Human Rights Archives - Foreign Policy In Focus

Why Kony 2012 Fails

by Matthew Kavanagh | Mar 20, 2012

From Twitter trending to the front page of The New York Times to public statements by the White House and the Pentagon, the Kony 2012 campaign has shown the power of social media to affect U.S. public debate. But it has also demonstrated the dangers posed by oversimplification in an age when policy is made in the 24-hour news cycle. This has proven especially so on issues concerning Africa where, lacking historical context, over-simplistic media framing can quickly take root and lead to problematic policy “solutions.”

Qadhafi Family’s Money Confiscated, Accounts Frozen

by Paul Mutter | Mar 20, 2012

Some African Union leaders now miss Qadhafi’s largesse as Libyan Investment Authority assets are being returned to the new Libyan government.

Swift Boat to Bahrain

by Paul Mutter | Mar 19, 2012

The real story out of Bahrain these days, though, is not the gift of some old PT boats, the vagaries of the dialogue between the pro-government camp and the predominantly Shia opposition groups.

U.S. Government Finally Catching up With MEK Boosters Like Ed Rendell

by Peter Certo | Mar 19, 2012

Why do human rights activists and lonesome Internet commentators suffer the wrath of the U.S. government while politicians are allowed to accept large sums to advocate for a terrorist group like MEK?

Honduras: When Engagement Becomes Complicity

by Laura Carlsen | Mar 15, 2012

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Honduras on March 6 with a double mission: to quell talk of drug legalization and reinforce the U.S.-sponsored drug war in Central America, and to bolster the presidency of Porfirio Lobo.

The Honduran government issued a statement that during the one-hour closed-door conversation between Biden and Lobo, the vice president “reiterated the U.S. commitment to intensify aid to the government and people of Honduras, and exalted the efforts undertaken and implemented over the past two years by President Lobo.”

Sanctifying the Killing of Muslims

by Russ Wellen | Mar 15, 2012

Before the first crusade, Christianity killing in war was but a necessary evil.

Review: Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere

by Anya Barry | Mar 14, 2012

It was not sheer coincidence, journalist Paul Mason explains in Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere: The New Global Revolutions, that drove people from places as varied as Egypt, Greece, Britain, New York City, and Wisconsin to stand up and speak out against injustice in 2011. Rather, a cascading international financial crisis brought the disconnect between governments and citizens into sharp relief, which ultimately resulted in a massive series of protests in all corners of the map.

“Please Do Not Pet the Islamists”

by Paul Mutter | Mar 14, 2012

U.S. fans of the IDF are hosted on tours of Israel by an Israeli “lawfare” group.

Alignment of Views on the Middle East a Little Too Serendipitous

by Carl Bloice | Mar 12, 2012

The Palestinian cause is being elbowed off the world stage.

Timing of Stop Kony Campaign Suspicious

by Steve Fake | Mar 12, 2012

As well as stopping Kony, the U.S. must acknowledge the violence unleashed upon civilians during Operation Lightening Thunder, the previous U.S.-Ugandan military alliance.