Western blocs are once again a fashionable target. This is the case for the EU which, across America and Europe itself, has been increasingly criticised, and even vilified, as faulty. Economic growth has been underwhelming (S8),  a problem overshadowed by red tape, which consistently drags bureaucracy (S9).  In a time of geopolitical volatility (S20) , the failure of urgent collective decision making is a modern Achilles heel. The implied alternative, often hinted and sometim

Keir Starmer’s election looked to be the beginning of a new era of British politics – an end to 14 years of conservative incompetency and the horrors of austerity.  Over the past 18 months, progress has felt slow, with many voters left dissatisfied . As a result, Starmer and his cabinet have seen much – mostly valid – scrutiny. There are, however, areas in which Starmer has excelled, a major for me being his leadership on the international stage. Starmer’s pragmatic approach

In 2013, the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed , killing more than 1,100 workers and injuring thousands more. The building housed suppliers producing clothes for global fashion brands, including many selling into European markets. Despite visible cracks the day before the disaster, workers were ordered back to work. Rana Plaza became a symbol of the gulf between glossy corporate codes of conduct, and the dangerous reality faced by workers in global supply cha

Africa’s largest economy, South Africa, has seen little growth over the last decade, expanding by less than 1% annually. Yet recent figures suggest a change may be imminent.    Since the formation of the ‘Government of National Unity’ coalition government in 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa has been taking action to spur economic growth. Central to his plan is Operation Vulindlela – isiZulu for ‘clear the path’ – which has aimed to tackle issues including power, transport, wat