China & the military in Africa Through the leadership school and past evidence, China-African relations have always moved beyond material investments. CPC has a past in training senior party cadres and political elites across the African continent with a party-to-party focus. China helped with military support for guerilla warfares against…

Power and influence — Goh states that influence has to do with one impacting the behavior of another actor’s preferences or behavior. Goh considers how influence can act as a preference multiplier — where preferences are already aligned, hence influence works to intensify the expected outcome. And the second kind…

Re-imagining the past — a shared destiny China established diplomatic relations with Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1961 and 1963 respectively. Due to Tanzania’s first President, Julius Nyerere's desire to reduce the country’s dependence on Western countries and in exploring socialism, China extended development aid to Tanzania in the 1970s, especially…

The Julius Nyerere Leadership School: The Julius Nyerere Leadership school, named after Tanzania’s first President and socialism advocate, was funded by the Chinese Government under the Communist Party of China (CPC) for $45 million.1 …

SUMMARY OF THE G7 PROCEEDINGS After watching the G7 leaders make their speeches on Sunday, these are some of the key points I picked up on. Firstly, the Build Back Better project unveiled at last year’s G7 has been relaunched/renamed as the Global infrastructure and Investment (PGII) in 2022. President…

*For some reason I can’t copy and paste with my links — but the actual paper is embedded with resources.* Article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-regulators-back-tougher-rules-to-prevent-criminals-from-using-crypto-11635413402 The Financial Action Task Force Bolsters Regulation for Cryptocurrencies The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that coordinates government policy on illicit finance, has released new…

Larry Lessig talks about this guy called Boss Tweed — He said Boss Tweed doesn't care who does the electing as long as he does the nominating. …

Cryptocurrencies — and ‘developing’ countries Like most crypto supporters tend to do — cryptocurrencies are painted as the currencies for all (and especially for developing/emerging markets). Of course, that's where we’re headed… right? Digital everything … I was curious, I mean his focus was on El Salvador, the word remittances…

In one of my courses — Technology Policy — my professor implores us to pursue two main exercises for class. One includes writing memos opposing the argument that the presenting group is in favor of. The other is in debating the presenters. I avidly participate (surprise!) Who doesn’t enjoy exercising…