RSS

Editorial, The Independent | November 10, 2011 In 2008, Britain led 22 other NATO allies in signing a ban on the use of cluster bombs. ++ Now the US, a notable holdout of the treaty, is trying to water down the ban to the point of near worthlessness. ++ Cluster bombs are an indefensible weapon, endangering civilian and combatants indiscriminately and designed to cause the maximum amount of carnage. ++ ...More

Editorial, El País (in Spanish) | November 9, 2011 A report from the US Congress indicated that it would consider cyber-espionage “an act of war.” ++ The US is on shaky ground with this pronouncement; they have their own cyber-espionage activities and accurately pinpointing the source of cyber incursions is very difficult. ++ Russia and China’s recent efforts in the UN to introduce an internet ...More

Simon Nixon, The Wall Street Journal | November 8, 2011 Merkel and Sarkozy’s shifting strategy on the Euro crisis is undermining the credibility of the EU and hurting investment. ++ Suddenly introducing foreign exchange risk to the Eurozone has frightened the very market forces needed to rescue debt-ridden Greece and Italy. ++ This has created a vicious circle of political instability which further harms ...More

Costas Douzinas, Birkbeck, University of London | November 7, 2011 Far from being an expression of democracy, the now-scrapped Greek referendum was a power play by the Greek government against its own people. ++ The referendum’s failure highlights how, like in the Arab Spring, Western governments too can fall if they abandon democratic principles. ++ The paternalism of Germany and France during this crisis is ...More

Mehdi Khalaji, Washington Inst. for Near East Policy | November 4, 2011 The Iranian assassination plot makes sense when viewed through the lens of domestic political struggles. ++ Competing factions in the Islamic Republic have always put their interests ahead of national interests and been willing to ally with foreign powers if it suited them. ++ The assassination plot was likely intentionally designed to fail by elements that ...More

Marwan Muashar, former FM of Jordan | November 3, 2011 Fears over the rise to power of Islamist parties in post-revolutionary Arab countries are unfounded. ++ Islamic parties cannot afford to rule single-handedly and ignore the secular population. ++ Instead of building a religious theocracy, politicians from Islamist parties will be more preoccupied with providing jobs and improving the quality of life. ++ Rather ...More

Editorial, Vedomosti (in Russian) | November 2, 2011 Russia's 18-year quest to become a member of the WTO may finally be drawing to a close by the end of this year, as Georgia gave its consent under US and EU pressure. ++ The biggest barrier to admission into the WTO, however, lies within Russia in the face of Vladimir Putin. ++ In the past, Putin has consistently thwarted the negotiation process in its final ...More

Cao Yunhua & Chen Jianrong, Inst. for Security & Development Policy | November 2011 The emergence of China as a global power has fundamentally changed the geo-political landscape of Southeast Asia. China, US and Japan are making significant efforts to cooperate and work in tandem with ASEAN to "maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region". As this report by the Institue for Security and Development illustrates, Southeast Asia ...More

Gideon Rachman, Financial Times | November 1, 2011 The biggest danger to Obama's re-election bid is the possibility of the European crisis spilling over to the US. ++ While the US economy is starting to show signs of gradual recovery, mounting European debt could send the American economy in a downward spiral. ++ Republican presidential candidates will use this opportunity to chastize Obama as 'too European' ...More

Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute | November 2011 Over the past several decades, migration has been at the center of heated policy debates in both the United States and Europe. In this report by the Migration Policy Institute, Kathleen Newland evaluates what lessons can be drawn from past experiences involving the policies of developed countries in regards to migration and development. 1) Decision makers have ...More