May 2021

Feature articles

Senedd election

With the country seemingly more invested in their government than any time since the Senedd’s inception, voters head to the polls this May.

Arab Spring anniversary

As a region of oppressed people stood up to their oppressors in acts of defiance, the course of history for a troubled region was changed dramatically.

An elite contest from which teams cannot be relegated or promoted, that consistently generates absurd levels of cash for the owners, sounds like a wonderful idea for anyone not concerned with any sort of fair competition.

Message from the editors

Our May issue is somewhat of a democracy special. Our three feature stories focus on power being decided by the people.

Derry Salter and Sam Feierabend explore the upcoming Welsh Senedd election. Whilst Welsh Labour are still ahead in the polls, their power is under the microscope more than ever, and the possibility of an independence referendum in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to many reconsidering their voting allegiances.

The close, complex and often combative relationship between the UK and Europe has reared its head in the shape of sport. The European Super League outlined plans for the continent’s most wealthy clubs to participate in an exclusive league together. Fearing that the enormous wealth involved and unfair format destroyed the true beauty of football, many fans took to the streets to protest. A huge outpouring of anger has resulted in the scrapping of the league and further challenges to the leadership of certain clubs. Alex Kurtis and Sam Portillo report.

Ed Bazeley and Sam Feierabend revisit the transformative Arab Spring protests that erupted a decade ago. With dictators deposed, UN intervention and multiple civil wars, it has not been an easy period for the Middle East and North Africa. The next one fails to look much brighter.

We also visit Crimea, Syria, the US courthouse, and summit Table Mountain in this month’s issue of R3trospect.

Welsh Senedd election coverage