Jenna Spinelle articles

Jenna Spinelle writes for Democracy Chronicles from Pennsylvania. She is a writer, journalism instructor, and host of the Democracy Works podcast, produced by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State.

Podcast: E.J. Dionne on Making America Empathetic Again

By Jenna Spinelle - April 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

E.J. Dionne has the unique perspective of studying the horse race and the big picture of American politics. I talked with him about the relationship between partisan politics and democracy.

Podcast: The Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights

By Jenna Spinelle - April 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

Joyce Ladner was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi in the 1950s and

Podcast: Immigration, refugees, and the politics of displacement

By Jenna Spinelle - April 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

From Brexit to Hungary to the U.S. border wall, many of today’s political conflicts center around immigration.

Democracy in Africa: Towards a League of Free African States (LOFAS)

By Ngah Gabriel

Renewed aspirations for democracy in Africa could more effectively be promoted by a joint leadership of free African States than by external conditionality. Africa’s salvation must come from within Africa.

The Cycle of Life

By Julio César Guerrero

Last week we confronted a crisis situation in the shelter where I work as social work supervisor. The center offers refuge to undocumented youth waiting for their asylum application to be resolved.

What’s Wrong With Us And Right In New Zealand?

By Jack Jones

The problem we have today is we’re living in the Wild West. Some of our citizens have a fetish with semi-automatic weapons and other military weapons, the same that have been used in school shootings.

Trump’s Attacks On Ilhan Omar Are America’s Latest Low Point

By M D Mitchell

Roosevelt warned us, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself,” because fear leads to poor choices. When a president can vilify an elected representative who happens to be a woman and a muslim, we have given into fear.

After Netanyahu’s Reelection, We Still Need Real World Leaders

By Jack Jones

Like President Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu is the typical right wing leader. He pretends to be a man of peace, while willing to bring the world to the boiling point for his political gain.

Takeaways from the American Ambassador’s Cameroon Visit

By Bernard Ngalim

The ambassador’s declarations demonstrate the US seems to have a good understanding of the Ambazoninan conflict. It is compelling to note that the attempt to sell the revolution as a “terrorist” movement did not gain traction.

Reflections On The Revolutions In Algeria And Sudan

By Farai Chirimumimba

The old men who dominate so many of these countries suddenly look their age, and the distance between the rulers and the vast majorities of their populations born 40 or 50 or 60 years after them has never been greater.

DC Author Benny Tai Found Guilty Over HK Protests

By Adrian Tawfik

If we were to be guilty, we will be guilty for daring to share hope at this difficult time in Hong Kong. I am not afraid or ashamed of going to prison. If this is the cup I must take, I will drink with no regret.

Ever-Escalating Political Polarization in Zimbabwe

By Farai Chirimumimba

We’ve been trapped in a cycle of ever-escalating political polarization in Zimbabwe. As measured by consistent partisan positioning among voters, the split in the Zimbabwe’s electorate has reached the apex. But this is about to end.

Sudanese Political Cartoonist Seeks Lasting Change with Iconic Images

After the Sudanese military ousted al-Bashir as president and seized control of the country, protesters continue to demand representation and civilian rule.

43 Disappeared Mexican Students Remembered in Ai Weiwei Exhibit

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s interest in studying human rights around world led to meeting with relatives of 43 students who disappeared in Mexico in 2014.

Yemeni Artist’s Murals Depict Costs of War

A Yemeni graffiti artist is taking her art to the streets of Sanaa to draw images of war and hunger in the conflict-torn country.

Stars From Susan Sarandon To Ben Affleck Donate To 2020 Dems

Stars from Ben Affleck and Susan Sarandon to Anna Wintour and Willie Nelson, celebrities lined up to donate to their favorite Dem presidential candidates.

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