In 2020-2021, as part of our Civic Media Observatory research, Global Voices ran country-level Observatories focused on Bolivia, Brazil, Haiti, Venezuela, India, and Myanmar, with a major focus on elections and crises of legitimacy. For these projects, we assembled teams of local researchers with diverse language and analytics skills to identify and analyze emerging issues, narratives, and trends in each country's information ecosystem.
In each country, we focused on significant events in public life, and provided contextual and subtextual analysis to complex issues, to help partners, Global Voices contributors and readers understand the nuance and motivations for the narratives that frame public conversations.
Myanmar
We explored the crisis around the general elections in 2020, which provoked a coup and has resulted in a military dictatorship. We covered these events in three special coverage sections:
- Myanmar elections 2020
- The junta seizes Myanmar again. Will democracy prevail?
- Myanmar's Spring Revolution
Read the Myanmar analysis.
India
We did extensive work on COVID-19, especially natural health and spiritual cures such as Ayurvedic healing and hydroxychloroquine cures. We covered Hindu nationalism and anti-Muslim bias, the decline of democratic institutions, the Farmer's Protests, and regional elections in Assam in March-April, 2021.
Read the India analysis.
Bolivia
We focused on the public disinformation crisis surrounding false and potentially dangerous COVID-19 cures. We also did extensive research on the general elections in October 2020, with an emphasis on racist narratives against Indigenous communities.
Read the Bolivia analysis.
Brazil
We worked on conspiracy theories, populist and nationalist politics, COVID-19 controversies, especially the promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a cure and anti-China rhetoric.
Read the Brazil analysis.
Venezuela
We worked on December 2020 parliamentary elections, with an emphasis on the rhetoric coming out of expatriated Venezuelan communities and the influence of United States politics, and the humanitarian crisis surrounding Venezuelan refugees, combined with COVID-19 needs.
Read the Venezuela analysis.
Haiti
In Haiti, we focused on crime and impunity, on topics such as police brutality, gang rivalries, human rights restrictions and infringements, human trafficking. We also looked at gender-based violence and LGBTQ+ rights.
Visit the Civic Media Observatory main page.
Read the stories
Stories about Country monitor observatories 2020-2021
As legislative elections draw to a close, will the Congress Party reclaim Assam state from the BJP?
The Indian National Congress (INC) ruled Assam's legislative assembly from 1951 to 2016 when control switched to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Myanmar’s ‘civil disobedience movement’ has produced many inventive ways of protesting
Only three weeks have passed since the coup but protesters have already used various creative methods to express dissent.
Arrest of Indian climate activist Disha Ravi over protest ‘toolkit’ draws backlash
'Editing a Google Doc in support of farmers is an act of sedition in this country now,' a writer said.
‘You messed with the wrong generation’: Daily protests pose strong challenge to Myanmar coup
"Today the people of Myanmar are rising up against the military regime, demanding democracy. This is no longer a protest. It's an uprising."
Between commemoration and rage: Haitians confront a growth in fatal kidnappings
“The proliferation of armed men, the uncontrolled circulation of illegal firearms, and growing insecurity touch every aspect of life in Haiti"
Four ways Brazilians turned to social media to question racism and corruption
With millions of tweets, Brazilians have a mixed impact on politics but show fervor for transparency, equality and anti-racism.
In Haiti, homophobic movements use anti-colonial rhetoric against LGBTQI+ communities
Attempts to increase visibility of the LGBTQI+ community in Haiti are being stifled
WhatsApp is the new tool for Venezuelan feminists during the pandemic
Global Voices interviewed the leads of four projects that aim to help women facing violence during the pandemic.
BJP-led Assam state in India criticized for failed promises ahead of elections
The BJP was elected in the rural state in 2016 on promises to create jobs and clean up corruption. Four years on, the government faces shortcomings on both fronts.
How indigenous peoples resist COVID-19 in South America
"In this struggle for life, which dates back to our ancestor's memory, we will continue to demand the fulfillment of our rights."
Border row, trade turmoil and rising Chinese influence send Indo-Nepal ties to lowest ebbs
Nepal finds itself in the line of fire of the China-US trade war and the Indo-China border conflict.
In Bolivia, indigenous Aymara question Bolivia's Independence Day celebrations
"The independence of these countries where we Aymara live did not mean the liberation of the Aymara, but a change of 'master'."
Millions of Indian students sit university entrance exams after government disregards protests to postpone them
Students protested throughout the entire month of August, citing concerns with COVID-19 transmission and reduced transportation in quarantined zones.
Indian scientists pen letter against government slashing of environmental protections
The letter says the updates to the Environmental Impact Assessment norms will encourage projects with no prior clearance to commence operations and eventually get regularised by paying a fine.
Venezuelan government stigmatizes and blames returned migrants for COVID-19 spread
“If I could go back to Venezuela, I’d hug my family. But it’s a dangerous road back home, and it’s even more dangerous once we get there”.
Collusion accusations grow between Haitian government and organised crime groups
"[...] The gang leaders are seemingly free from persecution so long as they help keep the peace in the neighborhoods they control."
Islamophobic post on Facebook leads to deadly violence in Bangalore
India experiences another episode of real-life violence triggered by online hate speech.
Natives’ or ‘outsiders'? A mob attack in Meghalaya throws questions of belonging into sharp relief
The ethnic tensions of Meghalaya – and many more of India's north-eastern states – can be traced back to the 'outsider' narrative.
Pious, assertive, and ‘mother of all Bolivians': The political narrative of President Jeanine Áñez
The president went on costly helicopter rides to 'bless' cities during the pandemic, with passengers that included priests, evangelical pastors and legislators who brought along holy water and religious statues.
Anti-fascist movements are re-emerging in Brazil to counter Bolsonaro
In 2020, anti-fascist demonstrations have emerged as a counter-offensive to recent protests organized by President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters.
Rooftop cultural events allow Venezuelan residents to momentarily escape COVID-19 through art
"We want to dream. We are the generation that fights and loves its community, despite the social conflicts and inequalities, we live in a constant learning process."
