Inter-Research And Studies (IRAS)

Tenzin Rabgyal is a man with a democratic plan. The 31-year-old MA student of public administration, and volunteer campaigner for Lobsang Sangey's Kalon Tripa campaign, aims to found a new political party - the People's Party of Tibet (PPT) - in an attempt to create a two-party system in the arena of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Rabgyal hopes to help pave the way for a "smooth democracy" with transparent governance, an absence of nepotism and, most importantly, a raised awareness about democracy among all Tibetans. With its own candidates, the new party will stand in opposition to what is currently the only parliamentary political party in the Tibetan exile community - the almost two-decades-old National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT). The differences between the two parties are significant. The PPT proposes that its party committee names the members of the Kashag (Tibetan cabinet), as opposed to the current system whereby the Kalon Tripa (pr...

The Muslim Brotherhood has quietly spread its influence far beyond Egypt in its 84-year history, but Arab revolts have opened broad new political horizons the group hopes will reflect its founder's vision for the Arab and Islamic world. "There is no doubt that Hassan al-Banna believed in Islamic unity and not just Arab unity. But with such a vision we must consider reality and what is possible," said Mahmoud Ghozlan, a member of the Brotherhood's executive bureau. Interviewed at the group's new headquarters in Cairo, he called such unity a "long-term objective", but seemed alive to the possibilities thrown up by a ferment in which Islamists are driving mainstream politics across North Africa and beyond. "This region is in a period of deep-rooted change," the 64-year-old said. "Starting from Tunisia and ending with Syria, the nature of the region and alliances will change." The Brotherhood, banned and repressed under President Hosni Mu...