Conservatism is back on the rise in France. A West African nation considers its economic future. And a prominent black writer considers the legacy of former President Barack Obama. It's Fiery Tuesday, our news segment about political and societal news from around the world. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!
Everywhere one turns it seems conservatism is back on the rise. One such place: France, often viewed by many Americans as the epitome of European social democracy and the welfare state. But in fact France has a long history of political conservatism and the downfall of Hollande's government has provided an excellent opportunity for the country's Republican Party... that is if they can take on the far-right National Front.
Many have framed the recent election in the United States as a battle between the cities and the country. That may not be entirely accurate but there is some truth to it. And it also means cities may be where you see the most resistance to President Donald Trump's policies.
North America and Europe have both been highly industrialized for over a century now. But some parts of the world are still undergoing the transition from an agrarian economy to one based on manufacturing. One such country is Ghana.
The political divisions in America may seem severe but they could be worse. In Cameroon, differences between the French-speaking and English-speaking members of the Central African country have led to questions of whether it will end up splitting into two. You can read more about the story here.
For most of his political career, former President Barack Obama sought to bridge the gap between blacks and whites in America and to distance himself from divisive racial rhetoric. But as the first African-American to win the country's highest office, race dogged his administration from day one. Writing for The Atlantic, Ta-Nehisi Coates examines the complicated legacy of America's first black president.
Top image by ZSM