Global Challenges
Development & Aid
Before joining the Carnegie Endowment, Dr. Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American …More
Can Islamism reorient its extremist wings into a moderate force for modernization? ++ Europe’s history, especially that of the Christian Democratic parties and Germany who we thought could never accept democracy, shows that it …More
The newly appointed president of the World Bank, Jin Yong Kim, should close the organization. ++ The Bank may have played a useful role in the past, but it has since abandoned its original mission as lender of last resort and instead has financed many …More
Jamie Drummond: In 2000, the UN laid out 8 goals to make the world better by reducing poverty and disease — with a deadline of 2015. As that deadline approaches, Jamie Drummond of ONE.org runs down the surprising successes of the 8 Millennium Development Goals, and suggests a crowdsourced reboot for the next 15 years. …More
Yasmine Ali Mohamed Ibrahim: The talk in Egypt about the “Selmi” constitutional memorandum has stirred public debate over the right of the Egyptian defense institutions to keep information from the public. What should be the limit to how much information security actors are allowed to hide from citizens? …More
Yemen is struggling with much more than insurgents and al-Qaida cells. ++ The unemployment rate is 35% and the population growth rate is 2.5%. ++ It is necessary for Yemen to diversify its economy away from the oil and gas sectors. ++ This can be …More
Sander Florian Tordoir: While IMF-World Bank Structural-Adjustment Programs are associated with higher inequality in the short-run, larger structural-adjustment seemingly decrease inequality in the long-run. Furthermore, growth during an SAP does not benefit the poor as much. …More
Jann Boeddeling: Last year, the Egyptian people asserted themselves against an oppressive state. They have stood their ground on Tahrir Square and elsewhere ever since. At the end, they may carve out a more permanent and much different political role for themselves than many currently think: a distinctively Islamic political system that puts a very direct emphasis on people-power - a perpetual Tahrir. …More
Bernhard Lucke: Population growth, limited perspectives for youth, and old societal structures combined with serious environmental and economic challenges render most Middle Eastern countries prone to crisis, if not collapse. The Arab spring could be only the first taste of things to come. …More
Mohammad Lateef Totakhail: This MA thesis is about Foreign Aid and Economic Development in Afghanistan. The research is narrowed down by focusing on Germany, one of the main donors to Afghanistan. The analysis of German assistance to Afghanistan is made with reference to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. …More
Balazs Ujvari: The established foreign aid paradigm is being challenged by the power shift occurring across the global economy. Emerging economies are beginning to change the rules of the game. This paper examines the differences in approaches between China and DAC countries in providing aid to Africa. …More
Annika Frantzell: This thesis seeks to examine the lack of investment in the human security of the Hazara in the context of their astonishing gains following the fall of the Taliban from power and their increasing exodus from Afghanistan in the face of continued ethnic discrimination and severe economic hardships. …More
Despite other problems, the world should not forget about Libya’s transition. ++ The economy is a disaster, and militias remain armed. ++ Eastern Libya’s recent bid for autonomy calls national unity into question. ++ The eastern region contains most …More
Ravi Sodha: This paper examines the question of who benefits from development aid and what the philanthropic act means within a neo-liberal framework. It will look specifically at EuropeAid and explore whether this policy could be used to pursue different objectives. …More
Balazs Ujvari: The world economy is currently looking more precarious, more unequal and less governed than it has been in previous decades. This is in part because governance (particularly the IMF, WTO, and the World Bank) within the global economy has not kept up with globalization and growth. …More
Kevin Dean: Congress and the State Department should create an online marketplace that allows entrepreneurs and small businesses in developing countries to connect with consumers in the United States. This would improve diplomacy, mitigate conflict, and build markets that would benefit US businesses as well as consumers. …More
Ashley Diane Herzovi: The United Nations should repurpose the Trusteeship Council to oversee states with long-term issues of self-governance due to conflict that are thus unable to provide basic human necessities to their constituents. This action would allow the UN to contribute to long-term governance solutions. …More
Marcella Marucci: With the opportunity to substantiate Brazil’s emergence as a global leader, Rio and Brazil must get their security situation under control, not only are lives of its citizens at stake, but so is Brazil’s standing as a competent and reliable actor in world affairs. …More
Rachel Anne Carlill: Globalization has prompted the diversification of security threats and the hegemonic realist security paradigm is ill-equipped to address them. By adopting the human security framework, the individual rather than the state may by prioritized in security analysis. …More
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 …More
NATO: Controlling what people heard, watched and read was key for Qadhafi to keep control over the Libyan people. Now, with the regime gone, Libya Al Hurra TV is playing a big part in the new free media. …More
Ben John Baxter: Despite being a significant provider of aid and assistance to the developing world, China is not a part of the international aid decision-making process. Given its tremendous support for infrastructure projects in Africa, China deserves more recognition from the West for its development efforts. …More
Regina Joseph: With the opportunity to substantiate Brazil’s emergence as a global leader, Rio and Brazil must get their security situation under control, not only are lives of its citizens at stake, but so is Brazil’s standing as a competent and reliable actor in world affairs. …More
Shabana Basij-Rasikh and Matiullah Amin : Women will play a key role in the development of Afghan communities, despite a culture of patriarchy that has long rendered them politically and economically powerless. It is time for women to realize their agency as role models for the next generation of Afghan leaders. …More
Stephanie Mazzola: Amid calls for democracy in the Arab world, we cannot help but associate “democracy” with the liberal model of government of the West. But can popular sovereignty be applied to Islamic states? It is possible, but they must first establish social foundations that allow a democratic transition to take place. …More
Josette Sheeran: We can, in our lifetime, win the battle against hunger because we now have the science, technology, know-how, and the logistics to be able to meet hunger where it comes. Those pictures of children with swollen bellies will be a thing of history. …More
J. Peter Pham: Confronted with the specter of mass starvation, the top priority should be the provision of emergency relief. However, it is also incumbent upon American and European policymakers to be cognizant of the political context of the crisis as well as its broader geostrategic implications.
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When new Arab leaders in Egypt and Tunisia take office, they ought to learn from Russia’s corruption-plagued transition from the USSR. ++ They can avoid a similar fate by initiating the transparent privatization of state economic …More
Mark Furness: South Sudan celebrated its independence Saturday, but the world’s newest state now faces massive poverty and underdevelopment. The international community must act immediately before the fledgling country becomes the latest to crash onto the list of failed states. …More
Sam Vanderslott: Despite disinterest of pharmaceutical companies, and thus of the developed world, neglected diseases, widespread infections in the developing regions, should be considered a transatlantic security issue. While not a traditional security issue, health is now accepted in a broadened understanding of security, on an individual rather than state-centred basis. …More
Anush Hayrapetyan: This Master thesis explores the interrelationship between the right to development and rights-based approaches as mutually reinforcing concepts to the implementation of international development. …More
Natasha L Lamoreux: There is growing recognition that with the many challenges facing the planet, and the fact that women and girls suffer disproportionately, it is critical to include a gendered perspective in global affairs. However, we must avoid the instrumentalization of women’s empowerment. …More
Editorial Team: Ben Scott, policy advisor for innovation to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, joined Atlantic Initiative, publisher of atlantic-community.org, at a roundtable discussion to talk about the importance of new media in foreign policy. …More
The heritage of the Soviet Union is coming apart in Central Asia – literally. Streets and schools are falling into disrepair, and the human capital dating back to the Soviet era is dying out. In ten …More
Sarah Williamson: Ten years after the UN Security Council passed the landmark Resolution 1325 encouraging greater participation of women in peace and security, the United States is developing a National Action Plan to implement the Resolution across the government.
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L. Salich & I. Maras: The commemoration of UN Resolution 1325 represents an opportunity to look back and forward by building on the cumulative experiences and lessons learned in view of openly addressing the gaps that are impeding any significant progress it can and should make. …More
Leah McFarland: Today’s fundamental global challenge is the rising discontent of poor countries, and thus ameliorating this imbalance with rich states should be a top goal of the transatlantic community. Yet this will require leadership by western, wealthy states currently benefiting from major inequalities. …More
Jesse Schwartz: Mohamed Bouazizi, driven to commit suicide by the despair of his circumstances, has galvanized millions while simultaneously unleashing a torrent of repressed anger. The social and political fabric of the greater Middle East has been irrevocably altered as a result. …More
Alexandra Lewis: While Yemen is often associated with only terrorism and al Qaeda, its extensive troubles are largely the result of a weak economy and state. The key to overcoming the political and economic instabilities lies, not only in traditional humanitarian and development aid but in establishing a sense of legitimacy between the government and the people. …More
Could a key millennium development goal (MDG) have already been reached, and nobody noticed? New numbers on global poverty show that the millennium goal of halving hunger between 1990 and 2015 might have been reached in …More
NATO Review: Climate change, food security and population growth could form the perfect storm. The global population is likely to rise from 7 billion this year to 9 billion by 2050. Yet, at the same time as having more mouths to feed, the world faces having less water and cultivable land. What will this mean for our security?
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The arrest of Haiti’s former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, who recently returned to Port-au-Prince, shows how divided the country remains about its past. ++ Given the ongoing chaos in the aftermath of last …More
Mark Furness: In their excited anticipation of the imminent birth of Africa’s newest country, the international community must not underestimate the massive challenges of nation-building in South Sudan. Infrastructure and education need serious investment while the role of Khartoum cannot be ignored. …More
The humanitarian catastrophe that continues in Haiti one year after the earthquake is “a disgrace for the international community” and reflects “a moral crisis.” ++ Many of the monies promised never found …More
Mark Furness: What Middle Eastern countries need is a form of economic development that tackles the basic problems - poverty and unemployment - without leading to greater inequality. At the same time, it should promote human rights, democracy, and the proctection of the civil liberties of each citizen. …More
Megan M Gleason: Moving forward from the recent summit to review the Millennium Development Goals, held in New York in September 2010, requires a new focus on the group furthest from achieving them - fragile and post-conflict countries. …More
These
days, the casual observer might be tempted to think that on the world stage, it
is not the extent of environmental damage that determines what - if any -compensation
is paid to victims, but the identity of …More
Alexandra Dobra: Climate change is a global risk that affects far more than only the environment. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 75 percent of the people suffering from absolute poverty worldwide. This chronic crisis calls for a renewed discussion of food and water security. …More
Editorial Team: The Western response to the disaster in Pakistan has suffered from a certain ambivalence. On the one hand, there are fears that donations could be diverted to the Taliban war chest. On the other hand, fundamentalists could highlight the absence of Western aid in order to gain legitimacy. …More
More than 20 million people in Pakistan are now homeless as a consequence of the devastating flooding. ++ A dearth of clean drinking water will likely cause the death toll of 1,500 to rise. ++ The West must use this …More
Osama Bin Javaid: The international response to the flood in Pakistan has been muted, despite the fact that the natural disaster is the worst in the nation’s history and has affected more than 20 million lives. The government is unable to adequately respond to the crisis alone – the rest of the world must step up. …More
Osama Bin Javaid: The globalization of food security discourse is a product of discursive processes. By putting together and analyzing the factors influencing the problem, such as politics, international relations, globalization, trade, and even culture, a new perspective can be gained. …More
Kevin Calonne: The recent resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister demonstrates how little hope there is for dissolving the iron triangle and its stranglehold on Japanese politics. The Democratic Party of Japan must urgently deal with the overwhelming bureaucracy, if its government is to succeed. …More
Memo 24: Greater transparency is crucial to improve foreign aid to Sub-Saharan Africa. An index of aid effectiveness should be put online, featuring details on aid expenditures and the outcomes of programs. Those programs that fail to produce results should get phased out. …More
Nikolina-Romana Milunovic: The reason for sub-Saharan Africa’s poor economic performance is the weak system of public administration. Through generalized and unfitting reform movements, the international community has strengthened the status quo of underdevelopment in African LDCs. …More
Jordan Brown: If South Africa manages to host a smooth World Cup, the ripple effects could be very positive for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. A positive portrayal of South Africa in the world media would help attract tourists and foreign investment. South African prosperity would boost economic development in the region. …More
Olga Kolesnichenko: The Afghan economy is failing. As the international community and NATO strive to rescue the country, they should focus on developing agriculture. Outlawing poppy will solve nothing. New plants need to be introduced in the country, perhaps even genetically modified plants. …More
Claudia Schwegmann: It is not the lack of knowledge that hampers development aid, but the structure of incentives within the aid system. Aid transparency and civil society engagement are key levers for addressing these problems and improving aid effectiveness. …More
Catherine Mann: This dissertation was completed as part of an MSc in Global Governance and Ethics, and investigates the way that NGOs attempt to generate public support to create political pressure. …More
Hovsep Khurshudyan: The West should not lose the chance to get actively involved in helping to modernize the Turkish nation. Former Sovietologists can provide valuable insight in dealing with Turkey since its working mechanisms are similar to those of the former Soviet Union. …More
Haiti was supposed to elect a new Parliament but the February earthquake rendered that impossible. ++Tomorrow the current Parliament will end and the country will enter a period of uncertainty, “with enormous obstacles to overcome for a transparent, …More
NATO: The Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tallinn marked the launch of the NATO Afghan First Policy aimed at increasing NATO-ISAF’s support for the local economy in Afghanistan. The policy aims at facilitating the procurement of local goods and services through simplified bidding and contracting procedures in Afghanistan. This will allow qualified and certified Afghan firms to run as prime competitors for NATO-ISAF contracts. …More
G. Pascal Zachary: To stimulate growth and development in Africa, governments and international organizations to reverse the negative consequences of the “brain drain.” Aid donors should tap into the underutilized knowledge of Africans living outside of Africa when trying to craft aid plans. …More
Teddy Brett: Poor governance poses a huge obstacle for aid donors. Donor attempts to avoid getting involved in the political processes of recipient nations has prevented many aid programs from reaching their intended goals. …More
Cecilie Wathne: Any follow up to the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action must address the obstacles that prevent aid from being more effective. A new declaration should set tangible and measurable goals. Donors need to think outside of the box for new ways to improve aid. …More
The growing rift between the US and Israel has exposed diverging “goals, expectations, and national interests.” ++ The US gives billions of dollars annually to Israel in military aid. ++ The best thing for the allies would be to …More
Gregory Adams: As Obama has noted, Africa’s future is up to Africans. Many issues with foreign aid step from programs working independently of citizens. US Policy needs to support the African people. Donors should be working more directly with African governments and civil society. …More
Malcolm McPherson: Western funds have made African countries aid addicted. For African governments to take their development and future into their own hands, a ten-year aid exit strategy needs to be put in place. …More
Owen Barder: The concept of natural selection should be applied to aid programs so that only the most effective ones continue to be used. An increase in transparency and information about aid programs will benefit both donors and recipients. The International Aid Transparency Initiative is an important step by donor governments. …More
Lawrence Haddad: Fundamental issues need to be dealt with for aid to Africa to be improved. Donors need to address recipient accountability and allow for greater transparency. Western bodies should also better coordinate their efforts and talk more realistically about the successes and challenges of aid. …More
Editorial Team: While Western governments and organizations have devoted billions of dollars toward Sub-Saharan Africa since de-colonization, chronic poverty and underdevelopment still plague the continent. How can Western aid be improved to give Africans the best chance to live up to their fullest potential? …More
Germany has failed to keep its aid pledges to developing countries. ++ It has fallen short of both EU and UN aid requirements. ++ “In the international community, Germans are now seen as masters of the empty promise.” ++ Aid in Germany is …More
The sad truth of the matter is that global income distribution in the year 2010 looks not so very different from that under the Apartheid regime in South Africa. In spite of a myriad of development projects, there is still a great chasm …More
Much progress has been made in the last decade in the area of international development, yet right now the developed world needs to re-affirm and strengthen its commitment to the Millenium Development Goals. ++ With enough effort, millions of …More
French soccer star and UN Goodwill Amb. Zinedine Zidane is trying to raise support and awareness of the MDGs. ++ The financial crisis has set back the efforts of Asian countries to meet MDG targets. ++ The Asian Development …More
Haiti reminds us of our common responsibility to help poor countries in both short and long terms. ++ The climate crisis and the Millennium Development Goals push us to fulfill our duties. ++ The UK will do more by giving out 0.7% of its GDP in aid. Still …More
World hunger and poverty have risen over the past decade as the wealth gap has widened due largely to the World Food Crisis of 2008 and the Global Financial Crisis of 2009. ++ Developing countries have tried to liberalize and globalize …More
Army, marine and government cabinets have all been requisitioned to ensure a quick response. ++ After the mismanagement of Katrina and a foreseeable mass movement of Haitian boats towards Florida, the US is pushing its “moral …More
The dismal response by the EU to the crisis in Haiti shows the stark contrast between the “world superpower” and the United States. ++ Within hours of the earthquake, the US had already gotten the Port-au-Prince airport functioning and landed, …More
Jay Thomas Chittooran: This paper focuses on the relationship between economic growth and income distribution. Previous attempts to study this relationship have ignored, for the most part, government social spending aimed at the redistribution of wealth. …More
UN resolutions, Geneva conventions, previous regional agreements, the Arab Peace Initiative, and official national policies are all being ignored to the detriment of those under siege in the Gaza strip. ++ The EU recently restated the requirements for …More
North Korea needs to stop trying in vain to feed itself. ++ Given its population and agriculture, it is impossible to grow enough domestically. ++ Investing in industry would bring in foreign currencies with which foodstuffs could be imported. ++ …More
The Obama administration is not the top of the class when it comes to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. ++ The international effort to curb new infections is working and people are living longer, healthier lives. ++ But AIDS continues to be the …More
The world population will reach nine billion by 2050. The international community will face a daunting task in sustaining such a corresponding rise in consumption. Indeed, it is estimated that the production of foodstuffs worldwide …More
The launch of the Ibrahim Index of African Governance 2009 highlights the continued lack of comprehensive data with which to assess the continent. ++ Poverty data for large parts of Saharan Africa is non-existent or inadequate and consequently important …More
Marc Saxer: Democracy assistance must seek to strengthen confidence in the ability to perform of the democratic model and step up its efforts to highlight, by discursive means, the long-term benefits of the democratic model. …More
Hillary Clinton’s recent trip to Africa is a huge signal to the continent that it is a priority for US foreign policy. ++ The US Secretary of State has redefined Washington’s diplomacy given the verve with which she has approached …More
“Poor but resource-rich countries tend to be underdeveloped not despite of their hydrocarbon and mineral riches but because of their resource wealth.” ++ Thus, oil, gold, diamonds and other natural resources make a country poorer. ++ …More
The Obama administration’s sternness toward Israel seems over the top considering its friendliness towards Egypt. ++ Both countries receive some of the highest percentages of US Development Aid. ++ Israel “needs little reminder of the …More
Haroon Rashid graduated from Ohio University’s College of Communication with a master’s degree in media management. He is currently employed as a strategic communication manager at the Independent Directorate of …More
A landmark agreement by all 192 UN states on the financial crisis last week was a small but important step forward as it acknowledges our global interdependence. ++ The UN said “we have allowed economic globalisation to outpace …More
“President Obama took office loudly promising to be the anti-George W. Bush of foreign policy,” but what he has received instead is “an education in the reality of global rogues, and how he responds has become a major test of his …More
The meeting of the six-nation Shanghai Co-operation Organisation this week will discuss the creation of a new type of financial institution that will challenge the dominance of US-style free markets. ++ This is an opportunity for China, …More
Nikolina-Romana Milunovic: One reason why many least developed countries are locked in poverty is climate. Combined with other factors, climatic factors are resulting in a dramatic global injustice which is presently being ignored. …More
Shaun R Gregory: Pakistan is one of the most complex and intractable security problems facing the international community. Its importance in relation to two of world’s most pressing security issues – Islamic terrorism and nuclear proliferation – is difficult to overstate, as are the catastrophic consequences, regionally and internationally, which would follow the collapse of the state. …More
In order to achieve the best returns for donor taxpayers and aid recipients, African aid should focus on infrastructure, regional integration, education and health. ++ Regional integration would help African countries compete in the …More
The transition in Zimbabwe to a unity government has not been smooth. ++ Western governments have remained “standoffish” despite the progress made by the new government, such as lowering inflation. ++ Human Rights Watch argue that …More
Rudi Guraziu: The EU ought to play a greater role in global governance. But in order to achieve that it needs to devise functional institutions for global governance – in effect getting everyone ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’ …More
Entrepreneurship, not aid, is the best way for poor nations to end poverty and improve development. ++ Aid engenders poverty, instability and reliance. ++ Help is welcome, but rich nations must have “a head for poor countries, not just a …More
Unlike
the countries on the Horn or in Central Africa, countries in North
Africa radiate stability. The rate of economic growth is on
average 5-6%. Abounding energy supplies and cooperation in the war on terror
have …More
Editorial Team: As Swine Flu captures the headlines, it emphasizes the threat posed by global diseases, and the concerted policy action they require. We are inviting you to vote for what you consider the most pressing disease. …More
The causes of the protracted economic and political crisis in Ukraine go deeper than most analysts admit. ++ Ukraine’s government, in the face of economic crisis, is paralyzed. ++ Democratic progress of the Orange Revolution is …More
Health bureaus and the WHO have swung into action to deal with the Mexican swine flu outbreak. ++ The public health community has learnt to cope with pandemics after an ill-handled outbreak in 1976 and recent avian flu …More
The unconstitutional rule of Commodore Bainimarama in Fiji and the mayhem in Thailand reinforced the fragility of democracy in South East Asia.++ The problem of young democracies is a lack of restraining institutions to …More
Governments must cooperate to stimulate their economies and resist protectionism in response to the economic crisis. ++ Protectionism is short-sighted and could destroy the positive aspects of economic globalization which have encouraged …More
While the recent pledge by the G20 to increase the resources of the IMF is welcome, the organisation desperately needs to restructure and reform if it is going to play an effective role in solving this current economic crisis. ++ …More
The economic crisis threatens to undo the progress made across Africa. ++ It has been achieved as a result of stronger leadership, more accountable governments and effective development aid. ++ Funds from the IMF and World Bank are still …More
Marie Grunert: The US and the EU have strengthened their commitment towards global development. Instead of a pretext to concentrate solely on the domestic scene and resort to protectionism, the economic crisis ought to be used as an opportunity to re-define the development strategies in light of the new challenges. …More
The economic crisis has hit the world as a surprise but was it truly unexpected? Krugman, Economic Nobel Prize Winner in 2008, had issued warnings since 2000 on the fragility of ultraliberalism. ++ Yet, when it comes to hearing pessimistic …More
Half of the world has condemned the Pope’s words on his African trip stating that condoms not only fail to resolve the AIDS problem but aggravate it. ++ This goes beyond the classical position of the church. ++ By proclaiming …More
Jörg Gundelfinger: In 2020 global governance will be increasingly non-institutionally driven and most actors in these processes will act for their own benefit. This is problematic and cannot solve the major problems of our world. We need the UN to control global governance concerning power imbalances. …More
Victor Hugo condemned the sacking of the Old Summer Palace by British and French forces in 1860. ++ For Pierre Berge to use something that does not belong to him as a bargaining chip over human rights is absurd. ++ The …More
“Slumdog Millionaire” won eight Oscars on Sunday night but its greatest success is raising awareness about the poverty and disease which characterize Mumbai slums and kill faster than AIDS. ++ In recent years community projects …More
Hugo Chavez continues to “demolish the democratic institutions” that enabled Venezuela its relative successes over the past 40 years. ++ Most worrying is his endorsement of the crippling view that reform and so-called …More
Markus Drake: Europe has spent the time since it was split into “old” and “new” Europe avoiding engagement with Iraq, ignoring its large interests in the country and in the region. This, according to a new publication by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, must change. For reasons of moral obligation, if nothing else. …More
Pushing through a horrible stimulus package quickly was necessary, otherwise it would have been too late. ++ It may be too late for the economy, but at least money goes to the poor, who will spend it quickly on necessities. …More
The EU and US are engaging in robust diplomacy to isolate Mugabe and alleviate the horrific humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. ++ Australian PM Kevin Rudd, on the other hand, has failed to honor his country’s strong record in …More
The bilateral relation between the two states, fostered 30 years ago, is strengthened as it evolves to cover an increasing range of issues - from the war on terror to climate change - and to produce a global impact. ++ This …More
A key topic a few months ago, the food crisis has now disappeared from the headlines. ++ Unfortunately this does not mean that the situation has improved; on the contrary, the financial crisis is likely to bring a series of …More
Japan adds itself to less than 20 developed countries open to refugees under resettlement programs. ++ Since 1981 Japan has accepted 451 refugees. ++ Over the next 3 years, 30 refugees per year will be accepted from Burma into camps in …More
Last year Chinese officials held a record number of press conferences. ++ For the first time Chinese president Hu Jintao joined a chat on a news portal. ++ Vice mayor Li Ou hosts one of the most popular Chinese blogs. ++ This, …More
Cholera re-entered the stage in Zimbabwe in August, since killing 1600 people and sickening 33 000. ++ Alarming is the fact that this is only one of the country’s long list of flaws; every sector of civil society is near to …More
The financial crisis has proven that there is still a major role for the state to play in our global era. ++ New challenges, such as intense capital transactions, have increased pressure on the state and require it to complement …More
Markus Drake: The nature of youth violence in Central America is deeply connected to social perceptions and societal constructs. El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica provide three examples of how State reaction to youth violence is influenced by the public discourse. …More
This week marks 30 years since China put into place measures to increase economic and political freedoms. ++ The latter have not been realized. ++ On the contrary, China’s judicial system in the years since has been “corrupt and …More
Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine and South Africa all voluntarily gave up nuclear stockpiles. ++ Pakistan should do the same. ++ The US should offer the Pakistani government the $100bn it has asked for over a 10 year period, …More
Interview with Amb. Zulfacar: One hundred thousand young Afghans with a high school diploma will not have a place at university in 2010. This is both a humanitarian catastrophe and a threat to security. The Afghan ambassador to Germany H. E. Maliha Zulfacar, speaks about the wishes, hopes and fears of the men and women of her country. …More
Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo lost the US its position as champion of human rights. ++ As a result, democracy and rights activists face a global backlash. ++ Obama can close Guantanamo and stop torture by executive order. ++ The US undermined the …More
We now have an opportunity for a world government - a global currency, supreme court, law, civil service, and military force, as in the EU, is possible. ++ Global warming, the financial crisis and the war on terror offer reasons for such …More
No solution is in sight at the COP 14 talks. ++ “The line of division runs between the developed countries and the developing ones.” ++ Saudi-Arabia wants no reduction of oil consumption, while Pacific islands are in threat of …More
Today globalization takes place in places where masses of people live and work: in cities. But in order to earn the title “global” a city must provide ideas and value that impact the rest of the world. Additionally, global cities are …More
The recent meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Peru drew worldwide attention. This was due less to the presence of President George W. Bush in his last international appearance as to the decision on …More
Editorial Team: A civil society initiative is working to reopen the Amerika Haus Berlin, where permanent activities were suspended in 2006. A two month series of panel discussions about the US elections of 2008 brought the house back to life, and showed the potential of this open meeting space. …More
A third of the US’ oil, most of its immigrants, and nearly all of its cocaine come from Latin America. ++ President-elect Obama could easily overlook the region as he enters office at such a demanding time; that would be foolish. ++ …More
Interview with Lotte Leicht: The director of Human Rights Watch in Brussels says that the EU must fulfill its role in upholding human rights. But before it can credibly promote human rights throughout the world, the EU must first hold its allies accountable for human rights violations, particularly the US. …More
The financial relevance of the G7 has diminished, from 65% of production in 2002 to 52% now, and will continue to fall. ++ In 2009 all growth will happen in developing nations. ++ The support of China, India, and Brazil is …More
With much attention being paid to the US elections, it’s time people started to notice the elections in Indonesia, a nation that “clearly refutes the proposition that democracy and Islam are incompatible.” ++ Since 1998 – the year a coup …More
The American government leads the way in international aid and development. ++ In the last eight years they have fundamentally changed their approach, adopting bold new principles based on partnerships with host-countries. ++ …More
We are too easily impressed by the Russian bear. ++ “Moscow remains bent on ignoring the devastating truth: The nation is not just sick but dying.” ++ The population is declining, the economy is totally dependent on oil revenues, and the public health crisis …More
The UN reports that the number of individuals around the world who go hungry has increased by 75 million in the past year to 923 million. ++ The UN attributes this to the rising price of food, fuel, and fertilizers. ++ Hunger has …More
The situation in Somalia has gradually become worse since the US and UN withdrew in the 1990s, but most people think otherwise, assuming they would have heard more if problems were escalating. ++ The suffering of nearly 10 million Somalis …More
UNRWA completed its second annual summer camp in the Gaza strip, providing opportunities for 250,000 refugee children. ++ John Ding, UNWRA’s Gaza director, says this $4 million summer camp is the kind of policy the region …More
Many countries in Africa suffer from a stifling dependence on foreign aid and actually receive more money in aid than they do collecting taxes. ++ This imbalance is detrimental to the citizens as the government is more concerned with …More
The World Bank recently reported that in 2005 there were 1.4 billion people living below the poverty line - a figure which it had previously underestimated. ++ Still, this figure does not take into account the rising food and energy prices …More
The regime in Khartoum threatens the UN humanitarian and peacekeeping presence in Darfur. ++ If UN Security Council does not take action in the face of such outrageous threats, humanitarian organizations will withdraw from the region, …More
It’s been almost a year since Burmese people were violently crushed as they publicly demanded freedom and the international community has still not achieved anything. ++ As Than Shwe intensifies the crackdown, the world looks towards Ban …More
Finn E. Kydland: Six Nobel Peace Prize laureates asked themselves what the most effective way would be to spend $75 billion in order to make the world a better place. The ranking list they developed gives very different answers than those policymakers usually do. …More
For those who live in hunger, long-term solutions cannot come fast enough. ++ The US, donor of half of the world’s food aid, is highly criticized for its unique practice of monetization that disrupts commercial markets and can cause, albeit …More
The Doha round was constructed on the myth that a negotiating agenda focused on agriculture would make it a “development round” and could help reduce global poverty. ++ But the underlying assumption that the trade regime can only legitimize itself by …More
Despite the EU’s claim to be the continent of human rights, immigrants are being mistreated in Spain and Italy. ++ Furthermore, the EU strengthens efforts to close its borders and approved a “return directive,” which allows governments to …More
Li Yu: I think the Party will try their great effort to take the Olympics as a good opportunity to show their achievement during the past half century, but for me, I hope this could be a good chance for the world to know more about Chinese culture, Chinese people, and our real life. …More
Ariela Blätter: Many fear that the International Criminal Court’s charges against the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir will have “disastrous consequences” for the peace process in Darfur. This, however, could only be true if there was evidence of a real and substantive peace process in the first place. …More
Even though it is Afghanistan that is the main security threat to the US, the road to improvement in that part of the world starts in Pakistan. ++ Al-Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan’s lawless region near the Afghan border, …More
Many governments in Southeast Asia are hoping for better energy security and appreciable increases in public revenue through a number of dam construction projects along the Mekong River. Yet the projected dams do not only …More
Ariela Blätter: As a result of an international donors conference, Kosovo has been given some 1.2 million euros. What for and how is this money going to be used when it reaches destination? …More
The G-8 summit seemed more interested in harmony than in making progress on pressing issues. ++ G8 agreed to cut emissions by “at least” 50 percent, but the old conflict regarding the question who should start retained. ++ Farming subsidies in …More
Samuel Thernstrom: Currently, cutting emissions or adapting to a warmer planet are the only policies receiving serious consideration. Yet if implemented correctly, geo-engineering could be an inexpensive and timely solution to climate change woes. …More
Financial aid will not solve the problem of food security in Africa. ++ Western succor is the main source of revenue for corrupt sub-Saharan African governments. ++ An effective way to help the Africans is to remove the …More
The annual inflation rate in Zimbabwe has reached 9 million percent. ++ The only reason why the country is still afloat are huge Chinese investments. ++ Zimbabwean critics contend that Beijing will continue to support Harare unconditionally, …More
Climate change and economic “stagflation” threaten the very future of our planet. ++ The only way to solve these challenges is to act globally. ++ Essentially, to resolve the food crisis, export restrictions need to be …More
The recently adopted UN resolution 1820 finally recognized rape as a threat to international peace and security. ++ It recognized emotional, physical, and financial damages not only to the individuals and but to the whole communities and underlined …More
Rising demand for foodstuffs and the biofuel craze are causing an agricultural crisis requiring a significant increase in productivity. ++ Yet for this to succeed, the reasonable and efficient use of water needs to be urgently …More
Surprisingly, it is some of the fastest developing countries such as China and India, that are slowing down the Doha development talks. ++ Protectionism in one country triggers a chain reaction that blocks free trade in …More
“Many of the world’s necessary interventions in the decade before the invasion - in places like Haiti and the Balkans - would seem impossible in today’s climate.” ++ In the wake of the Burmese cyclone, the strength of totalitarian …More
The decrease of large scale commercial agriculture in Africa and the loss of productivity in Asia are partly responsible for the critical need for worldwide food assistance. ++ A solution to the crisis requires both huge …More
Almost two-thirds of humanity live in high-income or high-growth countries, while the remaining two billion live in countries with stagnant, or declining incomes. ++ The main increase in global population expected by 2050 will occur in …More
Providing food to starving populations - currently under discussion at the summit on the global food crisis in Rome - is less of a challenge than the problem of raising the world’s agricultural productivity in the long term. ++ …More
Marek Swierczynski: Now the Lisbon Treaty is almost over and done with, the EU is encouraged to look south- and eastwards. Initiatives by France and a Polish-Swedish team aim at creating buffer-spaces between the EU and unstable regions, but could create tensions that challenge the bloc’s unity. …More
The global food crisis is not a natural catastrophe, but a man-made one. ++ The nexus between high energy and food prices is unlikely to be broken, and will be exacerbated by climate change. ++ To ensure that the poor do not suffer, …More
Last month’s devastating earthquake in Sichuan has taught the Chinese a very important lesson, namely the importance of civil society. ++ The outpouring of foreign and local aid accompanied by a plethora of new philanthropic websites and aid …More
Responsibility and emergency to act in Burma cannot be doubted but UN legitimacy is lacking and R2P stands for “responsibility to protect,” not “right to invade.” ++ Any action requires “a careful, informed calculation of the likely …More
The earthquake in Sichuan may be remembered as a milestone in the Chinese “peaceful evolution” toward capitalism and democracy. ++ Private Chinese donations have already raised more than $500 million. ++ That kind of bottom-up public …More
Without a coordinated international response to the humanitarian crisis in Burma, the death toll could expand exponentially. ++ French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner controversially suggested that given the responsibility to …More
Despite the determination of Burma’s military rulers to prevent foreign interference in fear of losing its grip on power, the international community has a moral obligation to deliver aid to cyclone-stricken civilians by all means …More
Daphne Wolf: Small and local aid agencies are best equipped to help the victims of cyclone Nargis because they are already operating on the ground. Donations to these agencies are more effective since big aid organizations are still struggling to access the affected areas. …More
Burma’s despots are politicizing the crisis, blocking foreign relief operations, and preventing the needy from receiving food and aid. ++ 400,000 may have died and two million may now face the threats of malnutrition and disease. ++ Rather …More
Samantha Ferrell: Combating Human Trafficking requires systematic worldwide action. In a rapidly globalizing world, organized crime groups are operating transnationally. Unless there is an increased effort on the part of international agencies, the US, and the EU, to coordinate efforts, human trafficking will only continue to expand. …More
The reluctance of Burma’s military rulers to help their own people in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis is criminal. ++ The international community should use a measured approach in encouraging Burma to accept aid and de-prioritize …More
Modern China is full of inner contradictions. ++ The ubiquity of internet access coexists with the impossibility to open critical websites, and the obvious ecological pollution exists side by side with the extreme cleanliness of the streets. ++ The numerous …More
Even without the food crisis, hundreds of millions do not have enough food. ++ We should demonstrate utmost concern and use this crisis as an opportunity to bring long overdue reforms and help vulnerable populations overcome …More
The rise in food prices threatens the success of poverty reduction in Asia. ++ Rather than subsidies, price control, and export caps, governments should focus on targeted income and cash support measures as short-term remedies. ++ This will …More
Since global warming – by causing “natural” disasters, disease, and conflict – is threatening the lives and livelihoods of ever more children in the third world, we need to increase our contribution to the cost of …More
Means to end malaria – a preventable and treatable disease – are today’s focus for the international community on the first ever World Malaria Day. ++ Malaria kills over a million people a year, costs …More
While the most global threats like climate change or terrorism are at an impasse, the existing international institutions do not provide the needed framework for their solving. ++ They do not reflect the real distribution of economic and military power and ignore the needs and interests of developing countries. ++ To overcome mutual mistrust, G8 und G5 should be combined into one grouping.
It is important that high crop prices are not equated with world hunger since the well fed rather than the truly hungry are dependent on international food markets. ++ In South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where hunger is the worst, …More
The EU has been successful in promoting democracy among the states that aspire to join. ++ Given this success, Europeans should work to promote liberal democracy beyond Europe’s borders. ++ The EU must agree on what it wants to do …More
Political pressures are preventing the structural problems of the aid system from being solved rapidly. ++ Achieving the development goals set for 2015 requires immediate action, the political will of official donors, and the contribution of non-profit organizations. ++ Even if aid is in short supply, a system which coordinates donors, projects and priorities can deliver quality assistance.
Since 1974, over 90 countries have adopted a democratic course. Around the turn of the century, 60% of the world’s independent states were considered democratic. Yet in Foreign Affairs, Larry Diamond warns us against celebrating the …More
Hunger Riots like in Egypt have potential to destabilize weak governments. Prices of all staple food have risen 80% in three years, and 33 countries are facing unrest because of the price rises. ++ The US, Europe, Japan and …More
Maximilian Müngersdorff: Resource-based growth poses a risk to the broader economy. With oil prices hitting record highs, Russia, the world’s largest fossil-fuel exporter, has seen rapid growth. The question is, whether this growth is used to transform Russia into a diversified and sustainable economy. …More
The “Index of State Weakness in the Developing World” reveals that over a quarter of UN countries do not meet the requirements of statehood. ++ International policymakers’ primary task should be to formulate strategies to build capable and …More
Despite progress on climate change, there is an imminent threat on food security. ++ Decreased rainfalls and the rush to grow biofuels in an unsustainable manner is causing food prices to soar and putting the world at risk of a food crisis. ++ …More
World Bank lending to Kenya has more than doubled since 2005, yet ever more funds seem to be diverted from the activities’ objectives. ++ The Bank and its country director in Nairobi are contributing to a culture of corruption of which …More
Tobias Bock: This paper aims at assessing the civil society within Iraqi Kurdistan, the region of the conflict torn country that is often perceived as ‘the other Iraq’ or at least tries to convey this impression to the outside world. …More
India’s infrastructure is obstructing economic growth. Just the terrible state of the roads and the endless traffic jams cause economic losses amounting to 6 billion US dollars per year. The cities in particular are …More
Japan is donating ever less in aid, partly because chequebook diplomacy has been judged a failure. ++ Japan could increase its international contribution by utilizing its well equipped defence forces, but self imposed restrictions …More
Christine Otsver: Political disengagement and a weak economy endanger democracy in Ukraine. …More
Tobias Bock: In order to answer the question What is Political Risk?, I will focus on a report assembled by the Political Risk Services Group, a commercial provider of political risk analysis to businesses. …More
Robert Zoellick: The president of the World Bank expresses his concern regarding the German focus on bilateral aid programs in an interview with Rüdiger Lentz, head of the Deutsche Welle studio in Washington and executive director USA of the Atlantic Initiative. …More
Christian Andreas Morris: laments the US foreign policy stance towards Colombia, especially in light of the $1.3 billion of yearly military aid the US donates to fight the post 9/11 war on terror. …More
Christian Andreas Morris: US aid policy needs to alter dramatically. To achieve UN Millennium Development Goals, developed countries agreed to increase their aid expenditure to 1% of GDP, and yet the only countries to have achieved this are Norway and Sweden. …More
Christian Andreas Morris: On balance the economic decisions of the EU benefit the world economy, despite the fact that some its policies could be interpreted as protectionist. …More
President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has never been given the credit or attention which its success merits, contends Joe Loconte of Pepperdine University. The PEPFAR program has thus far been responsible for …More
President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) never received the credit it deserves. ++ PEPFAR has been responsible for providing medication to 1.4 million AIDS patients primarily in Africa, Asia, and the …More
Freedom House’s annual review revealed that 2007 was yet another year in which worldwide freedom declined. While this report is discouraging, too much weight must not be placed on the events of a single year and there are still reasons to remain …More
Nicolas Véron and Jakob von Weizsäcker: We find that investments by Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are not a danger but a plus for developed countries. The growth prospects will tame SWFs for the time being. …More
Health threats have become increasingly global in modern times. That’s not to say that epidemics have respected national borders in the past, The plague in the Middle Ages and Spanish flu at the beginning of the 20th century are strong …More
The international interest in the development of Central Asia increased sharply during the last two decades. Johannes Linn identifies in his article “Central Asia: A New Hub of Global Integration” the main reasons for this renewed …More
The manner in which the “War on Terror” has been conducted since 9/11 has rendered the United States as an uncompromising power and as a bully. Richard L. Armitage and Joseph S. Nye Jr. contend that it is Al-Qaeda’s deliberate …More
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s index of Democracy measures the current state of democracy worldwide based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of …More
From early 2007 a research team from McKinsey and Company worked to develop a consistent fact base to estimate the costs and potentials of different options in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG’s) in the US over a 25 year …More
Moscow and other member governments have split over the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OECD), according to Richard Weitz of World Politics Review. The organization, that seeks to promote the rule of law, human …More
Ana Santana: The EU’s positive spin on the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership signed at the Lisbon summit should not disguise the fallout over the trade disagreements. …More
A new rating of 22 developed countries (and the EC) puts the United States at 16th on Humanitarian Aid. The new Humanitarian Response Index (HRI), carried out by a Spain-based NGO called DARA, focuses less on total funding and more on …More
A new report by the Boston Consulting Group reveals that developing world firms are growing fast and spreading into foreign markets. The list of 100 firms consists of multinationals which are expanding overseas aggressively.
So …More
Transparency International: ‘s Global Corruption Barometer reveals that corruption remains a constant presence in the lives of people around the world and that poor families are hit hardest by demands for bribes. …More
An opinion poll commissioned by the BBC indicates that 54% of Afghans think things are going in the right direction, while 70% described their living conditions as good or very good. According to the poll of 1377 people …More
After the heavy subsidization of fertilizer, Malawi’s corn production has jumped to 3.4 million tons from 1.2 million tons in 2005, reports Celia W. Dugger of The New York Times. This has come about in the face of …More
As the prices of basic food staples soar, the world’s poor are getting ever-hungrier and increasingly vulnerable. Furthermore, the World Food Program (WFP) is experiencing exponential growth in expenditures, informs the Economist. While …More
Katharina Gnath: I laud the ongoing Heiligendamm Process as an important step in involving emerging countries in global economic governance. Five months after the summit, there are still challenges to be met, and the two-year Process is only the first stage in increasing cooperation with China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico. …More
Sergio Marchi: A policy of integration is crucial to shaping the lives of migrants and finding the appropriate accommodation between them and their fellow citizens. …More
The conclusions made in the World Bank report Where Is the Wealth of Nations?, first published in 2006, have been largely overlooked in the policy world and offer valuable information on how to evaluate the changing global …More
Niklas Keller: of the Atlantic Initiative calls corruption one of the greatest obstacles to development in Afghanistan. The international community must create an incentive structure at both the governmental and local levels which is more attractive than corrupt activities. …More
Markus Kaim: I advocate merging the military capabilities of Germany’s three current mandates under the ISAF umbrella to bring transatlantic equilibrium to the burden-sharing in Afghanistan. Military participation in Operation Enduring Freedom should end, and ISAF Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance should be integrated into a single ISAF directive. …More
Congressman Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) reveals in the Washington Post that hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into Iran through the World Bank, despite UNSC and IAEA conclusions that Iran has ignored its …More
Princeton Lyman, former US ambassador to Nigeria and South Africa, writes together with Council on Foreign Relations director Patricia Dorff that the United States must recognize Africa’s growing significance and improve …More
The 2007 Foreign Policy Failed States Index is out, and the results are in: Sudan, Iraq, Somalia, Zimbabwe and Chad are this year’s worst. The fact that “sectarian carnage in one state can sway stock markets on the other side of the planet” shows …More
Jeffrey D. Sachs writes in the Scientific American that the coming decades may see the mass-migration of hundreds of millions of “environmental refugees” seeking better living …More
The UN has declared July 2007 the halfway point towards its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed upon in 2000 and scheduled to be achieved in 2015. The Economist magazine takes a close look …More
Memo 2: Members of the Atlantic Community commented and wrote articles on energy and development policy as well as G8 enlargement at the time of the G8 summit. …More
Mark Bent, a former foreign service officer and Texas oilman, joined forces with international organisations, NGOs and corporate benefactors to develop and distribute over 30,000 solar-powered …More
John Hulsman: I offer four simple lessons in state building from the great British officer. A respect for history could help keep America out of future misadventures like the present situation in Iraq. …More
Norine MacDonald of the Senlis Council — a security, development and counternarcotics group – briefs the Canadian Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Canada’s faltering …More
Editor Richard Horton defends the results of a Lancet study on the Iraqi death toll, offering recommendations for new policy implementation. The Lancet survey reported the number of Iraqi …More
Much talk and too few results has been the most common G8 criticism in the blogosphere. Open Democracy describes last week’s G8 summit as the “latest …More
Guenther von Billerbeck: I advise that civil society organizations, and not just the new DRC government, may be the best partners to bring stability and peace to the Congo. The international community, particularly the UN, EU, and bilateral partners of the Congolese government, should partner with non-governmental actors to turn the country toward sustainable democracy and prosperity. …More
Julianne Smith: I want the EU to take a stronger role in Afghanistan. The EU should act as a coordinating body for the reconstruction and development of the country. This would also strengthen Europe’s standing with its partners. …More
After the UN oil-for-food scandal, it seemed UN aid programs couldn’t possibly sink lower in public opinion. Enter North Korea which, according to the Chicago Tribune, has taken $150 million in hard currency from the UN …More
Joerg Wolf: The mission of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative is to bridge the digital divide and provide children in developing countries with new opportunities to learn, create and share. …More
After the first democratic elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in forty years, International Crisis Group writes that it is now up to President Kabila and the international community to lead …More
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