#regional politics

[thoughtlessarse]

This week marks one year since Israel’s brutal genocide in Gaza began, following the events of October 7, which changed the entire landscape of the Middle East. Gaza is devastated, with more than 43,000 Palestinians killed and millions displaced, a population decimated by disease and hunger, and hospitals and schools turned to rubble. Throughout this year, Israel has continued its attacks in the West Bank and rocket fire on southern Lebanon. In recent weeks, Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu expanded his offensive against Hezbollah, killing its top leaders, followed by a ground incursion into Lebanon and heavy bombardment of Beirut for the first time since 2006. The massacres committed by Israel, with the open support of the United States and the complicity of the European Union, have generated an enormous movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people throughout the world, especially in the imperialist states, such as has not been seen in decades. What is the current situation? Is an escalation towards a “total war” in the Middle East inevitable? What role does the United States play in the midst of the electoral campaign for the White House? What is the role of Iran and the so-called “axis of resistance” in the region? What are the strategic strengths and weaknesses of the Zionist state? We discussed all this with Claudia Cinatti, editor of the International section of La Izquierda Diario and leader of the Party of Socialist Workers (PTS) in Argentina. Are we already seeing a large-scale regional war in the Middle East? What are the open fronts? In a sense, the war in Gaza — and more generally the Palestinian cause and Israeli colonial oppression — has always had a regional dimension. In fact, since Israel began the bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah began launching missiles at the northern part of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian population; it signaled that the end of these attacks were contingent on the Netanyahu government signing a ceasefire in Gaza. What has changed in recent weeks is both the magnitude of the attacks and the possibility that this escalation by the State of Israel against Iran’s allies — notably the elimination of the Hezbollah leadership — could lead to a state war, a direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran. This could mean drawing the United States, which has already reinforced its military presence in the area in defense of the State of Israel, further into open conflict. As Netanyahu said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Israel has seven open fronts: Gaza, the West Bank, Hezbollah (and more generally Lebanon), the Houthis in Yemen, pro-Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq, and now Iran. From a military point of view, Israel has achieved a series of tactical successes. It has decimated the Hezbollah leadership, weakened Hamas, and repaired the badly damaged image of its intelligence. But, as we know, tactical successes do not always lead to strategic victory — and that is the big issue, because these advances do not solve Israel’s strategic problem, which is not just a military one.

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[touchaheartnews]

Iran Urges Muslim Unity to Confront Israeli Actions in Gaza

In recent developments, Iran has strongly urged the Muslim world to unite in opposition to what it describes as Israeli “crimes” in Gaza. This call for solidarity comes amid escalating tensions and violence in the region, which has prompted a wave of international reactions and condemnations. The Iranian government, through various channels, has emphasized the need for a collective Muslim…

[freepressjournals]

Unraveling Electoral Bonds: The Nexus of Money and Power in Regional Politics

In the intricate web of regional politics, money often follows power, or at least the promise of it. Electoral bonds, a contentious topic in India’s political landscape, offer a glimpse into this dynamic relationship, particularly for regional parties.

Tracing the Trends:

Recent data published by the Election Commission sheds light on the flow of electoral bonds from April 2019 to January 2024. It reveals a significant correlation between a party’s position in government and the influx of funds via electoral bonds, as well as their alliances.

Regional Powerhouses:

Delving into specific cases, the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) of Telangana, ruling for a decade before losing power, witnessed a surge in electoral bond redemption just ahead of crucial elections. Similarly, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Andhra Pradesh saw a notable increase in funds amid talks of potential alliances.

The Andhra Pradesh Dynamics:

The contrasting fortunes of Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the TDP underscore the impact of electoral bonds on electoral outcomes. While the YSRCP reaped significant gains following its 2019 victory, the TDP’s funding surged amidst political realignments.

Maharashtra’s Political Chessboard:

The political maneuvers in Maharashtra, epitomized by the Shiv Sena’s trajectory, offer a nuanced perspective. From its alignment shifts to its electoral bond redemption patterns, the Shiv Sena’s journey mirrors the interplay of power dynamics and financial resources.

Bihar’s Political Landscape:

The fluctuating fortunes of parties like the RJD and JD(U) in Bihar, influenced by their coalition affiliations and leadership changes, highlight the pivotal role of electoral bonds in shaping electoral strategies.

Regional Power Shifts:

From Tamil Nadu to Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh to Punjab, electoral bond trends reflect the ever-evolving political landscape. Parties like the DMK and AAP experienced surges in funding coinciding with electoral victories, signaling the intertwined nature of money and power in regional politics.

Conclusion:

The saga of electoral bonds unveils a complex narrative of political finance, where financial resources intertwine with electoral fortunes. As regional parties navigate the maze of alliances and power dynamics, electoral bonds emerge as a critical tool shaping the contours of Indian democracy.

Intrigued by the interplay of money and power in regional politics? Dive into our analysis for a deeper understanding of this fascinating phenomenon.

[junotter]

Part 2 of my modern avatar au, The Gaang (part 1)

[heritageposts]

Podcast w/Rania Khalek and Nima Shirazi, link + transcript above ↑

[anyahita]

Middle Eastern kids deserve to wake up to the sounds of birds chirping, not bombs and airstrikes

Middle Eastern kids should be carrying books and flowers, not the dead bodies of their loved ones

Middle Eastern kids deserve to run the streets in joy and laughter, not run away from bombs

[percypaints]

For those who lived on to remember, and those who cannot.

Hong Kong Miku.

I was originally going to make something more... palatable? I guess? But my partner encouraged me to do one themed on the protest back in 2019. The dust has settled, and it looks like everything is painted over, but I still miss my home. So, see this as a sort of tribute to the people who fought for my home, and a tribute to all the freedom fighters in the world-- Palestine, Ukraine, Yemen, and all the others. I love you all.

[ayaahh00]

There’s something I need to say. If you’re a Western radical feminist who claims to care about women’s rights in the Middle East, you must understand the role your countries played in creating the very oppressive systems. The U.S. armed the mujahideens (an extremist group they aided and created) in Afghanistan during the Cold War when it was a socialist country, leading to the rise of the Taliban. In Iran, they backed the Shah and then helped the Islamic regime come to power. Meanwhile, America supported Saudi Arabia since its very existence, spread Wahhabism across the region, fueling religious extremism when many countries were once secular.

Western imperialism especially American invasions and destabilization of the region must be addressed. The U.S. played the biggest role in creating Israel in 1948, funding and arming them while the rest of the region was still reeling from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Then there’s the Iraq invasion which killed 1.5 million Iraqis and the countless Arab lives lost throughout the Arab spring. You can’t talk about women’s rights in the Middle East without this context. If you don’t educate yourself on the harm caused by your governments, you’re just perpetuating a white savior complex, which is damaging to the very people you claim to support.

[katabay]

sort of revisiting this scene, mostly just playing around with it while I figure out the visual vibe I want bad governance to have! this is more like an abridged version of the scene I ended up writing.

for some scene context, Felix was planning on red tagging Cesar as payback, since Cesar’s family was Felix’s political opponent in the elections, but Crasso convinced him not to do it (Crasso’s family was murdered by cops when he was a teenager. It’s a cycle, baby)

I don’t really like to attach too many Ancient Rome sources for these anymore because it’s not supposed to be a modern retelling (again, the naming conventions were inspired by the Iron Heart, but for fun I thought I’d lean into it more. really ham it up, especially since Ancient Rome has a “relationship” with the Philippines lmao), but we’re still in the fucking around stage so as a treat, I’ll mention that this particular thread was partially inspired by the theory that Crassus might have been involved in getting Sulla to back off harassing Caesar. ymmv on whether or not it’s likely, but for me it’s delicious drama to think about.

I’ve also introduced Seth into the plot because politics and business go hand in hand, like you can’t really do one without the other. This is Seth’s historical counterpart, btw!

Crassus, Catilina, and the Vestal Virgins, Ronald Syme

⭐ places I’m at! bsky / pixiv / pillowfort /cohost / cara.app / tip jar!

[pokemonlolitaproject]

As requested by a-gay-gremlin a coord inspired by Pokemon #680 Doublade

So in general I try not to get too political on this blog (I save save that for my main blog) but in light of recent events and how scared a lot of my fellow Americans and I are I wanted to remind you that I love you and will try to continue

[jazeswhbhaven]

inspired by @/wihellib's meme post with Beel-

I saw a tweet the other day that said the following: "my boyfriend always wants to smell my pussy when I haven't showered wtf lol I told him to do it after I've showered and he says it's not the same"

And these three came into mind immediately lmaoooo

Bael? Because he has the same philia as Beel and enjoys smelling sweaty areas. If you've just came home from the gym? Perfect.

Beel- No surprise, he could already smell you before you walked through the door

Asmo- So...you wanted to skip bath day? Coming home from the gym? Humid weather? Whatever it is he is literally trying to get you to sit on his face

[thoughtlessarse]

Somalia’s move to invite Egyptian troops on its soil is playing out in differences between Mogadishu and its federal states, in what could derail the country’s focus on security needs. On Wednesday, hundreds of people in Waajid, the second major town in Bakol region in South West State (SWS) of Somalia protested along the streets, carrying placards with such slogans as ‘doonimayno Masar’ (we don’t want Egypt) and ‘soo dhowoow Itoobiya’ (welcome Ethiopia). The protests derailed transportation between Baidoa, the South West capital and Mogadishu as authorities sought to calm the unusual protests. As a result, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre flew to Baidoa in the company of top aides including the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Abdullahi Mohamed Ali alias Sanbaloolshe. They went to convince the SWS leader Abdiaziz Laftagareen that the federal government has plans to deploy enough forces to guarantee the security of his State in the event that Ethiopia is replaced.

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[scltbvrns]

homogenising something that has always been inherently diverse will kill us all one day.

[artbyblastweave]

I feel like something I've seen the broad outline of- and I could very well be Making Up A Guy To Be Mad At Here, but this feels like at least the bones of something- is that you've got a culture online that goes in big on making jokes about killing conservatives, sexists, homophobes, transphobes and the like, but specifically in an American context, fundamentally people who're venting about their unaccepting parents or peers specifically, or allies trying to be supportive by cheerleading that sentiment. And then an ongoing genocide comes along where the (real or imagined) regressive gender politics of the population under target becomes part of the legitimizing mythology for the slaughter. And suddenly some people have some circles to square, which they square with wildly varying levels of grace and self-awareness

[bonesashesglass]

https://x.com/thecradlemedia/status/1837548818612494837?s=46&t=9u7dtsvl8XZD8A7j2V6ckA

Right now, Israel is dropping massive bombs on civilian areas in Lebanon 💔

Please, spread and share this news. US media will try to bury it, don’t let them. Make them feel our rage

[trainsinanime]

I just want to throw out a quick reminder to go vote next month. The EU parliament is not sexy and does not appear in the news as much as it should, but it is incredibly important. Many important fields of politics are decided there, like all internet regulation (GDPR for Privacy, DSA and DMA for regulating app stores, as just the two most important examples lately), product safety, energy policy, infrastructure funding and so on. A big example: The EU has outlawed the sale of new internal combustion vehicles from 2035.

Conservatives want to overturn that, and this election will be their chance to do so. The EU parliament is arguably the parliament that has the most influence over climate goals. We are seeing a scary rise tide of far-right politicians all throughout Europe that threaten any further progress and want to undo what has been done already. A strong EU parliament with a strong mandate and the right parties can be crucial.

Also note that the EU parliament does not have government and opposition sides, since the government (the commission) is appointed independently by the member states (which is not okay in my book, but that's a separate issue). It works with coalitions that change from issue to issue. What this means is that even tiny parties absolutely get a chance to participate in the political process. So votes for smaller parties are absolutely not wasted.

It seems boring and irrelevant most of the time, but the EU has a tremendous amount of power, and the EU parliament is how we control it. We should take advantage of that.