against anti-Christian forces within Europe

Featured, GlobeMichael WheelerSeptember 9, 2021lgbtq, lgbtq rights, europe, munich, european championships, Hungary LGBTQ+, Hungary, European UnionComment

Israeli-Palestinian developments: An unprecedented turning point

Israeli-Palestinian developments: An unprecedented turning point

Devastating flare-ups between Israel and Palestine have become commonplace news that we seem to routinely observe in a seemingly never ending cycle. However, the tragic recent war between the Israeli government and Hamas, the fundamentalist militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, has already brought drastic new developments and may very well lead to the political and social changes necessary to promote a long term path for peace and a better life for the civilians involved.

GlobeNour TahaSeptember 7, 2021israeli palestine, israel, gaza, hamas, netenyahu, biden, ASUCDComment

The Role of University of California in Access to Medicines

The Role of University of California in Access to Medicines

While there has been increasing awareness more than ever about unethical Big Pharma, many people are unaware about the role of universities in the drug delivery pipeline. They are crucial in the discovery process and are often the root of unfair licensing and patenting practices. A study conducted to assess the contribution universities have to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies showed that of the 252 drugs approved by the FDA between 1998 and 2007, 24% of the drugs were discovered at a university.

State, FeaturedAkshitha MamidiSeptember 2, 2021vaccine, covid-19, COVID, university of california, UC, big pharma, scienceComment

The Sum of all Fears: Russian Expansion and its Geopolitical Ramifications

The Sum of all Fears: Russian Expansion and its Geopolitical Ramifications

The world is at a precipice of a new Cold War embroiling the Russian Federation with the United States of America. Since its inception after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian bear has clawed its way through Ukraine and Georgia, and has thrown itself into conflicts in the Middle East and diplomatic spats with Europe. As during the Cold War, the Russians are labeled as a direct threat to US strategic interests, a label which has not been printed since 1991.

Featured, GlobeAndy EssaAugust 30, 2021Russia, US-Russia relations, globe, expansion, Biden, Putin, Andy EssaComment

Comfort Women: A WWII Story Almost Forgotten

Comfort Women: A WWII Story Almost Forgotten

For decades, tensions between Japan and South Korea have continued to rise. Despite other countries, including the United States, urging the two to reconcile, efforts to fully resolve the conflict have failed thus far. The countries have had countless disputes with each other, legal, economic, and security related. Many people, including most Japanese civilians, are unaware of the true cause of this rocky relationship. However, this cause can be traced back to Japan’s history of abuse, denials, censorship and lack of accountability.

Globe, FeaturedElizabeth ChoAugust 25, 2021Global, comfort women, world war II, world war 2, asiaComment

Lebanon’s political reality: Beacon of hope or endless darkness?

Lebanon’s political reality: Beacon of hope or endless darkness?

After staggering economic decline, increasing political instability, a massive blast at the port of Beirut that claimed over 200 Lebanese lives, and the displacement of nearly 300,000 others, the Lebanese state seems to be on the verge of total collapse. While the political elite and powerful political parties fight to maintain their grip on power as well as the status quo, ongoing protests and continued youth mobilization work to fight against the country’s dire situation.

Globe, FeaturedNour TahaAugust 12, 2021Lebanon, Beirut, Blast, International News, Political, PoliticsComment

The Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Food Deserts in Native American Communities

The Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Food Deserts in Native American Communities

Recently while driving across the barren plains from California to Oklahoma, I was reminded of how vast America is. It is easy to forget this when you are a California resident accustomed to the hustle and bustle of urban life. While nearly 39.1 percent of the population of America huddles along the coasts, millions of people live in rural areas across the United States. Along Interstate 40, there are long stretches where no towns or gas stations can be seen for miles.

NationGwyn RedemannJune 5, 2021Comment

NIL Policy and the Future of College Sports

NIL Policy and the Future of College Sports

Change is coming to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and it’s coming soon. For too long, the NCAA has operated under a restrictive model of amateurism for its student-athletes. Under this model, the only compensation that a student-athlete can receive is an athletic scholarship, in addition to secondary aid such as tutoring, medical services, or equipment. But when student-athletes fill out their clearance forms prior to the start of every new school year, they sign away something crucial: control over their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

NationMichael WheelerJune 1, 2021Comment