The movement to expand the power of the state has picked up speed recently. The US has passed new security laws which allows for the indefinite detention of American citizens. Even though President Obama said he would not invoke those powers, we don’t rely on good will for the protection of rights–only laws are sufficient to prevent abuse. And Hungary has changed its constitution to centralize greater power to the state. Israel is considering legislation to reduce the autonomy of its Supreme Court. That this movement is picking up speed is troubling. That there seems to be little organized resistance to this movement is even more troubling.
Additional troubles emerge in Nigeria as protests against fuel price increases spread. Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of petroleum, but because it lacks refinery capabilities, it is forced to import refined products such as gasoline (the same is true for Iran). The fuel price increases are spreading all across the world as fears of a conflict in the Persian Gulf continue to fester. It is quite odd to see price increases in energy when all the economic data point to an economic slowdown–hardly a usual scenario.
World Politics News 
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