In this edition of the Global Risk Bulletin, we look at historical parallels with the ongoing student protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict, provide an assessment of some of the key steps the new South African government will need to take to enact positive change to the country’s economic prospects, and evaluate how successful the Israeli Defense Forces have been in their stated goal of eliminating the Hamas militant group.
World news in brief
A roundup of key political violence developments globally. Read the article
Global
Campus crackdowns: Student groups take a stand
University protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict have gone global, but what can students hope to achieve? Some historical comparisons with major student movements of the past, including protests against the apartheid regime in South Africa, can shed some light on the likely outcomes. Read the article
Sub-Saharan Africa
Growing pains: Strengthening governance in South Africa’s maturing democracy
After initial progress in addressing socioeconomic challenges in a post-apartheid South Africa, over the past decade the government has overseen deteriorating conditions across almost all measures of economic development. While many factors are at play, the new government will need to fundamentally revamp mechanisms to improve accountability and strengthen institutions if it is to begin righting course. Read the article
Middle east and North Africa
Strategic hurdles: The challenges of Israel’s Gaza objectives
Seven months into the Israel Defense Forces’ campaign in the Gaza Strip, meeting its key strategic objective of destroying the Hamas militant group is proving a challenge. Crucially, the Israeli government has also not made clear how Palestinian governance will function once the military operation is over, likely leading to persisting instability and ongoing security challenges. Read the article
