SIZWE NXEDLANA: Some comfort to be had in global turmoil
Global events provide perspective on our own political and economic condition
The past few years have been marked by significant political upheaval. In Greece, Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party returned to power in response to mounting anger over imposed austerity, and to manage a looming Grexit (Greek exit from the EU). The Grexit story is by no means over. Last year, there was a coup attempt in Turkey followed by a referendum, the result of which has enabled President Recep Erdogan to extend his powers. In Brazil, Dilma Rousseff was impeached amid corruption scandals, as was her South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye. Starving protesters in Venezuela riot daily as footage of President Nicolas Maduro dancing on stage is beamed across the country. In each case, except South Korea, the political turmoil comes against a backdrop of crippling economic contraction, soaring inflation and rising joblessness. Globally, the rise of populism was brought sharply into focus when the UK voted to leave the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May has since called for a snap election t...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.