South Africans spent the weekend digesting the outcome of the country’s national and provincial elections. The African National Congress won just over 57% of the national vote. But it came with a caveat. This is the third consecutive election the party has suffered a decline in electoral support. Christopher Isike unpacks the reasons for this, comparing its shrinking support with other once hegemonic parties that have failed to stand the test of time.
Madagascar is one of the world’s most special natural environments. But deforestation, illegal hunting and the international pet trade have pushed many plants and animals to the brink of extinction. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo lays out five actions that President Andry Rajoelina has to take to save some of the island’s unique species. “
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa cheers during the results announcement ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa.
EPA-EFE/Yeshiel Panchia
Christopher Isike, University of Pretoria
Why do once mighty political parties sometimes collapse? Two reasons that have driven some into obscurity are corruption and conflicts within the party. The ANC suffers from both.
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Sunset at Madagascar’s avenue of the baobabs in Morondavo.
Chr. Offenberg/Shutterstock
Sarobidy Rakotonarivo, University of Stirling
President Rajoelina's five-year term, starting in 2019, may be the last chance to avoid habitats and species from going extinct.
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Politics + Society
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Oludayo Tade, University of Ibadan
In some Nigerian universities, wealthy female students engage in trasnactional sex for pleasure, while those that needed financial support did it for the money.
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Kayla Renée Wheeler, Grand Valley State University
Hijab-wearing model Halima Aden will be featured in Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit edition. Here's why her success needs to be viewed in context of a long history of black Muslim women's fashions.
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Energy + Environment
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Nick Fitzgerald, University of Tasmania
This small herb hadn't been seen on Macquarie Island since it was first recorded in 1983, despite several searches over the next 30 years.
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Philip McGowan, Newcastle University; Friederike Bolam, Newcastle University; Louise Mair, Newcastle University
Biodiversity is in crisis. Nowhere is this more serious than among the wild species which our livestock and crops descend from.
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En français
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Thomas Hofnung, The Conversation
Avant le vote du 26 mai, The Conversation France publie une série d'articles pour analyser les défis, les changements, les ruptures et les espoirs qui accompagnent l'aventure européenne.
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François Foret, Université Libre de Bruxelles; Emilie Mondo
Si la référence religieuse ne fait plus l’élection, elle devient un marqueur symbolique pour exprimer une identité, une mémoire ou des valeurs.
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