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A backward step on the Maldives’ road to democracy?
8th February 2012
In development economics one of the issues that can often be a barrier to a country’s development is political instability, and it looks like the Maldives will be my case study this year. Read on to find out why
The democratically-elected President Mohamed Nasheed (well, now ex-President) was apparently forced to resign ‘at gunpoint’ by police and army officers who staged a coup in the collection of islands that only managed to have their first multi-party elections in October 2008. The coup has led to Mr Nasheed’s vice-president being put in charge, but the former President has vowed to seek to return to office.
This story obviously highlights a number of issues that can be discussed in lessons, chief among them the impact of such events on the economy of the Maldives- one which is heavily dependant on tourism, an industry which could certainly do without such negative publicity.
This BBC News article discusses the story in much more detail and also includes a number of useful links to other pages, including the BBC’s country profile which provides some useful background information.