The "localization" of humanitarian aid is a topic which has gained traction in the humanitarian world; a move towards humanitarian responses which are designed, managed and coordinated by local people and organizations. What this means is essentially a shift in power; something discussed at the Pathways to Power Symposium.   The word "localization" might be new or alien to some, but the concept certainly isn’t. The argument is that for humanitarian aid to be effective, efficient, and relevant, more decision-making power needs to shift away from institutional donors, United Nations agencies, and international NGOs, to local people and organisations. Something talked about...

Sunday 24 November 2019 was the presidential election runoff in my country, Romania. After exactly 30 years from the revolution against the communist regime, the "battle" was between a not-very-convincing Liberal candidate-President in office, and the former Prime Minister, a woman-leader of the Social Democrats, which bear the image of direct descendant of the Communist Party. This was the actual governing party for a big part of the last 30 years, when the state was captured by a very corrupt political class. It wasn’t the runoff we wanted, but we all know that big societal changes take generations to become effective. But...