The Editors
The Editors's Latest Posts
The Ethics of “Doing Politics” in the Aftermath of a Tragedy: Reflections on the Turkish Earthquake
On February 6, two earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude, respectively, shook Turkey and Syria. State agents and President Erdoğan’s supporters say that this is no time for politics. This essay argues that the circumstances in the lead up to the earthquake were already inherently political, and that the government is using calls for depoliticization to deflect criticism while politicizing the aftermath of the earthquake themselves.
Uncharted Territory: Navigating Africa’s Sovereign Debt Crisis with the Emergence of China as the Continent’s Largest Bilateral Creditor
The COVID-19 economic shock has highlighted the unprecedented amount of influence that China has in Africa, particularly as to issues of debt and development. This essay examines the impact of China’s growing role as the leading creditor for African states and suggests that this is not simply the case of one set of largely Western countries and multilateral institutions being replaced by another lender. Instead, the opacity surrounding Chinese sovereign lending in Africa has a direct negative effect on efforts to improve transparency in governance on the continent and often implicates debtor sovereignty in alarming ways that merits much greater attention.
Addressing Debt Crises, Healthcare Access, and the Pandemic
Most developing countries continue to wrestle with dramatic health and economic crises spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. Many countries were and still are ill-prepared to deal with the pandemic because of debt crises and unsustainable sovereign debt. This essay examines the impact of high sovereign debts on healthcare in developing countries.
Voice at the Point of Sovereign Default
Much has been written about the questionable legitimacy of extending credit to states where it is likely that the funds will benefit corrupt leaders, or where the terms of the debt are highly inequitable. We would like to focus on a different moment in the debt cycle: the point of default, and the loss of voice suffered by the Global South parties as they negotiate solutions.
Introduction: Emerging Issues in Sovereign Debt
Indebtedness has long played a role in the struggle of countries in the Global South to achieve economic and social development. The essays in this collection consider three emerging issues in the dilemma of sovereign debt.
Roundtable: Emerging Issues in Sovereign Debt
The editors of Ethics & International Affairs are pleased to present an online exclusive roundtable on emerging issues in sovereign debt. The collection examines China’s growing role as a creditor in Africa, the unlevel playing field for sovereign debt default negotiations, and the intersection of sovereign debt and COVID-19 pandemic responses in developing countries.
What We’ve Been Reading
Welcome to our roundup of news and current events related to ethics and international affairs! Here’s some of what we’ve been reading this past month.
How U.S. Gas Gives Options to Europe but Increases Pollution Back Home
Two different conversations are being held in Europe and the United States, sparked by the same conflict. The Russo-Ukrainian War, heading into its second year, has caused immeasurable damage and suffering in Ukraine, and it has given rise to debates over a variety of hotly contested ethical issues. One such debate concerns Europe’s long-term reliance on and trust of Russia’s natural resources.
