The U.S. and China stand at the center of todayās most consequential global relationshipāone that shapes trade, technology, security, and the future of international leadership.
Great Decisions: U.S.āChina Relations, a free classroom resource from the Foreign Policy Association, helps students explore the history, tensions, and interdependence between these two nations through a balanced, evidence-based lens.
This issue explores questions like:
Whether youāre teaching global politics, economics, or modern history, this free download provides everything you need to help students engage thoughtfully with one of the defining international relationships of our time.
Download a free Nuclear Proliferation lesson plan for high school students from the Foreign Policy Association. Includes background reading, debate prompts, and classroom activities. Teach Nuclear Proliferation with a Ready-to-Use High School Resource Give your students a clear, engaging introduction to one of the most consequential global security issues of the modern era. This free […]
Download a free Ukraine war lesson plan for high school students from the Foreign Policy Association. Includes background reading, debate prompts, and classroom activities. Teach the Ukraine War with a Ready-to-Use High School Resource Give your students a clear, balanced understanding of one of todayās most important global conflicts. This free downloadable PDF from the […]
A free, classroomāready resource from the Foreign Policy Association Climate migration is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern. Around the worldāand increasingly in the United Statesāpeople are being forced to leave their homes due to wildfires, flooding, rising sea levels, extreme heat, and other climateārelated disruptions. This Great Decisions High School issue helps students […]
Immigration: Then, Now, and Whatās Next Immigration is at the heart of the American storyāand a vital part of todayās most pressing debates. Great Decisions: U.S. Immigration, a free classroom resource from the Foreign Policy Association, helps students explore the complexities behind the headlines with empathy, historical context, and real-world data. This issue explores questions […]
As artificial intelligence reshapes education and the world beyond, high school teachers have a powerful opportunity to help students think critically about the tools theyāre already using. Great Decisions: AI + Education, a free resource from the Foreign Policy Association, is designed specifically for classroom useāand itās ready to plug into your curriculum. This issue […]
Bring Global Affairs to Life in Your Classroom Engage Your Students with Great Decisions High School: India & the United States The Great Decisions High School program offers an exciting, thought-provoking way to introduce students to key global issues. This editionāIndia & the United Statesāexplores the growing partnership between two of the world’s most important […]
Dive into the essential topics shaping our world with Great Decisions 2025 E-book editions! Whether you’re seeking to stay ahead in international trends or join engaging debates, Great Decisions 2025 is your passport to understanding. Find your preferred e-book format and retailer below to get started: Barnes and Noble ā Read on your Nook or any compatible device.Kobo ā For […]
The way we produce, consume, and waste food plays a significant role in climate change and environmental sustainability. This edition explores how food systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, the impact of food waste, and solutions to reduce our environmental footprint. With one-third of all food globally wasted, the issue highlights how composting, plant-based diets, […]
Populism has become a powerful force in global politics, influencing elections and shifting political landscapes. This edition explores what populism is, where it originated, and how it shapes democracy today. While populist leaders claim to represent the “common people” against elites, their policies often oversimplify complex issues and can lead to authoritarian tendencies. From historical […]
The number of teens experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness has risen dramatically in the past decade. This edition explores the complex causes behind the teen mental health crisis, including the impact of social media, pandemic isolation, and cultural shifts in adolescence. Experts debate whether the rise in digital interactions and less in-person […]
As NATO approaches its 75th anniversary, the transatlantic community stands at an inflection point. The Pax Americana is over, democracy is in retreat, and the rules-based order hangs by a thread. Meanwhile, the U.S. is more riven with acrimony and disagreement than at any point since the Civil War. Further American security assistance to Ukraine […]
Seldom discussed since the Russian aggression against Ukraine are the vast disparities between the economic wealth of the west versus the much smaller, communist/socialist dictatorship economies of Russia, Iran and North Korea (RINK) Here are two numbers to make my point perfectly clear: GDP of combined NATO countries is $47 trillion. Combined GDP of RINK […]
Former President Trump is no stranger to controversy, but his recent remarks represent perhaps his most alarming challenge to transatlantic unity. During a campaign rally on February 10, the likely Republican presidential nominee declared that he would not defend a NATO ally that fails to meet the 2% GDP defense spending requirement. Beyond undermining […]
In a global landscape rife with instability, conflict, and fragmentation, economic initiatives have hardly captured recent headlines. It comes with little surprise that French calls for a meeting of IMEC member states flew under the radar, much like the projectās announcement did when President Joe Biden unveiled its blueprints at the 2023 G20 Summit […]
The Korean Peninsula remains one of the most divided and geopolitically tense regions in the world. This edition explores the contrast between North and South Korea, the history of their division, and the cultural and political forces shaping Koreaās future. South Korea has become a global economic and cultural powerhouse, known for K-pop, technology, and […]
One month into the New Year, and we can already confirm that the rumors are true- 2024 will be a precedent setting year ā¦. One might say that we enter the year between a rock and a hard place.Ā Major conflicts rage on multiple fronts and along multiple planes. Literal fighting continues to take place […]
Generative AI is transforming how we create, learn, and work, producing text, images, music, and even videos with just a few prompts. This edition explores the rise of generative AI, how it learns from big data, and the ethical concerns surrounding AI bias, misinformation, and job displacement. While AI offers exciting opportunities in education, creativity, […]
For the first time since World War II, Germany has established a permanent military presence outside its territorial borders. While the deployment of 4,800 soldiers to Lithuania appears modest, this historic shift in German strategic thinking could hold significant long-term implications for transatlantic security. Throughout the post-war period, the U.S. has guaranteed Germanyās and much […]
The U.S.-China relationship is one of the most important and complex geopolitical rivalries in the modern world. This edition explores the economic interdependence, political tensions, and national security concerns shaping relations between the two global superpowers. While China and the U.S. remain each other’s top trading partners, their economic ties have been strained by tariffs, […]
The High Seas Treaty, established by the United Nations in March 2023, is a landmark agreement designed to protect marine biodiversity in international waters. Covering 95% of ocean habitat by volume, the treaty aims to regulate overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining, which threaten marine ecosystems. With climate change accelerating ocean acidification and habitat destruction, the […]
Undoubtedly, Vladimir Putinās decision to invade Ukraine was a miscalculation. Nevertheless, many international observers were shocked when Russian tanks started to roll across the border despite mounting evidence that Putin would go through with it. Ostracizing his country from the Western liberal economies was incomprehensible to most. At the same time, it is all too […]
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was founded in 1949 to provide collective defense against Soviet aggression. Over the years, it has expanded from 12 to 31 member nations, adapting to new global threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks, and regional conflicts. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has revitalized NATO’s role, prompting debates on […]
The 15th annual BRICS summit kicked off on August 22nd in Johannesburg, South Africa, in its most widely observed meeting to date. As the acronym suggests, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa convened for a three-day conference with expansion at the top of the agenda. Because Vladimir Putin has an arrest warrant […]
Millions of citizens cast their ballots over the weekend in Spain, marking an end to five years of left-wing rule in Europeās sixth-largest economy. Alberto NĆŗƱez FeijĆ³o led the center-right Peopleās Party (PP) to victory in tightly contested snap elections, defeating Prime Minister Pedro SĆ”nchezās Spanish Socialist Workersā Party (PSOE). The elections were highly scrutinized […]
Last week, President Biden rolled out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending the leader of the worldās largest democracy the full honors of an official state visit. After Mr. Modi addressed a joint session of Congress for the second time in his career, he joined his American counterpart for an opulent […]
There are only so many options for the future of the relationship between China and the United States. Iāve been able to identify three: One of the two countries makes the active choice to initiate a military campaign against the other. The two nations continue playing their ongoing game of chicken, hoping against hope to […]
Report after report after report warns of the pending ārematch from hellā that āfew Americans want to seeā pitting an 80 year old incumbent against a man currently being charged with multiple felonies– in truth, the octogenarian is hardly innocent, and the criminal defendant is hardly an image of youth.Ā The reality that two deeply […]
Franceās pursuit of European āstrategic autonomyā has ignited debates surrounding the nature of transatlantic relations against the backdrop of shifting global power dynamics. Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has emerged as the vanguard in the effort to redefine Europeās international role. Macronās message was unmistakable during his controversial state visit to China in April 2023: […]
Recently, it was reported that during the presentation of the teams participating in the European Weightlifting Competition, a man ran onto the stage and set fire to the Azerbaijani flag, as the crowd booed the appearance of the Azerbaijani athletes on stage.Ā Later on, it was reported that the man who did this was a […]
On April 5th, U.S. Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, welcomed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Ms. Tsaiās visit with Mr. McCarthy, who is second in line to the presidency, is the highest-ever profile meeting between Taiwanese and U.S. lawmakers on American soil. Accompanied by a bipartisan […]
Standing next to the president of the European Commission in London, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the inauguration of the Windsor Framework on February 27th. The agreement appears to settle the dispute with the European Union over Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., while finally giving Brexiteers something to cheer about. […]
With the war in Ukraine entering its eleventh month on January 24th, itās clear the conflict is ushering in a new era of international politics. Countries are reassessing their security challenges in a world shaped by great power competition. U.S. security assurances are no longer remedying its allyās security concerns, with some countries reevaluating their […]
According to the Azerbaijani government, a landmine field was recently found in Sarybaba with about 350 landmines planted in the area.Ā It was reported that despite repeated calls for accurate landmine maps, Armenia has not taken any practical steps in this regard.Ā Ā After the Second Karabakh War, hundreds of civilians were killed or severely injured […]
The prevalence of violent extremism in the United States poses an increasing threat on national security. Historically, policymakers have focused counterterrorism efforts on external Islamic terror threats. A shift in focus is necessary to address the alarming rise of far-right ideology within the United States following the presidency of Donald Trump. According to the Center […]
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine threatens the existing system of international relations and creates the preconditions for regional conflicts in Europe. In Ukraine, Putin has tested and created a new tool for blurring borders and separating the territories of neighboring countries by creating so-called “gray zones” or “gray enclaves”, the classic examples of which are […]
A pair of August elections in Africa produced clear winners, while also sending mixed messages about the strength of each country’s democracy. Meanwhile, two contests in Europe provide potential inroads for right-wing parties. KenyaĀ In Kenya’s August 9 election, Deputy President William Ruto defeated opposition leader Raila Odinga by approximately 233,000 votes, 51ā49 percent. 65 […]
Each of us in the twenty-first century recognizes the negative effects of climate change on the future of the earth and strives to mitigate them as much as possible. The global community is attempting to warn international organizations and states about the magnitude of the disasters that await us in the future by organizing various […]
With less than five months until the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is making final preparations to host millions of fans. FIFA permitted Qatar to host the 2022 games back in 2010. Since then, Qatar has spent an estimated $220 billion on new stadiums, roads, hotels, and other necessities to accommodate incoming fans. The burden of […]
Americans must never for Khojaly, Rwanda, Bosnia and other genocides and crimes against humanity.Ā Ā Ā Ā On February 26, Azerbaijanis around the world remember the 613 innocent Azerbaijani men, women and children who were slaughtered in Khojaly for the crime of being Azerbaijani.Ā Ā Rabbi Israel Barouk wrote inĀ Khojaly: A Crime against Humanity,Ā āOf those who perished, 56 people were […]
Though much has changed in the years since the end of the Second World War, much of the thinking in Americaās mainline foreign policy has remained the same. Many Americans look out into the world as if the United States was the lone nation capable of taking on the worldās most daunting challenges, and, as […]
The conclusion of Nord Stream 2ās construction through the Baltic Sea poses a range of geo-economic and security challenges ā and not only to Eastern Europe. Whether the Biden Administrationās surprising approval of Nord Stream 2 this summer means that the pipeline will soon start operation remains an open question. The US Congress seems to […]
This edition of Great Decisions High School, published by the Foreign Policy Association, provides an introduction to the complexities of foreign policy, exploring how nations interact, form alliances, handle conflicts, and navigate global challenges. The resource is designed to help students understand the strategies, decision-making processes, and consequences of foreign policy choices. Key Topics Covered: […]
Even following Americaās hasty and disorganized withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States remains involved in prominent military conflicts in Libya and Syria (and, frankly, Afghanistan) – not to mention many smaller combat operations in other nations around the world. In these conflict zones, the United States conducts armed drone strikes, and occasionally participates in standard […]
Economic sanctions have become an increasingly common foreign policy tool, especially for the United States. What is the nature of the politics behind U.S. policy regarding economic sanctions? Recent events, especially the negotiations concerning the United Statesā possible return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, often called the āIran nuclear dealā), as well […]
This Great Decisions High School issue, published by the Foreign Policy Association, explores the complexities of immigration in the United States. The content is designed to engage high school students in discussions about the historical, political, and economic aspects of immigration, making it a valuable resource for educators. Key Topics Covered: Why Educators Should Consider […]
Admissions are Now Open! The FPA is proud to announce that the annual Judith L. Biggs Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute is now accepting applications from teachers across North America! If you apply today, you will have the opportunity to join a top-tier group of fellow educators for one week of intensive international affairs workshops […]
Resolute development of the already explored and accessible Ukrainian resources could result in a substantial increase of Ukrainian gas production. The boost would not only enable the country to fully cover its domestic gas needs, but also make Ukraine largely self-sufficient from an energy perspective. In a best-case scenario, increased production could even allow Ukraine to start exporting gas to or via neighboring European states. This would be feasible because Ukraineās substantial gas transportation system means that the necessary infrastructure is already in place to bring large amounts of gas to the EU.
In recent days, headlines in America have been dominated by pundits raising awareness about the widespread racial inequality in America following the brutal murder of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks by white police officers and the subsequent race riots that have occurred across the nation.Ā Both murders were horrific and unjustifiable.Ā However, it is pivotal […]
The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) is excited to introduce this initiative, designed to amplify student voices, accomplishments, and curiosities in global affairs. For over 100 years, FPAāa non-partisan, not-for-profit organizationāhas promoted awareness and informed debate on U.S. foreign policy and global issues. Recognizing teens’ eagerness to engage in critical discussions, weāve tailored Great Decisions resources […]
Iranian leaders have long boasted that they have taken control of four Arab capitals ā Baghdad, Syria, Beirut, and Yemen ā simultaneously threatening Israel’s security. Beirut recently began to rise up in mass popular protests against the “regime” and “corruption.” It is no secret to anyone that the “regime” in Lebanon is now fully controlled […]
From now on the Iranian regime will have to face hard facts as they continue to threaten the region. U.S. sanctions and worldwide pressures on the regime have been made possible because of calm, resolute diplomatic and political action coming from a strategic alliance between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This alliance can put an end […]
In recent days, Bangladeshi Hindus commemorated the murder of Kalidas Baral, a prominent leader in the Bagerhat district 19 years ago.Ā Kalidas Baral, who was a lawyer by profession, was shot dead on August 20, 2000. He was the President of the District Puja Udjapon Parishad, a central leader of the Hindu, Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad […]
Next month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit India.Ā Ā Shipan Kumer Basu, the President of the World Hindu Struggle Committee, stressed that the 55 million Bangladeshi refugees who are presently being sheltered in India are very excited about this visit, believing that Netanyahu can potentially join forces with Modi in order to […]
We have not yet begun to fight! The Trump Administrationās August 5 designation of China as a currency manipulator marks a new crossing of policy lanes in US-China relations.Ā Ā In the many facets of that relationship and the rising tension between the two, America needs a clear understanding of our objectives and priorities.Ā Ā Followers of […]
Dictatorial regimes usually like to bully small ordinary people into submission.Ā They think just because they have absolute power that they will succeed against the underdog.Ā However, famous American writer Mark Twain once wrote, āItās not the size of the dog in the fight.Ā It is the size of the fight in the dog.āĀ In […]
In recent days, Pakistan arrested the mastermind behind the Mumbai terror attacks.Ā Ā Hafez Mohammed Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Toiba, a Pakistani-based terror organization, organized a series of terror attacks in Mumbai, India in 2008.Ā The targets included a train station, two expensive hotels and a Chabad synagogue.Ā 166 people were murdered in these coordinated terror […]
What He Doesn’t Want Us to Know About the “Great Patriotic War“ Avoidance, lies and accusations–somersaulting history–have undergirded Moscow’s aggression for centuries. Western ignorance, naivete and credulity have multiplied that asset, allowing Ā Russia to enrich the former to weapons grade. In Nezavisimaya newspaper earlier this year, Putin advisor Vladislav Surkov wrote expansively of Russia’s success […]
How post-imperial democracies die: A comparison of #WeimarGermany and post-Soviet #Russia. With Steffen Kailitz of the HAIT @TUDresden_DE and @DVPW_Vergleich in @Elsevier‘s “#Communist and Post-Communist Studies” #politics#politicalscience#democratization academia.edu link Researchgate.net link Sciencedirect.com link While socioeconomic crisis – like in Germany after World War I and in Russia after the Cold War – is a necessary […]
Although education in Russia remains a politicized area that is Ā subjected tocovert and never-ending ideological skirmishes, some state policies turned out to be efficient. The stable rate of improvements throughout international rankings, however, might not stay for long, as the sphere still requires drastic reforms that are not coming at any time soon. According to […]
After ISIS was forced out of Baghouz, Syria, the murderous terror group is starting to move its forces to Africa and Asia.Ā Ā After the last ISIS-held area in Syria fell in Baghouz, many people in the West are under the impression that the murderous terror group notorious for beheading Westerners, raping Yezidis and Christians en […]
https://www.ibidem.eu/en/reihen/gesellschaft-politik/ukrainian-voices.html The book series āUkrainian Voicesā publishes English- and German-language monographs, edited volumes, document collections and anthologies of articles authored and composed by Ukrainian politicians, intellectuals, activists, officials, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, and diplomats. The seriesā aim is to introduce Western and other audiences to Ukrainian explorations and interpretations of historic and current domestic as well […]
Ever since the beginning of its armed struggle against Moscow during World War II, the Ukrainian far right has been used by the Kremlin as a bogeyman. The political radicalism, war-time mass crimes, fascist leanings, and manifest militancy of historic Ukrainian ultra-nationalism has been employed by Soviet and post-Soviet Russian agitation among Russian and Western […]
In a worst-case scenario, political-technological trickery could, after the first round of Ukraineās upcoming presidential elections, unsettle social stability in Ukraine. Cynical puppet masters are prepared to risk the outbreak of a major domestic civil conflict for the sake of securing re-election of Ukraineās incumbent president. The relatively pluralistic political competition that emerged after the […]
Following the recent terror in Kashmir, will Hindus be forced out of every area in the Indian subcontinent that presently has a Muslim majority?Ā Ā Last week, a grenade blew up in Kashmir, injuring 18 people.Ā This incident occurred after a Pakistani Islamist terror group murdered 40 Indian soldiers in the disputed region, which both Pakistan […]
The USās Baltic and Adriatic Charters could become templates for embedding Ukraine and Georgia as well as, perhaps, Moldova and Azerbaijan into a provisional multilateral security structure. By Iryna Vereshchuk and Andreas Umland It is remarkable how strongly some international organizationsā coverage of the East-Central European and South Caucasian post-Soviet space has come to […]
Ā Four factors make further tensions between Russia and Ukraine along the shores of the Crimean peninsula and Azov Sea probable. Ā On 25 November 2018, at the Kerch Strait, Russia attacked as well as captured three Ukrainian navy vessels, and arrested their 24 sailors. The maritime clash indicates that the focal point of the […]
In October of last year, the Nobel Committee awarded Dr. Denis Mukwege with the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Mukwege is a world-renowned gynecologist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who established the Panzi Hospital, which practices a holistic approach to providing assistance to survivors of sexual assault. Congo has been deemed by the international […]
The local governance reform that Kyiv started in 2014 will, if successful, have cross-border repercussions by way of making the Ukrainian state more resilient, compatible with the EU, and a model for other post-Soviet republics. The currently ongoing decentralization reform in Ukraine leads to beneficial effects for the everyday life of citizens. Public administration becomes […]
Seeking to become a dominant force in global high-tech manufacturing, the Chinese government launched whatās being called āMade in China 2025.ā By using subsidies, mobilizing state-owned enterprises, and pursuing intellectual property acquisition, the program aims to catch up with, and then surpass, western technological prowess in advanced industries. However, Washington argues that the policy relies […]
Congressman Walter Jones, a Republican who had represented North Carolinaās 3rd congressional district since 1995, died Sunday on his 76th birthday. Jones became ill in July 2018, when he began missing votes in the House of Representatives. He was re-elected unopposed in November, but was too weak to travel to Washington. Instead, his longtime colleague […]
In recent days, US President Donald Trump congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her re-election in a letter sent to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister. However, at the same time, President Trump acknowledged that Bangladesh should ārenew its commitment to protecting human rights, individual freedom of expression and democratic institutions.ā According to Trump, āOngoing reports of attacks on […]
In the first week of the New Year, Somalia was one of the few countries that dominated the headlines. Not because one of her finest daughters, Ilhan Omar, who came to the US two decades ago and was elected as an American lawmaker, but because Somalia declared the UNās chief diplomatāwho had only been working […]
A recent Forum of Democratic Forces may have finally started the process of formation of a broad pro-reform coalition of largely untainted anti-corruption fighters. On 11th January 2019, Kyiv hosted a congress of various pro-reformist grouping that together announced their support for the presidential candidacy of former Minister of Defense Anatoliy Hrytsenko. In fact, the […]
In the wake of reports of massive voter fraud in Bangladesh, when according to numerous opposition activists, the election was essentially robbed from the people by the Sheikh Hasina government, Shipan Kumer Basu, the President of the World Hindu Struggle Committee, reported that there is now a rapid increase in violence targeting both oppositions activities […]
Most political experts in and outside Ukraine have reacted negatively or very negatively to the announcement, on New Yearās eve, of Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensākyy that he will become a candidate in Ukraineās presidential elections scheduled for 31 March (first round) and 21 April 2019 (second round of the two front-runners). Indeed, Zelensākyyās submission is […]
http://www.quiz-maker.com/QINY3IR
Starting this week we will be running a foreign affairs weekly quiz each Monday! Here is the first one! Enjoy!
Members of the Me Too Movement who protest against harassment and sexual abuse are not āweakā and are not ālooking for attentionā but rather are heroines speaking out for justice.Ā Ā Ā American actress Lindsey Lohan recently came under fire after she proclaimed that women who speak up about sexual harassment ālook weakā and that some […]
The new Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir, has indicated that he will reverse significant gains made by China under the outgoing Prime Minister, Najib Razak. In response, China has called on Dr. Mahathir to honour bilateral agreements and investments. How might the change in government impact these agreements, Chinese investments, and bilateral ties between China […]
The last year has seen a period of deadlock in Eastern Ukraine. As the armed conflict continues into 2018 amid fruitless attempts to reach a stable ceasefire, should we expect a flare-up in the Donbass region? Permanent ceasefire remains beyond reach The progress on Minsk II ā the key agreement that was supposed to put […]
In this continuation of GRIās series on the emerging technologies of war, Mauro Lubrano explains how additive manufacturing ā or 3D printing ā has the potential to impact theĀ modus operandi of terrorist organizations, especially with regards to the ease of obtaining arms. Additive manufacturing ā the technology Additive manufacturing refers to a process employed to […]
Thousands demonstrated against President Emmanuel Macronās labour law reforms in September. With the Presidentās popularity in decline, the French government will face a new set of challenges in the first months of 2018. In late September, the freshly elected government led by Emmanuel Macron faced its first street protests when thousandsĀ demonstratedĀ against controversial reforms to Franceās […]
On my recent trip, I saw a different Palestine. This one has international software firms, promising young musicians, optimistic university students, and great ice cream. But it’s still occupied.Ā With the mysterious travels of Lebanon’s prime minister, new risks of conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia or Israel, and internal struggles among competing Palestinian factions, […]
I’ve missed you even if you did not know that you missed me. From 2007 to 2014 I was at various times the: Blogger/Senior Blogger/Senior Editor for African Affairs here at FPA. Well, I’m back! I’ll mostly be focusing on South Africa, because politics and society in South Africa in the next few months will […]
This fall, two of the EUās biggest neighbors decided to celebrate the new school year with a slew of retrograde education policies. Ukraine sparked off a minor diplomatic crisis on Europeās eastern frontier after Kiev unveiled politically charged plans to prevent minority-language students from learning in their native tongues. Earlier, Turkey drew strong international condemnation […]
Few analysts have looked at the effects on Erdoganās future ā and that of the Turkish state ā if the final votes tip the polls towards the āNoā option.
After emerging from a harsh dictatorship, now comes the gargantuan task of reconciling Gambia’s past horrors, and laying the groundwork for future prosperity.
During the Forum, Secretary Johnson focused on the evolving nature of the terrorism threat, what we need to do in response, and the need for resiliency.
Cybersecurity and terrorism were the two topics that dominated the Aspen Security Forum this year.
Paul Nash of the Foreign Policy Association spoke with director Joey Boink about “Burden of Peace,” the challenges of he faced while filming in one of the world’s more dangerous countries, and human rights in Guatemala.
Last week was pretty interesting for cyber policy issues.
While news about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the Greek debt floods the airwaves, other hotspots simmer just out of view.
The theme of this yearās event was: Protecting Cyberspace: Policy, Partnerships, and Practical Solutions. The event was well organized, informative and thought provoking.
How does the “the eroding authority of government” impact American foreign policy making?
Kazakhstanās tragic history of nuclear catastrophe still bears heavily on the national consciousness in the midst of new talks with Toshiba.
If the crisis worsens, Nigerian army capabilities will surely fall short without outside help.
Americaās true strategic logic of trade is to promote development for every possible people and place. In practice, though, the first two of Fromanās three themes compromise that of broad-based development.
A Syrian human rights group reported on the struggles faced by a young couple living under Islamic State rule in Raqqa. The two of them are thinking of getting married and fleeing to Turkey.
Many people ā ordinary citizens and high-ranking government officials alike ā tacitly view the torture issue as a moral dilemma. They acknowledge that the practice is morally repugnant, but they also assume that it is a fast and effective method for securing vital information that cannot otherwise be obtained.
On a chilly November evening in 2011, Polandās foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, stood before the German Society of Foreign Affairs in Berlin and delivered one of the best speeches of his career.
Despite the roller coaster of political and security-related drama that dominated the headlines in this past year, I still remain optimistic about Somaliaās future ā cautiously of course.
Ten of the most important books from 2014 that reflect developments of the past year in international affairs.
Recruiters are on tight schedules, and when reviewing a potential candidate for a job, have to move quickly. This often means taking only a few minutes to scan resumes before deciding on who will be invited for an interview, or who will be referred to the hiring agent.
Ambassador Hill sat down with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss his new book and share his views on U.S. foreign policy.
Latin America often receives secondary attention with the worldās focus on the Middle East. For North Americans, however, issues with regional partners may have more weight on the average person in the U.S. and Canada than problems in Iraq and Ukraine.
The following is a response by the government of Djibouti to the Oct. 17, 2014 post “China’s war for Africa’s hearts and minds”
A silent controversy is taking place in my community in Canada as the leaders of some of the Provinces in Canada plan to set off on a trade mission to China.
It was 38 years ago, in 1976, that scientists first identified the virus. It had been found in a small village in northern Zaire (as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was called in those days) along the banks of the Ebola River.
In his most recent flamboyant sign of making a clear break with the past, Viktor OrbĆ”n, Hungaryās Prime Minister, has taken the unexpected step of moving out of the Hungarian equivalent of the White House, choosing instead a not-too-shabby castle in the historical Buda Castle District, the former place of residence for Hungaryās kings of yore.
Our favorite longreads and blog posts from the past week.
Neither Russiaās violation of its international legal obligations nor its institutional blockade of the U.N. Security Council can possibly be in the interest of the other U.N. member states, least of all in the interest of the less mighty among them. Hence, when the worldās leaders gather for this yearās opening of the United Nationsā 69th General Assembly they would be well-advised to address this dual attack on the foundations of global governance.
Far from being an anomalous event, Russiaās coercive military pressure on Ukraine in the aftermath of the Maidan revolution is typical of the way great powers, including the United States, have behaved in the past.
As the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) convene in Wales for a two-day conference, the world watches how the most important and powerful joint-military and political alliance will handle the myriad of problems it must face in many corners of the globe. With Russia knocking on the door of Eastern Europe Ā and […]
Our five favorite longreads and blog posts from the past week.
Sanctions are all the rage in contemporary foreign policy circles. Following interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya,Ā Western populations rightly areĀ less and less supportive of direct military action, especially of any initiative involving “boots on the ground.” Sanctions provide a tempting policy solution to decision makers all too conscious of public opinion; a sort of “financial […]
Investments in Colombia in the ’80s and ’90s were often limited to large multinational companies. These companies would take the risks to mine in Colombiaās regions despite the dangers present to their employees. On many occasions, Colombians and foreign nationals were kidnapped for ransom, and manyĀ international workers and influential Colombians would not survive or were […]
Reza Marashi is Research Director at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC).Ā Prior to NIAC, Mr. Marashi worked in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Ā He was also a political analystĀ at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), covering China-Middle East issues, and previously a consultant at a Tehran-based […]
G20 Trade Ministers met July 19 in Sydney, Australia, and reported the proceedings in a Chairmanās Summary. The only major media coverageĀ of the event highlighted a joint report, of the OECD, World Bank, and WTO, on āGlobal Value Chains (GVCs).ā For those acquainted with trade policy, the ministersā call for trade-supporting measures is familiar. […]
The last three weeks in world politics has been nothing less than a complete disaster of the international community. Since the end of the 2014 World Cup, it appears that anything that President Obama would have considered to be a major issue has appeared as a crisis upon a crisis. Unfortunately, there has been mostly […]
Our favorite longform articles and blogs from around the web this week!
Karen Elliot House, Bessma Momani, Kamran Bokhari and Ayham Kamel joined Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association to discuss the growing regional instability, Arab policy, and the breakdown of security structure in Iraq and Syria.
Our favorite longform articles, blogs and podcasts from around the web this week.
Clearly, there is a danger in the prospects of a bomb controlled by such Iranian hardliners. However, there are those in the United States who continue to apply a punitive calculus formulated on every perceived lie and outright deception by the Iranian government over the last 30 years ā of which there admittedly have been many ā as justification to force a no domestic enrichment agreement. This position is wrong, indefensible, and risks diplomatic failure.
Our favorite longform articles and blogs from around the web this week.
Our five favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
The Tea Partyās efforts to kill the Export-Import Bank of the United States may be the very thing that assures the agencyās survival. And that would be a shame. The Ex-Im, as it is known, was established 80 years ago as the Export-Import Bank of Washington. Its raison dāetre was to finance the sale of […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
It is interesting to see the current commentary on ISIS/ISIL in Iraq and how policymakers and the mainstream media have reported on a situation that is confusing and complicated. In reality, the suppression of the 2009 election in Iran lead to a violent response to protestors in Syria, leading to a dithering policy on […]
Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi is a Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the author, most recently, of āThe EUās sanction regime against Iran in the aftermath of the JPA.āĀ Ms. Bassiri is a PhD candidate at Kingās College London, where her research deals with the E3-EU diplomatic initiative on the Iranian nuclear […]
Our favorite longform articles and blogs from around the web this week!
Will Iraq haunt Obamaā second mandate? Obamaās approval rating in foreign policy continues to slide down amid of an eventual military intervention ā through airstrikes ā in Iraq. According to a recent poll ran by the New York Times and CBS News Poll, President Obamaās approval rating in foreign policy is sliding down and is […]
When planning an international beach holiday, few holidaymakers think of China when choosing to spend their time on a beach.Ā China does boast one top destination for beachgoers, Hainan island, but the quality of most of its mainland beaches has diminished greatly in recent years by floating trash, oil slicks, or abundant algae. Given the […]
Our favorite long articles and blogs from around the web this week!
Russia is exploring settlement of trade payments in renminbiĀ (China’s external currency). Ā U.S. sanctions on Cuba may require sanctions on Venezuela to remain viable.Ā Ā And sanctions on Iran and Sudan led to criminal prosecution of BNP Paribas, and a spat with France. Policymakers may understand that military power is finite, but they seem to think AmericanĀ economic, trade […]
āAn old rule that I’ve used with my intelligence officers over the years, whether in the military, or now, in the State Department, goes like this: Tell me what you know. Tell me what you don’t know. And then, based on what you really know and what you really don’t know, tell me what you […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
Following the largely negative international reaction to its latest aggressive actions in Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam, Beijing may be trying a new approach in settling longstanding territorial disputes with its neighbors.Ā On Monday, Chinaās Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced China is prepared to resolve its border disputes with India by peaceful means, āThrough years […]
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, aĀ recently released prisoner of the Taliban, has become the target of one of Washingtonās favorite games: shooting first and asking questions later. Much of what has been said Ā about Bergdahl is so blatantly partisan or so needlessly abusive as not to deserve comment. In the course of it, however, a couple of […]
President Obamaā graduation speech at the military academy at West Point sent mix signal about the priorities of American foreign policy and American leadership (read Michael Crowley’s analysisĀ on the address). First of all, the central point of his speech dealt with his perceived principal threat to the U.S., radical Islamic terrorism. Many experts tend to […]
French bank BNP Paribas will likely pay up to $10 billion in penalties in a settlement with U.S. prosecutors for alleged transactions, dating back to 2002, with Iran and Sudan, countries sanctioned as terrorism sponsors. Ā Also, prosecutors want BNP to plead guilty to criminal charges. U.S. sanctions on terrorists and their enablers are appropriate, as […]
photo: WN.com Rock, paper, scissors is a popular game among youth in China, and can be played anywhere and anytime between two people.Ā In the game, both participants count to three and then reveal their hand – a fist symbolizes a rock, a flat hand is paper, and two fingers signify scissors.Ā The winner is […]
Our favorite longform articles and blogs from around the web this week.
Our favorite longform articles and blog posts from around the web this week.
LinkedIn is a wonderful tool for showing the professional that you are and bringing forth your body of work for employers, recruiters and colleagues to see. It is one of todayās most important social network tools of the work place. But remember this: Ā It is not Facebook. Ā Be careful of inappropriate pictures and an incomplete […]
Protest continued in Vietnam this past weekend as a 67-year-old Vietnamese woman burned herself to death at the front gate of Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday morning. Vietnamese authorities believe the suicide was the result of personal troubles and anger, as they discovered a bag at the scene containing seven banners […]
Our favorite longform articles and blogs from around the web this week.
From humble economist to international rock star: this has been the fate of Thomas Piketty, a French economist that has almost become a household name after publishing the modestly namedĀ Capitalism in the Twenty First Century. The 696-page book quickly shot up to the top of bestseller lists around the world (becoming Harvard University Pressā best […]
Our five favorite longreads and blog posts from the past week.
U.S.Ā defense policy has been appropriately preoccupied with terrorism since 9/11, and in fact since the end of the Cold War. During the same timespan, however, the impact Chinaās rise has been the most debated geostrategic issue in U.S. security circles. Most agree on the significance ofĀ Chinaās development and its desire to be considered a great […]
Recent events highlight the potential for conflict between China and the U.S., and the larger picture of U.S.-China relations remains fundamentally perplexing. Ā Is our relationship one of economic partners complicated by politics, or of adversaries that happen to share economic ties?Ā As our āfrenemy,ā is China more a geopolitical foe or economic partner, a co-manager […]
Our five favorite longreads and blog posts from the past week.
Letās be honest, foreign policy making has never been democratic. The label of national security has offered governments around the world the power to hide information from theirĀ citizens. Aside from this statement, the making of American foreign policy has completely shifted since 9/11. Not only this shift was abruptĀ and made under intense emotional stress, but […]
Eric Margolis is an American-born award-winning and internationally syndicated columnist. With three decades of reporting from the world’s hotspots in the Middle East, Southwest and Central Asia, Mr. Margolis is considered a veteran of many conflicts. His articles have appeared in major Western and Asian newspapers. Mr. Margolis is also a regular contributor to major […]
Our favorite long reads, blogs, and podcast from around the web this week.
After an absence of more than 20 years, American forces will return to the Philippines under a 10-year agreement reached between the two countries on Monday in conjunction with U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Manila. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement seeks to broaden U.S. access to bases on a rotational, temporary basis, and […]
Reactions to President Obama’s recent Asian tour in China’s state-run media have been overwhelmingly negative. This should come as no surprise to anyone. Of particular irritation to China were a U.S.-Japan joint statement confirming that the allied nations’ security treaty applies to all territories administered by Japan, including the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, and a U.S.-Philippines […]
Word has it that China will surpass the U.S. as the worldās largest economy by the end of this year, according to a recent World Bank report. This is an event of dramatic, albeit symbolic, importance for the way the world will conduct its affairs. With this in mind, what can be expected from international […]
In contrast to their strident rhetoric about Russiaās annexation of Crimea, the EU and the U.S. have imposed only limited, albeit targeted, sanctions, primarily against Russian President Vladimir Putinās inner circle. By imposing sanctions on Bank Rossiya and Mr. Timchenko, Western leaders are sending a tacit message that some of Mr. Putinās personal wealth kept in the West is potentially in jeopardy.
Our five favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
map: ChinaSmack Tensions escalated in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, as Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow separatist rebels, and Russia launched army drills near the border in response, raising fears its troops would invade. The Ukrainian action took place to recapture territory from the rebels, who have seized swaths of eastern Ukraine since April […]
At a time when the administration wants to convince Vladimir Putin that the U.S. has the will to employ potent economic tools to further its diplomatic objectives, a 34-page document that the Treasury Department delivered to Congress on April 15 doesnāt help our credibility. The āSemiannual Report to Congress on International Economic and Exchange Rate […]
Two hundred and ten years after Aaron Burr felled Alexander Hamilton with a pistol shot, modern-day Jeffersonians are taking aim at a quintessentially Hamiltonian institution, hoping to deal it a mortal blow in Americaās revivified duel over the proper role of government. The fight is over the Export-Import Bank of the United States, whose charter […]
Hosted by Sarwar Kashmeri, the Foreign Policy AssociationāsĀ Great Decisions podcast seriesĀ will headline issues together with the leaders whose decisions today will mold the foreign policy of tomorrow. Each podcast will tackle a different Great Decisions topic in the 2014 series, a list of which can be foundĀ here. The Great Decisions podcasts can also be found […]
Over the weekend, the New York Times published an article titled āIn Cold War Echo, Obama Strategy Writes Off Putin.ā It caught my eye because it used the catchphrase ā Cold War ā that politicians as policymakers, journalists as conveyers and we as an audience have grown familiar with. Literary devices go a long way […]
China’s state-run media have gone on the attack against two leading Hong Kong democracy activists for their recent visit to the United States. Martin Lee and Anson Chan visited Washington and New York earlier this month to gain U.S. support for democracy in Hong Kong, speaking with U.S. leaders and addressing audiences at public forums […]
Our five favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
This week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung oversaw the launch of the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance force, set up to ensure the enforcement of fishing laws in the East Sea, otherwise known as the South China Sea. As established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the force will assist deep-sea fishermen and […]
Errol Morrisā latest documentary, the Unknown Known, about and starring Donald Rumsfeld offers a superb regard into the life of one of the most divisive American foreign policy makers. This is not only a picture about power, but also about truth, imagination, history and rational action. The Unknown Known provides an opportunity for international relations […]
The Russian annexation of Crimea and the continued menacing of Ukraine has given rise to a rather surprising challenge. People are calling for the United States to step up the export of domestically produced oil and, especially, natural gas in order to save Ukraine. The call is not without a logical foundation. Ukraineāa highly inefficient […]
Japanese fighter jet pilots are getting no rest these days. In a statement released Wednesday, the Japanese Defense Ministry revealed that Japanese fighter jets were scrambled against Chinese planes a record high 415 times during the year ending in March. That number is up 36 percent from a year earlier ā and is the highest […]
Lukas Birk is the author of Polaroids from the Middle Kingdom: Old and New World Visions of China, a book released in January 2014 that compiles images he took from diverse parts of contemporary China, using his fatherās expired Polaroid films.
What Happened to Canada? n+1 By Marianne Lenabat Marianne Lenabat discusses the dramatic political reorientation that has taken place in recent years in Canada. As Canada’s left parties decline, its renown social services may begin to decline, and populist politics will set in. Year of the Pigskin: My hilarious, heartbreaking, triumphant season with the American […]
In aĀ New York TimesĀ op-edĀ last month entitled āConfronting Putinās Russia,ā Michael McFaul, the recently retired U.S. Ambassador to Moscow, channeled frustration over tensions in Crimea into a call for āisolatingā Russia. His case, though passionate, appears to rely on some questionable assumptions and prescribes a rather shortsighted approach. Taking Responsibility McFaul begins by arguing that, āa […]
Hong Kong democracy activists gained a boost in Washington last week with a visit to the capital by Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders Martin Lee and Anson Chan. Lee is the founding chairman of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong, Chan is the former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong, and both are former members […]
Touraj Daryaee is the Howard C. Baskerville Professor in the History of Iran and the Persianate World and the Associate Director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California, Irvine. A leading Iranologist, Dr. Daryaee is the editor of the Name-ye Iran-e Bastan: The International Journal […]
Our favorite blog posts and long reads from the past week.
With the Hungarian parliamentary elections just days away, Western media remains perplexed by the popularity of Viktor OrbĆ”n and his ruling Fidesz party in polls. Having been denounced time and again as a power-abusing autocrat by outsiders, OrbĆ”n’s image within his home country remains relatively unscathed. Many observers have misunderstood the reality of OrbĆ”nās […]
After World War II, the theory that economic integration would reduce the possibility of open conflict between two nation states was tried and was deemed successful by history when France and West Germany signed the first accords that would grow to become the European Union. When Russia recently annexed Crimea, the first response by Western […]
In a wide-ranging discussion with Reza Akhlaghi of the Foreign Policy Association, Dr. Ian Bremmer discusses what he considers to be a disengaged foreign policy by the United States. On April 10, 2014 Dr. Bremmer will be speaking at the Foreign Policy Association onĀ the world’s biggest political risks.Ā Dr. Ian Bremmer is the founder and […]
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is scheduled to travel to China next week for the first time as Secretary of Defense. Prior to that, Hagel will first travel to Hawaiāi where he will meet with nine of the ten defense ministers from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), April 1-2. (Thailandās defense minister, Yingluck […]
Check out our five favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
There has been a lot of speculation lately about the impact of the Crimean Crisis on the situations in Syria and Iran. The current negotiations regarding these countries involve cooperation between Russia, the United States, and other countries now directly and indirectly involved on opposites sides of the Crimean question. Naturally, that bodes ill for […]
First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to China with her mother and daughters has been a big soft-power success for the United States. Praised for her style and warmth by ordinary Chinese citizens, Ms. Obama was likewise well-received by Chinese media. The First Lady’s seven-day visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Peng Liyuan has […]
No matter how divided Washington may be when it comes to foreign policy, one aspect proved to forge agreement throughout the 2014 winter: The U.S. should promote free trade, particularly with the European Union, countries along the Pacific Rim and GCC nations. A critical aspect of trade promotion that Iāve seen unfold in my own […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
Vladimir Putinās encroachments on Ukraine have drawn Western investment and trade sanctions in response.Ā Ā U.S. sanctions are levied against certain Russian individuals, and serve reasonable diplomatic notice of our opposition.Ā However, we should not look to trade and other economic sanctions as a long term answer to Putinās aggression. First, it is clear […]
On March 5, China announced that it was increasing its defense budget for 2014 by 12.2 percent over the 2013 level, to $131 billion. Analysts and diplomats greeted the news with complaints that Beijingās disclosures about its military spending are unduly opaque and often low-ball the actual defense budget by not including many weapons programs. […]
If the 20th century was about an ideological fight between market-economy versus Communism, the 21st could very much be about liberal democracy versus imperialism. This could be the very lesson of Russiaās invasion of Crimea. Power politics is ā even though it has never disappeared ā now a reality that the EU and the U.S. […]
Our five favorite longreads and blog posts from the past week.
As the Ukrainian crisis escalates, President Barack Obama has been busy making the diplomatic rounds trying to build support against the unilateral attempts by Crimea to break away from the new government in Ukraine. President Obama said the United States is examining a series of economic and diplomatic steps to “isolate Russia,” and he called […]
On Tuesday, March 11, the Peace Index project run by the Evens Program for Mediation and Conflict Resolution at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Democracy Institute published the results of their latest poll. The poll indicates that the majority of the Israeli public distrusts and remains skeptical about the motives and considerations of U.S. […]
Need some reading for the weekend? Check out our editorial staff’s favorite five long reads and blog posts.
Earlier this week, Israel seized a Gaza-bound ship carrying advanced Iranian weapons made in Syria. The story broke while Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu was in the United States to meet with President Barack Obama and to address the annual AIPAC conference. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif took to Twitter to deny the story: https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/441470473579155456 […]
With April fast approaching, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an official visit to Washington this week in a public push for Israeli demands regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. On Monday, Netanyahu met with United States President Barak Obama in the Oval Office in what a senior official in the Obama Administration called not […]
ByĀ Sarwar Kashmeri Before the United States gets too worked up about the Russian “invasion” of Ukraine, it should recallĀ its own invasion in 1983 of the idyllic island of GrenadaĀ some 100 miles from the United States. America invaded Grenada to install a U.S.-friendly government after a Communist coup had led to the breakdown of law and […]
As events unfold quickly in Ukraine, Russia’s increasingly close ally China is hedging its bets on an uncertain outcome. China has been quick to condemn U.S. and European involvement in Ukraine’s affairs, but has withheld judgment either for or against its ally Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propagandists have made […]
In what local authorities are calling “an organized, premeditated violent terrorist attack,” 10 assailants dressed in black and wielding long knives stormed the train station in the southern city of Kunming, indiscriminately slaughtering thirty-three people and wounding 130. Police fatally shot four of the assailants , arrested one and are still searching for the remaining […]
The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that began in July of last year are closing in on the nine-month deadline set by their organizer, Secretary of State John Kerry. With this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with President Obama this week at the White House takes on special significance. The President has been noticeably […]
Editor’s Note: Ian Bremmer is President of Eurasia Group, the worldās leading global political risk research and consulting firm. Dr. Bremmer is also Global Research Professor at the New York University (NYU) and author, most recently, of Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World. by Ian Bremmer As Russia conducts direct […]
Need some reading for the weekend? Check out our favorite reads from the past week.
In the latest spark added to the ongoing fire over territorial waters in the South China Sea, a diplomatic protest was handed to Beijing’s charge d’affairs in Manila on Tuesday. The move follows the alleged firing of a water cannon by a Chinese government vessel on January 27 to drive away two Filipino fishing boats […]
Chinese authorities have formally charged outspoken Uighur scholar and human rights activist Ilham Tohti (Uyghur: Ų¦ŁŁŚ¾Ų§Ł ŲŖŁŲ®ŲŖŁā, Chinese: ä¼ååęØå赫ę) with inciting separatism. Arrested in Beijing in January, Tohti is currently being held in China’s far western Xinjiang region and has been denied access to a lawyer on the grounds that his case involves “state secrets.” […]
In approximately one month, United States Secretary of State John Kerryās deadline for negotiations will run out, and the results of the U.S. led Israeli-Palestinian peace talks will be exposed. One of the main issues being discussed revolves around border and security issues in the Jordan Valley. Washington Institute for Near East Policy director […]
President Obama met informally with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the White House on February 21. The meeting took place in defiance of warnings from Beijing that it would “grossly interfere in the internal affairs of China, seriously violate norms governing international relations and severely impair China-U.S. relations.” As expected, the meeting […]
This week the leaders of the three NAFTA nations are meeting in Mexico for an opportunity to tune up NAFTA andĀ repair some points of political contention between “Los Tres Amigos.” Much of the media reporting on the meeting has taken a negative approach to the gathering, pointing out points of contention between the three friends. […]
An estimated 6000 journalists and free speech advocates marched in Hong Kong on February 23 in protest against the erosion of press freedom and free expression in the Chinese territory. Organized by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and other media groups, the demonstration included a rally outside Hong Kong chief executive C.Y. Leung’s office […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
On Sunday, approximately 300 students from across Israel traveled to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The meeting was arranged by Labor MK Hilik Bar. Abbas spoke at length, in both prepared remarks and during a question and answer session. Below are some highlights: On dividing Jerusalem Just last month, Abbas stated that […]
On Wednesday, February 12, Israel Policy Forum released a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in support of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerryās peace process initiative. Over 150 prominent American Jewish leaders signed the letter, which included rabbis, formal officials, activists, scholars, and philanthropists. The letter urged Netanyahu to continue negotiations on […]
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Chinese leaders in Beijing on February 14 and 15 as part of a six-day Asian trip that also included visits to South Korea and Indonesia. Kerry then headed to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for talks on Middle East issues before returning to Washington. Among […]
The EU has proposedĀ that it join with the United States to formally coordinate their financial regulatory activities, asĀ part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Principles (TTIP). Ā U.S. officials reportedly oppose theĀ proposal because such an agreement mightĀ dilute Dodd-Frank and other new American regulations.Ā It is more importantĀ thatĀ they itĀ for reasons of deepĀ principle, andĀ economics. First world executives and […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
Last weekend, Israeli media sources the Times of Israel and Channel 10 reported that United States President Barack Obama did not support Ā Secretary of State John Kerryās peace efforts. The Times of Israel article wrote, āCiting unnamed sources close to the negotiations, Channel 10 news said that Kerry sought Obamaās ‘political backing for confrontation […]
In my last blog, I wrote about suggestions and resources for breaking into International Development. In my daily mails, I often get emails from professionals, and students, asking how to break in or make the transition into the International Development sector. As a follow-up to my last blog article, here are nine suggestions for finding […]
February 11 marks the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, a jolting socio-political and geopolitical event that transformed the dynamics of the Middle East, energy security, and global diplomacy. Iran, at the time a key regional ally of the U.S. and the West, became a virulently anti-U.S. and anti-Western state with a state ideology […]
As the 2014 winter games kick off, this is what you should be reading.
Western countries continue to fund UNRWA out of the belief that by doing so, they are helping to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian refugee community. The United States, as of 2010, donated $247,872,993 to UNRWA, making them the largest financial contributor to the international Palestinian refugee assistance organization. However, recent reports […]
In the spirit of all the verbal “bullying” Ā going on in the media recently surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, I have included a must-see video spoof posted on Youtube by the Yesha Council, the regional council for West Bank settlements, mocking John Kerry’s peacemaking efforts.
China has escalated its war on international news media with stepped-up harassment of foreign journalists and blocking of foreign news websites. This has sparked renewed discord between the United States and China on issues of press freedom and media access but no concrete action as yet from the United States. China’s record on press freedom […]
Ever since the restoration of U.S.-China diplomatic ties in 1979, Beijing has allowed American media organizations, newspapers, and magazines to establish bureaus on the mainland.Ā Although these operations were initially quite small throughout the 1980s and 1990s, China-based newsrooms kept growing during the late 2000s to reflect China’s growing international stature as the “big story.” […]
Need some reading for the weekend? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
In an interview with Jerusalem Online News this week, Jordanian Palestinian pro-democracy activist and journalist Mudar Zahran, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to the Jordanian king, came out against Kerryās peace plan, stressing that the main person who benefits from it is the Jordanian monarchy. Zahran feels that the average Palestinian and […]
Today Palestinian top negotiators will meet with United States Secretary of State John Kerryās team in Washington to go over the U.S. position on all the issues that will be a part of a framework agreement that Kerry aims to share publicly in a few weeks. A senior Palestinian source told Haaretz, āwe want […]
In mid-January, the Peopleās Bank of China (PBoC) announced that its foreign exchange reserves had grown by a breathtaking $157 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. That influx of reserves brought annual growth for 2013 to $508 billion (the largest calendar-year increase ever) and pushed the total amount of Chinaās reserves toward the $4 […]
Over the weekend of January 25-26, the Chinese government sentenced human rights activist Xu Zhiyong (č®øåæę°ø) to four years in prison and announced its charges against detained Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti (Uighur: Ų¦ŁŁŚ¾Ų§Ł ŲŖŁŲ®ŲŖŁā, Chinese: ä¼ååęØå赫ę). Xu was sentenced following a one-day show trial in which in which he wasn’t allowed to call defense witnesses […]
Trade ministers for World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations reached agreement in Bali December 7, setting standards for customs, and addressing food and agricultural issues, among other matters.Ā The Ā measures in themselves are limited, but the Bali deal revives the WTO as a channel to approach trade policy. U.S. policy should reassess other approaches […]
This is Danny Pearl’s Final Story The Washingtonian By AsraĀ Q. Nomani In 2002, AsraĀ Nomani’sĀ close friend and colleague Danny Pearl was kidnapped and brutally murdered at the hands of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the 9/11 attacks. In this deeply moving piece, NomaniĀ describes her encounter with her friend’s murderer at Guantanamo Bay in 2012 […]
China has been on its very worst behavior this week. As prominent human rights activist Xu Zhiyong (č®øåæę°ø) went on trial January 22, Chinese police dragged protestors away from the scene and harassed foreign journalists attempting to report on the trial. Xu’s trial is the first in a series of trials for activists associated with […]
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to face an uphill battle when it comes to finding a solution that is acceptable to both the Israelis and Palestinians over the future of the Jordan Valley. The Palestinian side refuses to accept any kind of Israeli military presence within the Jordan Valley, while Israel adamantly […]
Police detained this supporter of Xu Zhiyong who had gathered with other activists outside the court Human Rights Watch accused China on Tuesday of failing to meet its people’s demands for political reform and for its pursuit of anti-corruption activists — despite its declared crackdown on graft.Ā The New York based organization accused the Chinese […]
China is engaged in a soft-power war with America and the West. America may not have noticed this, but China has. While America takes its soft power around the world for granted, China struggles to win even the “hearts and minds” of its own citizens. “Soft power” is defined by Harvard political scientist Joseph Nye […]
Relationship managers across Asia have a potently difficult year ahead as news reports continue to highlight actions and words that are anything but conducive to cooperation and understanding between regional states. When a former British ambassador to North Korea writes an op-ed in the Daily Telegraph titled āAre China, Japan and South Korea fanning the […]
In recent months, Turkeyāmore specifically, Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan and his Justice and Development party (AKP)āhas been the center of controversy and the subject of passionate debates. The other side of this political controversy is the spiritual leader of the Hizmet or Gulen Movement, Fethullah Gulen. However, as with all matters political; things are […]
Prominent Chinese legal scholar and human rights activist Xu Zhiyong (č®øåæę°ø) will go on trial January 22 on charges of disrupting public order. A founder of the pro-democracy New Citizens’ Movement (äøå½ę°å ¬ę°čæåØ) and an outspoken advocate of greater transparency in Chinese government, Xu has been detained since July 2013. Xu and his lawyers believe that […]
Credit: PostonPolitics.blogspot.com On January 13, Marvin Kalb, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, published an interesting post on his blog on the think tank’s website. Kalb contended that in order for Israel to stir up the peace process pot, it should publicly accept the 1967 lines as the basis for a permanent peace […]
Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni and Israeli lawyer and chief negotiator in the Israeli negotiating team with the Palestinians on behalf of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Yitzhak Molcho met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday to discuss the details of the framework that the U.S. wants Israel and […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
Xi Jinping at the Steamed Bun Shop by Tutou Jueren (“Stubborn Baldy”) The Chinese Communist Party has a long tradition of using its state media as a tool to maintain its legitimacy and control its masses through party propaganda.Ā While ancient China also used propaganda, Chairman Mao Zedong was the first Chinese leader to successfully […]
Prominent Uighur economics professor and dissident Ilham Tohti (Uighur: Ų¦ŁŁŚ¾Ų§Ł ŲŖŁŲ®ŲŖŁā, Chinese: ä¼ååęØå赫ę) was detained by police in Beijing on January 15, according to multiple reports. Also detained were at least six of Tohti’s students. Tohti’s family has not been informed of his whereabouts or the nature of the charges against him. The U.S. State […]
Kamran Bokhari is Vice President of Middle Eastern and South Asian Affairs at Stratfor, a leading geopolitical and intelligence consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. Mr. Bokhari is a distinguished scholar and expert in Middle Eastern and South Asian affairs. He has given briefings to the U.S. and Canadian governments on important geopolitical issues in […]
Western “cultural threats” will be among several types of “unconventional security threats” targeted by China’s new National Security Committee, according to an article by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) senior colonel Gong Fangbin (å ¬ę¹å½¬). Additional “threats” the committee will target include extremist groups, cybersecurity threats, and online dissent. The article follows a familiar recent pattern of […]
In an interview with the Foreign Policy Association, Sderot Media Center CEO Noam Bedein expressed concern that the present situation in Gaza is not being taken under consideration in the context of the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority: āRight now, there is no mention of Gaza and its Hamas control.Ā It is […]
Ā Editor’s Note: The following piece was first published in Middle East Briefing (ISSUE 9 VOL 1 Jan 13th 2014), a weekly publication of Orient Advisory Group, a research and risk assessment firm based in both Washington DC and Dubai UAE. __________________________________________________________________ Quiet changes have already been made in the team of Iranās negotiators with […]
Credit: Xandernieuws.punt.nl In July, I wrote a blog post that commented on a couple of polls that had recently been conducted which seemed to contradict themselves. One poll, commissioned by the Israel Peace Initiative and conducted by the Israeli company New Wave Research, had found that a majority of Israelis support the amended Arab Peace […]
2014 began in Hong Kong with a New Year’s Day march for democracy that drew thousands into the streets in protest against Beijing’s efforts to limit democratic rights in the former British colony. Unless demands are met for universal suffrage and open nomination rights in Hong Kong elections, July 2014 is likely to see the […]
Who owns the ocean? In reference to the water south of China, it depends on who you ask. Newer claims by China would extend its sovereignty well south to the island of Borneo, passing by Vietnam, Malaysia, and Philippines in the process. Let’s a take a look at what’s gone on and what it says […]
Israel’s Construction and Housing Ministry issued building tenders for 1,400 housing units to be built in East Jerusalem and the West Bank Friday. The announcement came four days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry left the region. Tenders were released for the construction of 600 housing units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in […]
At first glance, Chinese tycoon Chen Guangbiao’s appearance in New York this week looked like little more than a Chinese soft-power effort gone terribly wrong. First came Chen’s ill-fated effort to buy the New York Times. Then came Chen’s bizarre press conference in New York featuring a patriotic singing performance by Chen, a brief foreign […]
Our favorite long reads and blog posts from the past week.
In earlier posts (here,Ā here, andĀ here), I argued that the Obama administrationās national security process is plagued by extreme insularity, centralization and politicization.Ā Ā This is a widely held criticism, regularly repeated not just by the presidentās detractors but also former administration staffers and friendly commentators.Ā And the new revelations by Robert M. Gates, the much-respected national security […]
By Abul-Hasanat Siddique Why have the fruits of the “Arab Spring” not been met? Over one year ago, Casper Wuite and I became published authors when our book, The Arab Uprisings: An Introduction, was released. An incredible feat for the two of us aside, the revolts that swept the Middle East and North Africa from […]
Chinese recycling tycoon Chen Guangbiao recently made headlines when he announced his “plans” to buy the New York Times. I put “plans” in quotation marks because the newspaper’s owners had expressed neither knowledge of any such deals in the works nor interest in selling it to anyone, least of all to a nationalistic Chinese businessman […]
After Beijing unilaterally declared an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea last month, to include the disputed Tokyo-controlled islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, the reaction by regional neighbors and the U.S. was swift. But with each action, a subsequent and escalating reaction has been triggered. China’s […]
Since my previous post on this incident was submitted, a suspect has been arrested in the New Year’s Day arson attack on the Chinese consulate in San Francisco. The suspect, who turned himself in to authorities and made a full confession of guilt, is a Chinese national who claims to have set the fire because […]
Over a month has passed since the release of Pope Francisā Evangelii Guadium ā the first major āapostolic exhortationā of his papacy. Elected less than a year ago, much has already been written in both Catholic and secular circles about the importance of his leadership He enjoys approval ratings any political leaders would envy. Mainstream […]
The New York Times last week published a new account of the Benghazi attack, based on interviews with Libyan participants and witnesses and U.S. officials, which disputes the now widely accepted assumptions that the attack was planned well in advance by al-Qaāida or one of its affiliates and that the infamous online video “Innocence of […]
An arson attack on the Chinese consulate-general in San Francisco has exacerbated tensions between China and the United States. The attack occurred the night of Jan. 1, when someoneĀ poured gasoline onto the front door of the consulate and set it ablaze. While the building sustained significant fire and smoke damage, there were no injuries, […]
Andrew Peacock/Agence France-Presse ā Getty Images Following its spectacular success as host of the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing’s successive attempts at increasing its āsoft powerā have often fallen short. Soft power is a concept developed by Joseph Nye of Harvard University to describe the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, use force or […]
Our favorite longreads and blog posts from the past two weeks.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Israel yesterday for his 10th time in the Middle East region in efforts to move Israeli-Palestinian peace talks forward. Until his scheduled Sunday departure, his visit will include āintensive conversationsā with both Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a senior State […]
A perusal of reader comments on Chinese news websites following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo reveals an online explosion of nationalist fury. Despite U.S. attempts to dissuade Abe from visiting the shrine and U.S. criticism following his visit, America has not been spared the anger of […]
1. A Bird Does Not Change Its Feathers. The big players are not going anywhere. In 2014, Netanyahu will still be Prime Minister of Israel, Abbas will still head the Palestinian Authority, and Obama will still be the U.S. president. Obama has for some time now removed himself from the scene, with Secretary of […]
China and the United States were both right to condemn Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official visit to the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2013. For once China and America are on the same page. China’s leaders will waste no time, however, in exploiting the incident to stir up anti-Japanese nationalism at […]
Working on an essay on Israeli and Palestinian public opinion on the two-state solution as a Research Associate at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), I have been looking at many polls. Therefore, I was very interested in an article posted by Jennifer Rubin on her blog for the Washington Post last week. Entitled “Maybe […]
Dr. Janice Gross Stein is the Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, where she is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science. Dr. Stein is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada and the […]
Last Thursday, December 19, The Chinese government renewed press accreditation for all Bloomberg News journalists and some New York Times journalists reporting from China. Prior to Thursday, about 24 New York Times and Bloomberg foreign correspondents were in fear of being expelled from China. Chinese authorities were withholding from issuing resident journalist visas for the […]
China presumes “great power” status for itself equal to the United States. What has China done recently to demonstrate its readiness for such a role? It has raged incoherently at Japan for a modest increase in military spending and accused a video game of “cultural aggression” against China. In response to China’s saber-rattling in the […]
Chinese government censorship is a core concern for democracy promotion efforts in China. All media in China, including newspapers, television, and the internet, are strictly controlled by the Chinese government for the very purpose of preventing democracy promotion. There may be little that democracy advocates can do to challenge the government’s control over traditional domestic […]
Our favorite long reads from around the web and blog posts from the past week.
On Monday, December 16, the American Studies Association voted to boycott Israeli academic institutions.Ā Members of the ASA voted by a ratio of more than two to one to endorse the boycott in online balloting that concluded Sunday night, theĀ group said. The election was a response to the ASA National Councilās announcement on December […]
The Obama administration has announced that it will nominate outgoing Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) to replace Gary Locke as the new U.S. ambassador to China. Baucus is seen as a strong U.S. hand in Beijing, The New York Times observes, owing to his efforts to reduce trade barriers between China and the United States, and […]
This past weekend, China became the third country to land a spacecraft intact on the moon.Ā The unmanned Changāe-3 probe subsequently deployed a robot rover that will explore the lunar surface for the next three months, while the landing vehicle will conduct scientific experiments for the coming year.Ā Beijingās accomplishment is notable since it was […]
During his first visit to Vietnam this Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry announced the U.S. will contribute $35 million to southeast Asian nations to strengthen their maritime security. $18 million of the sum will go to Vietnam to āenhance capacity of coastal patrolā which includes buying five patrol-boats for the coastguard.Ā Secretary Kerry […]
The phrase āmoney launderingā conjures images of suitcases crammed with $100 bills being snuck across the border by a drug cartel courier, and funds being wired into and out of bank accounts in a dizzying series of globe-circling transactions. Those are apt examples of two of the three main methods of scrubbing clean illicit funds […]
When the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite during the Cold War it was a shocking wake-up call for the U.S., alarming both policy-makers and the public and sparking what came to be known and the Space Race. Of course, the U.S. went on to win that particular race, still having the distinction of being […]
As detailed in my previous post on this topic, some two dozen U.S. journalists currently face expulsion from China for investigative reporting on the personal wealth and financial ties of top Chinese government officials. This follows a pattern ofĀ harassment including the expulsion of at least three American journalists since 2012 for reporting critical of […]
This week, in the midst of U.S.-brokered peace talks between the two parties, Moshe Yaāalon, Israelās Defense Minister, announced that Israel has no partner for peace amongst the Palestinians. While this is not an original argument — it has been in circulation for decades — it is a powerful one. Yaāalon isnāt just a member […]
Nobody doubts that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is an important country in the world.Ā Various observers cite different reasons, approvingly and disapprovingly. First of all, as a major producer of oil, the Kingdom has accumulated a considerable wealth that has provided decent essential services for its citizens at home and bought loyalty throughout […]
The Leading Global Thinkers of 2013 Foreign Policy Foreign Policy compiles and analyzes this year’s 100 most influential thinkers, organizing them into easy-to-understand categories in a visually delightful must-read. Was Hillary Clinton a Good Secretary of State? By Susan B. Glasser PoliticoĀ Magazine Hillary Clinton has variously been lauded as the most consequential Secretary of State […]
Yesterday, the government of Bangladesh, whatever that is now, executed Abdul Qader Mollah, a leader of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami Party. He was one of those elderly Islamists politicos long ago and recently accused of igniting and engineering a Counter-Revolution in East Pakistan by supporting the Pakistani military’s murderous assault against East Pakistan’s (now Bangladesh’s) […]
Not content with controlling and censoring its own domestic news media, the Chinese government seeks also to restrict international media coverage of China. The methods Beijing employs for this purpose include political and economic pressure on Western news media, cyber-attacks on Western news websites, and harassment or expulsion of Western journalists in China. Visa denials […]
Nelson Mandela, South Africaās Liberator as Prisoner and President, Dies at 95 Bill Keller New York Times Nelson Mandela died yesterday Thursday, December 5 at the age of 95 in his Johannesburg home. In this thorough obituary Bill Keller traces the life of one of the worldās most remarkable and influential political figures of the […]
As readers already know, the P5+1 and Iran concluded an interim agreement regarding Iranās nuclear program. This was accomplished in remarkably little time despite some reportersā harried declarations that the talks were on the verge of collapse. (Reporters sometimes accept at face value āconfidencesā from diplomats that are really part of the bargaining process. It […]
Any unchecked authority or powerāespecially when involving moniesāultimately leads to corruption. That is why it is necessary to put in place mechanisms to monitor, audit, reward, and, when necessary, punish.All laws stemming from a moral or a legal code are based on a system of rewards and punishments. By corruption I mean: Abuse of authority […]
Catch up this holiday weekend with some of our favorite must reads.
Since the 1970s, Saudi Arabia has employed thousands of foreign workers in many of its sectors and continues to do so as long as they enter the country and obtain work legally and according to the regulations. However, over the years more and more illegal expatriates cross the borders of the Kingdom or remain in […]
AtlanticismĀ in Retreat By A. Wess Mitchell and Jan Havranek The American Interest Twenty years after the end of the Cold War, the special relationship that tied the United States to the states of Central and Eastern Europe is rotting. Mitchell and Havranek describe the emergence of a new Middle Zone, but argue that the United […]
In earlier posts (here,Ā here,hereĀ andĀ here), Iāve argued that the Obama administrationās national security process is plagued by extreme insularity, centralization and politicization.Ā Ultimately, however, these institutional problems are a reflection of the person sitting in the Oval Office. The deepening Obamacare fiasco has raised plenty of questions about President Obamaās leadership qualities.Ā But two reports this […]
Need some reading for the weekend? Check out our five favorite long reads and five blog posts.
The Syrian conflict has presented itself as a complex situation that has resulted in countless amounts of analysis and news articles dedicated to the political and security aspects of the crisis. Although these writings are indispensable for the ability to understand what is taking place, there hasnāt been enough attention on another aspect of the […]
When the average American is asked how much of the federal budget they believe is allocated to foreign aid, the responseĀ is 25 percentĀ — twenty-five times the current amount. When Americans are surveyed on how much funding they believe should be allocated to foreign aid, the response is 10 percent. In reality, USAID comprises less than […]
Our favorite longform reads and blog posts from the past week.
By Manuel LangendorfĀ In the absence of other alternatives, Islamists were elected by default. This is the last of a two part series. Read part one here. Fair Observerās Middle East Editor, Manuel Langendorf, speaks to Mhamed Biygautane from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in Dubai ā a renowned expert on political Islam […]
It is not often that a rug becomes caught in the crosshairs of foreign policy and cast away from artistic appreciation, yet the 1920s Armenian orphan rug that was planned for display in December at the Smithsonian Museum suffers just this fate. Bound by the common thread of their identity as children and survivors of […]
Ring of Fire: Why Our Militaryās Toxic Burn Pits Are Making Soldiers Sick By Katie Drummond The Verge In this weekās most disturbing and comprehensive exposĆ©, Katie Drummond reveals the alarming extent of the U.S. militaryās pollution problem and its devastating effects on soldiers and their families. The Snowden Leaks and the Public By Alan […]
In my daily emails, I often get letters from professionals, both entry level or late career, asking how to break in or make the transition into the international development sector.Ā Although an individual may have international experience, this does not guarantee a lateral move or easy entry into the international development sector.Ā The development sector […]
How well the U.S. can pay our debts has been in the news lately. There’s the government shutdown, which resulted in the delay of death benefits to families of fallen soldiers, and of course, the upcoming vote on raising the U.S. debt-limit. The issue of the death benefits was particularly emotional and struck a nerve […]
The best long form reads and blog posts for the week of October 25. 2013.
Last week, in an apparent fit of inspiration brought on by the government shutdown,Ā Balaji Srinivasan gave a speechĀ on what it would be like if Silicon Valley were to secede from the United States government. Srinivasan, Ā a tech entrepreneur, praised Silicon Valley and the broader high-tech industry it represents for not being responsible for securitized mortgages, […]
How serious is China about āthe introduction of a new reserve currency to replace the dominant U.S. dollar,ā one of its proposed steps for creating the āde-Americanized worldā that the official Xinhua news agency called for in the run-up to the denouement-cum-deferral of the U.S. fiscal crisis? American commentatorsā responses have ranged from the […]
Since the first World conference on Women in 1975, the issue of womenās rights was brought to the international stage which led to the General Assemblyās adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). These events also coincided with the international feminist movement of the 1970s. In the […]
The Russia Left Behind By Ellen Barry The New York Times Through a string of narratives about towns and villages stretching between Moscow and St. Petersburg, Barry captures the deterioration of small-town Russia and explores how these towns — while not very far from the Kremlinās reach — are worryingly far from modernity. The War […]
The politics of the U.S. Congress can be harsh, but we do not usually associate it with the adversarial bargaining of international relations theory, much less with the tactics of ābrinkmanship,ā as Secretary of State John Foster Dulles used to call it. Times have changed. What we have been seeing in Washington these past few […]
The Syrian conflict has displaced in excess of 6.5 million people over the past two years, and tragically ended the lives of more than 100,000 others. As fighting continues, the international community seems numb to reports of chemical attacks, bomb explosions, and other horrific events that unfold almost daily. However, amidst headlines that highlight the […]
āWe Knew They Were Comingā By Colum Lynch Foreign Policy Through a detailed account of what information the U.N. held prior to al-Shababās June attack on the U.N. in Mogadishu, Lynch examines the importance of better preparation and to what extent future attentiveness could minimize the vulnerabilities that organizations such as the U.N. increasingly face. […]
By Sarwar KashmeriĀ The three most dangerous issues that confront U.S. national interests in the Middle East, President Obama pointed out in his Sept. 23, 2013, speech at the United Nations, are Syria’s civil war, the nuclear stand-off with Iran, and resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With this week’s agreement to begin direct negotiations […]
The Inside Story Of One Website’s Defense of Assad By Rosie Gray and Jessica Testa Buzzfeed On August 29, Mint Press News broke the story that Syrian rebels were behind chemical attacks and Russiaās foreign minister, Syrian and Iranian state media, all catapulted it to international attention. Gray and Testa explore the murky political ties […]
By Aryeh Neier A little discussed but important element of the Security Council resolution on Syriaās chemical weapons is a provision for āaccountabilityā for those responsible for the August 21 poison gas attack that killed more than a thousand non-combatants. Previously, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had called for a separate investigation of responsibility for […]
The Iron Pipe of Swedish Neo-Fascism By Daniel Strand Vice Once a political outlier, the Sweden Democrats have elevated themselves to be the third largest party in the country. Yet, given Sweden’s affluence and a lack of a promenant radical right-wing movement in the 20th century, the Sweden Dems xenophonic and nationalist agenda may seem […]
On Sept. 20, 2013, the world watched the gruesome ordeal unfold in KenyaĀ as a platoon of terrorists from the Somali militia group al-Shabab stormed the Westgate Mall in a posh neighborhood in the capital of Nairobi. As of today, nearly 70 people have been confirmed dead in the four-day siege and the death toll is […]
As the target year for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) draws closer, the international community has been reflecting on the development successes and failures of the past decades.[i] When it comes to poverty reduction, countries that can be labeled as success cases have followed one of two paths. Some owe their success to […]
It is a shame that Vladimir Putin could not acquire the girth of predecessor Boris Yeltsin. Then it would make it even more appropriate that he is channeling the role of Senior Ferrari in the real life Syria-version of the film Casablanca. In Casablanca, robust Sydney Greenstreet deftly played Senior Ferrari. His character was the […]
Why is Zambia So Poor? By Michael Hobbes Pacific Standard Zambia doesn’t face the same structural challenges associated with poor states — it has no dictator, no child soldiers, no celebrity adoptions. Yet many of its citizens live on less than a one dollar a day, not to mention 40 percent don’t have access to […]
On July 21, I tweeted the following reflection: āA society can govern itself with custom instead of modern law, tribal system instead of government; (however) it cannot ride both horses at the same time.ā Reacting to that old tweet, a few days ago, I received a one-liner e-mail that read āWe must be doing […]
A quick glance at the above map is enough to boggle anyone’s senses, but these lines are likely to be heavily debated by officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, following meetings over last weekend. Senior Asean officials and China yesterday agreed to speed up the process of finishing the […]
ByĀ Dr. Shakti Prasad Srichandan In the backdrop of the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian authorities against its own civilian population, a U.S.-led armed intervention in Syria, if it ever materializes, will have regional and global implications. What concerns India most is the likely impact of the crisis on oil supply, which will have […]
An A-list film adaptation of Robert Edselās The Monuments Men is slated for a Christmas release. Itās a story ready-made for the screen; an ideal and award-ready prestige picture for the holiday season. I recently read Edselās book after hearing the author lecture on his subsequent work, Saving Italy, at the National Gallery of Art. […]
Most people out there will have many jobs over the course of their lives.Ā Ā Some will stay within a relatively defined sector, but many will decide to take a jump into an entirely new field.Ā While this process may be a bit easier when jumping from one private sector job to another (or one non-profit […]
Need some reading for the weekend? Check out our selection of longform reads and the best of ForeignPolicyBlogs.com.
This past week was Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and part of Judaismās High Holy Days. To commemorate, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu issued his annual holiday greeting. The video was in English and came in just under five minutes in length. In it, he wished Jews, in Israel and beyond, a sweet New […]
ByĀ Manuel Langendorf Does Hamas hold a unified position on the use of violence for resistance? A crucial player in the conundrum that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hamas has always been a controversial actor. It was founded in 1987 by late Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as one of the wings of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine, as […]
Discussions of possible intervention in Syria, like the run-up to the Iraq War, have focused on the nature of the available intelligence. The intelligence task in Syria is fundamentally different from the one in Iraqāand actually much easierāand getting the facts right is certainly worth the effort. Still, the emphasis on intelligence is unusual in […]
By W.A. Schmidt In the heat of the ongoing debate about whether or not to react by force to the recent chemical weapons attacks in Syria, a look at the larger historical picture may shed some light on which course to follow. To the casual observer a snapshot of our time reveals a perplexing […]
In the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq the American mainstream news media underwent a period of intense introspection (and by that I mean brief and superficial reflection) about how little critical reporting and analysis they offered in the run-up to the war. Is there a danger that the news media will once again […]
Crossing the Line By Steve Coll The New Yorker President Obama’s response to the chemical weapons attacks on August 21, 2013, in a suburb of Damascus have been burdened not just by his comment about chemical warfare as the “red line” for U.S. action in Syria, but also by memories of Iraq. Yet even with […]
By Manuel Langendorf With a heightened sense of urgency to act on Syria, Washington is resorting to moral arguments. What appears to have been a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, has made a potential U.S.-led military strike against the Syrian government a very real possibility. Shocking videos of dozens of dead […]
As tension mounts after Syriaās allegedāthough clearly evidentāuse of chemical weapons to systematically slaughter civilians, outreach against the regime emerged most vocally from the White House and State Department, as well as their counterparts across Europe. Some voices ā namely those from China and Russia ā are, as expected, silent or deflecting criticism from the […]
Need some reading for the long weekend? We’ve got you covered.
Dr. Reza Aslan isĀ an internationally acclaimed American writer and scholar of religions and author, most recently, of theĀ Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth.Ā Dr. Aslan is also the founder of Aslan Media, an online journal for news and entertainment about the Middle East and the world, and co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of […]
By Sarwar Kashmeri It is time for the United States to stop spending its resources, goodwill and credibility in the futile quest of trying to influence the trajectory of events in Egypt, Syria and the surrounding Arab states. Leadership now requires that America recognize, no matter how much it may wish it to be otherwise, […]
When small rockets landed in the narrow streets and corridors, fired from government positions in Damascus, families in the neighborhoods of Jobar, Zamalka, Ein Tarma and Arbeen–who have become accustomed to the constant drone of warfare–believed that the thuds were merely part of distant fighting. Many went back to their homes, where alongside their […]
Need some reading for the weekend? We’ve got you covered.
The classic book The Guns of August is not exactly standard summertime beach reading material. It is, however, a book I like to turn to every once in a while to remind me of the role of folly in international affairs. In the book, author Barbara Tuchman studiously examines the role of misconception, misperception and […]
In the hours just before dawnĀ neighborhoods outside Damascus got cloaked in a grey mist of chemical agents that delivered a deadly payload and killed scores of innocent Syrian people. We don’t yet know definitively who set off this inhumane attack, but we can surmise that whoever was behind it is able to strategically command a […]
A year ago, I presented a workshop at the Foreign Policy Association’s Global Careers Boot CampĀ in Boston. The workshop was about how to “Land a Job in International Development” for new entrants or individuals transitioning from other sectors into the international development sector. This made me reflect about the type of information that may be […]
Can we clear the air? Foreign policy — like domestic policy and, say, physics — has its own vocabulary that obscures meanings and is often in the eye of the beholder. As with the ultimate nebulo-phrase, āaffirmative action,ā language that appears neutral can either be deceptive or interpreted across a spectrum. A handful of these […]
Zero Degrees of al Qaeda By J.M. Berger Foreign Policy Twitter could be the most effective jihadist recruiter in online radicalization. With a powerful recommendation feature designed to find accounts that are relevant to your interests, a potential recruit can be introduced to a web of terrorist organizations in mere clicks. Could this ease of […]
Yesterday’s massacre in Egypt: the military, the long standing power there, struck back against the supporters of the democratically elected despot, Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood. 525 people were killed; no doubt the toll of the dead will soon rise. Thousands were injured, many of those thousands gravely so. A replay in one day of […]
I donāt know who deserves the attribution as far as the coining is concerned, I only knowālike the terms Islamism, sharia, and jihad ā so-called political Islam is a loaded term that stirs storms of controversy. Despite that baggage, it is the prevalent concept that defines all political parties and movements with Islamic references. This […]
Ā āWhen force is necessary, we will continue to do so in a way that reflects our values and strengthens our legitimacy, and we will seek broad international support, working with such institutions as NATO and the U.N. Security Council.ā Ā ā President Obama (2010 National Security Strategy) Is it time for Ā other nations to participate in […]
Effective Networking If you are like most job seekers these days, you have likely spent hours and hours searching the internet for organizations with job openings that match your skills and experience. If youāre lucky, those searches eventually uncover a job posting perfect for you. You then spend even more time assembling an application […]
Soldiers of Misfortune By Colum Lynch Foreign Policy David Bax, a former military engineer, came to Somalia to teach American-backed peacekeeping forces to avoid al-Shabab’s bombs. He’s stirred up controversy in his effort to save a crew of relief workers from an attack by militants in Mogadishu. Instead of receiving an award, his U.N. career […]
Trying to say something upbeat about U.S.- Russian relations this week entails the same risks as going to a wake intent on offering words that will cheer up the deceasedās widow. The observation that, āAt least you wonāt have to put up with his snoring anymoreā may be accurate enough, but in the grand scheme […]
Retired Admiral James Stavridis talks āsmart power,ā Latin America, and Snowden With one-liners like, “We are excellent at launching Tomahawk missiles; we need to get better at launching ideas,” it is not hard to appreciate whyĀ TheĀ New York TimesĀ labeled recently retired Admiral James Stavridis a “Renaissance admiral.” Labels like “innovator” and “thought leader” may be overused, […]
The Irish playwright Brendan Behan once opined that, āI have never seen a situation so dismal that a policeman couldnāt make it worse.ā Behan was hardly an unbiased commentator, having misspent his youth in activities that assured a mutual antipathy between the literary giant and the law enforcement community, but the findings of Transparency […]
Secretary of State John Kerry has the Israelis and Palestinians talking again. In the context of all that is happening in the Middle East, that qualifies as a positive. Kerry does not give up. That has been well documented before. While many see the Israeli-Palestinian issue as a morass, Kerry believes the United States […]
Weekly updates on the best long form reads and blog posts from ForeignPolicyBlogs.comās editorial team.
The language of war could swell volumes with what would at once be the most depressing and coldly technical glossaries of chaos ever scribed.Ā The intersection of political calculation and unrelenting violence is formed by an endless stream of words.Ā Open-air condemnations and closed-door strategizing.Ā Shouts and whispers, threats and rumors.Ā Uncapped fury and profound […]
After receiving and reviewing an advanced copy of the Organization of Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) 2013 report Aid for Trade at a Glance: Connecting to Value Chains, I am intrigued by the ongoingĀ process of replacing a portion of direct foreign aid with viable bi- and multi-lateral trade agreements that help in economic development, especially […]
Recent developments in Syriaās civil war point to the solidification of two distinct geographical areas. With rebels tightening their hold in the east and north and the regime making gains in the center, Syria is beginning to look like two neighboring states, dealing with two different circumstances.Ā Syriaās civil war has continually been fought […]
President Barack Obama hosted Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang at the White House for the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. Acknowledging the āextraordinarily complex history between the United States and Vietnamā President Obama and President Truong announced the establishment of a new Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries, with the end goal of […]
Weekly updates on the best long form reads and blog posts from ForeignPolicyBlogs.com’s editorial team.
ByĀ Sarwar Kashmeri “First do no harm” — is the famous dictum drilled into newly minted doctors as they begin to practice medicine. The phrase is at the heart of the Hippocratic Oath. It reminds doctors that when treating a patient they must consider the possibility that in a medical emergency doing nothing might be the […]
The Generalās Pretext Unless it is averted by transcendental intervention or by the collective effort of those who possess the political or economic capacity to influence the Egyptian Army, the stage in Egypt is set for bloody massacres, or worse, a civil war. The excerpts below would underline a thinly-veiled pretext. Today, July 24, 2013, […]
Sometimes you look at it, and it seems a fairly straight-forward, if somewhat bizarre, story. Then again, it bears a hint of mystery. A North Korean dry-cargo merchant vessel, MV Chong Chon Gang, traveling from Cuba to the Panama Canal, was boarded by Panamanian military personnel on suspicion that it was carrying contraband narcotics. […]
Ten years ago, it was typical for 20 percent or more of the money a migrant worker sent to his or her family in a developing nation to be eaten up by transmission costs. Thanks to factors including increased competition and technological advances, that percentage has dropped steadily over the past decade, so that […]
One of the most important element of applying for a position with a firm in the international development sector is to have a CV/resume that is easy to reviewĀ for everyone in the organization you are applying to.Ā That includes the first line recruiters,Ā the Hiring Agent andĀ all the way to the CEO of the […]
For a New Approach to Iran By William Luers, Thomas R. Pickering, and Jim Walsh The New York Review of Books With Iran’s elections having passed and the continued war in Syria (which could lead to a largerĀ ShiaāSunni conflict in the region), it seems more and more likely that diplomatic progress could be possible. In […]
“The Brotherhood has always hadĀ many enemies, but it also has a reputation for successful grass-roots organizing and charitable work…and the BrothersĀ are known for their ļ¬nancial integrity”, says Peter Hessler in a new piece in theĀ New Yorker. Hessler digs into the history of Ā the Muslim Brotherhood and its rise to power as well as its organizational […]
There usually is. The Egyptian military, mirroring, it says, the will of the Egyptian people, has thrown Morsiās band of Islamists out of office and set in motion the kind of parliamentary and electoral process that millions of neighboring Syrians want to see materialize in their own country. Instead, the Syrian people remain trapped […]
Each week the editors at ForeignPolicyBlogs.com choose five of the best articles from around the web and from the network.
āIāve been detained atĀ GuantĆ”namoĀ for 11 years and three months. I have never been charged with any crime. I have never received a trialā says Samir Naji al Hasan Moqbel, a prisoner at GuantĆ”namo Bay, who told this story, through an Arabic interpreter, to his lawyers at the legal charity Reprieve in an unclassified telephone call […]
A week ago I received a request from a good friend who hails from a Middle Eastern country that is heavily involved in the Syrian conflict. This friend, whom happens to be a diplomat for said country, requested an update on the Syrian crisis covering the war’s most recent events. Below I have provided the […]
Today, Egypt is a dangerously polarized nation that is on the brink of a civil war. And, that worst case scenario could have broad implications far beyond that country and the Middle East. Since the military coup dāetat, the situation in Egypt has been rapidly escalating into a dangerous political dichotomy- all against the Muslim […]
The U.S. government’s reported move to suspend trade privileges with Bangladesh must come as a blow to the ruling Awami League government, even if the meat of the move functions mostly as an unwelcome, untoward public relations disaster and a boon to its BNP opposition. The Obama administration has responded to pressure from activists and […]
As 25 leaders from West and Central Africa convened for a two-day conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, global leaders awaitedĀ solutions from the summit on how to fix the challenges ofĀ security inĀ the Gulf of Guinea. The region is crucial in the geopolitical scope for many world powers as its vast oil resources account for large portions of […]
A floating orchestral score pours over the walls of an Edinburgh concert house, its quick notes and fantastical tones taking full advantage of the famed acoustics of Usher Hall.Ā The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is playingĀ “The Oryx and the Unicorn”, an uplifting arrangement originally penned by Qatari composer Wael Binali for a 2012 charity gala […]
People ask me all the time how to find a job in international development. My answer is to take the path of least resistance for you andĀ the employer. What you want to do is to look for a similar position to the one you already have or have successfully done, and find an international development […]
Last week I asked, among other things, how people could expect outside intervention to bring peace and stability to Syria given the experience of Afghanistan and Iraq. That calls for some elaboration. There have been instances in which outside forces have brought stability to a postconflict situation. The successful instances tend not to attract fewer […]
āI will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon….that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant.ā ā Edward Snowden In the 1983 American science-fiction film “War Games” star Matthew Broderick played a teenage internet hacker who unwittingly accesses a U.S. military supercomputer programmed to predict possible outcomes […]
Photo: POOL/Reuters As a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has sometimes drawn criticism for the use of its veto to forestall other nationās interference in the affairs of its allies. Recently, Beijing was roundly condemned, along with Russia, […]
Return to Auschwitz: How Israel keeps Holocaust memories alive By Kevin Connolly BBC News As the years pass, the number of Holocaust survivors continues to decline at a faster and faster rate. Now Israel finds itself faced with a struggle: How to keep the next generation of Israelis informed about what happened in Europe seven […]
By Tyler Hooper On Thursday, June 13, the White House announced that it will now provide military weapons and supplies to Syrian rebels. The announcement came with claims by the Obama administration that they have found evidence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assadās regime using chemical weapons against rebel forces, which is strictly prohibited by international […]
When U.S. President Obama sat down with Russiaās President Vladimir Putin at the latest G-8 Summit in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the evolving civil war in Syria dominated the conversation. The push had been for a negotiated political settlement under the guise of the Geneva II process, but it seems fated to be a stillborn process […]
More than two years after the beginning of the Syrian rebellion, the Obama administration reported on Thursday, June 13, that it would begin supplying small arms and ammunition to rebels fighting the Syrian government. Proposals for more direct intervention, such as the establishment of a no-fly zone, were rejected, at least for the time being. […]
By Sarwar Kashmeri Robert Morgenthau, the legendary Manhattan District Attorney, used to have a framed Oliphant cartoon in his office. It comically depicted theĀ attempt by the newly inaugurated President Nixon to fire Morgenthau, a Democrat, from his then position as U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York, arguably the most influential federal jurisdiction […]
Silent War By Michael Joseph Gross Vanity Fair Did the U.S. bid to stop nuclear proliferation unleash an even great threat? The cyberwar between Iran and the U.S. may not involve shooting, but it’s taken a number of casualties in the business community with it, whether they are banks or huge parts of the telecommunications […]
The Japanese government approved legislation last week to set up a national security council, according to a Thomson Reuters report. The council, a Japanese version of the White Houseās National Security Council, is purported to facilitate more rapid foreign policy decisions for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the face of North Korean saber-rattling and territorial […]
On Monday Arab governments in the Persian Gulf pledged to put sanctions on the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. The militia-cum-political partyās foray into neighboring Syria, in an attempt to protect the regime of Bashar al-Assad, has elicited widespread condemnation across the Middle East. Its estimated 1,700 fighters inside Syria bolstered Alawite militias and the Syrian […]
By Manuel Langendorf & Abul-Hasanat Siddique After decades of secular dictatorships, how will a new Middle East and North Africa alter centuries-old Arab-Western relations?Ā This is the last of a two part series. Read part one here. Security related issues and natural resources are of core concern for Western nations in the Middle East and North […]
Dear Leader Dreams of Sushi By Adam Johnson GQ Kenji Fujimoto, an alias, was Kim Jong-Il’s sushi chef and sidekick for eleven years. Once he finally escaped, he became one of the biggest intelligence assets for the Japanese intelligence services on the Kim family. Johnson interviews him to dig up some wild stories about the […]
The civil war in Syria could soon turn to favor the Assad regime’s unyielding hold on power. The minority Shia-Alawite regime has recaptured the strategically important city of Qusair, until now held by the rebel Free Syrian Army. It did so in part by employing overwhelming military force and in part by welcoming and recruiting […]
By Manuel Langendorf and Abul-Hasanat Siddique After decades of secular dictatorships, how will a new Middle East and North Africa alter centuries-old Arab-Western relations? This is the first of a two part series. Since December 2010, the Arab revolts have shaken an entire region. Uprisings, initiated by youth activists, have undoubtedly changed the history and […]
Each week the editors at FPA choose five must reads from around the web and five of the best of ForeignPolicyBlogs.com. So if youāre looking for reading for the weekend, weāve got you covered.
Two weeks ago I discussed the talking points that Ambassador Susan E. Rice had used to discuss the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, on number of TV current-events programs last September. The succession of drafts showed how the document had evolved in the bureaucratic revision process, with the final version being […]
Brussels was the scene of an international donor conference last week to pledge ā¬340 million in support of stabilizing Mali. The conference comes after a recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for a 12,600-strong peacekeeping force in Mali and offers a significant lesson in the intervention calculations at work in the U.N. The […]
Russian Spy Games By Edward Lucas Foreign Affairs The Cold War may have officially ended and the rest may be the new policy, but Russia and the U.S. are still adversaries, says Lucas. While Ryan Fogle’s, the 29-year-old third secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, gamble may seem absurd, the extraordinary thing about […]
Each week the editors at FPA choose five must reads from around the web and five of the best of ForeignPolicyBlogs.com. So if you’re looking for reading for the weekend, we’ve got you covered.
In January 1864, some strangely dressed men with odd accents arrived in the camp of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, whose troops had been reeling from shortages of arms and supplies. They demonstrate a new weapon ā an amazingly high powered accurate ārepeaterā rifle ā and offer it to Lee. He accepts. And the arming […]
Like a Silicon Valley tech upstart company that has shaken the status and market share of technology giants,Ā Your Middle East, an online magazine with offices in Europe and the Middle East, Ā is bent on transformingĀ the Middle East coverage in the media and, as a result, disrupting the way giants of mainstream media deliver news and […]
On Friday, ABC News published all 11 versions of the Benghazi talking points that were written by the CIA at the request of Congress and used by Ambassador Susan Rice on several TV talk shows on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. It was widely reported for months that the original talking points had been edited […]
Can military and civilians successfully collaborate in conflict zones? This has been an open question for decades, but especially recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, where new approaches and the length of the conflicts provide a wealth of experience to examine. Current and potential insurgencies from Central Asia to Africa in which outside forces may intervene […]
Editor’s Note: Fadi F. Elhusseini is a Political and Media Counselor at the Embassy of PalestineĀ in Turkey. He is an Associate Research Fellow (ESRC) at the Institute for MiddleĀ East Studies- Canada. He served as the Director of the Bureau of PalestinianĀ Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as a mediaĀ adviserĀ at the Palestinian Presidency. Mr. ElhusseiniĀ was the […]
Each week the editors at FPA choose five must reads from around the web and five of the best of ForeignPolicyBlogs.com
On Saturday, March 9, 2013, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya’s richest man and son ofĀ the country’sĀ founding president won the presidential election of Kenya and prepared to take the highest office in the nation. However, amid the success of achieving such a high rank ucertainty loomed. This is because Kenyatta was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) […]
[Image from 99 FM] The current issue of Foreign Affairs has an article, “Africa’s Economic Boom: Why the Pessimists and the Optimists are Both Right,” by Shantayanan Devarajan and Wolfgang Fengler. The subtitle might seem squishy, an attempt at split-the-difference equanimity so popular among the scolding centrists and graduate seminar participants amongst us. But sometimes […]
A hunger strike by prisoners and President Obamaās remarks at a press conference last week have revived interest in the question of GuantĆ”namo, the U.S. naval base in Cuba where 166 men (down from the original 779) have been held for up to eleven years in connection with the war on terrorism. GuantĆ”namo (its nickname, […]
Image Credit: www.catholica.com.au Last summer I was intrigued by a book review about Alain de Botton’s “Religion forĀ Atheists”. In the review, that was partly an interview with the author, Botton explained that being an atheist didn’t mean you had to hate religion, but that you could learn lessons from it, seeking knowledge wherever it can […]
Editor’s Note: The following is a contributing piece by Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Mr. ChandrasekharĀ is a well-known and independent member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, representing the state of Karnataka. Ā He was elected in May 2006 and was then unanimously re-elected for a second six-year term in March 2012, making him […]
This week’s must reads brought to you by the editorial staff at ForeignPolicyBlogs.com
Regular readers of Foreign Policy Blogs may be familiar with the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Trevor KeckĀ and Joe Gurowsky, for instance, have touched on the topic in earlier posts. Having been approved by the General Assembly after two decades of advocacy, the treaty will open for signature on June 3. It will go into […]
By Sarwar Kashmeri United States’ intelligence agencies and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuĀ are still not certainĀ the Syrian government of President Assad has used chemical weapons against its opposition. Nothing has yet emerged from France, Germany or Britain to unequivocally confirm this charge either. But the clamor among the hawkish segment of Washington lawmakers to get […]
There is a good rule taught in newsrooms early in oneās reporting life that goes along the lines of why one should listen to so-called crazy people. It is because, sometimes, they actually say the truth. By dint of luck or perhaps true insight, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stumbled into that equation. He warned […]
The Rise of Big Data By Kenneth Neil Cukier and Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger Foreign Affairs The Internet may have transformed the way we do business, live and govern, but a lesser-known technological trend, “big data,” has also been making waves. The premise — that we can learn more from a large body of information things than […]
Masai Ujiri tookĀ an unconventional routeĀ to the pinnacle ofĀ National Basketball Association (NBA)Ā team management.Ā Now he is watching his Denver Nuggets’, a team he built in just three seasons as general manager,Ā attempt to make a run at an NBA championship. UjiriĀ grew up in the central northern region of Nigeria, in the city of Zaria, a city that has […]
Syria is deteriorating before the worldās eyes. What is being done to stop this? At the U.N., a new crisis appeal entitled “Enough”Ā features the heads of U.N. humanitarian agencies appealing for support in alleviating the humanitarian situation in the country and imploring an end to the diplomatic standoff that is fuelling the violence. The video […]
Even Violent Drug Cartels Fear God By Damien Cave The New York Times Magazine “If the economy worked for the common good, there would be no Zetas. There would be no cartels,” says Robert Coogan, the chaplain at Cereso. Here the Zetas, Mexico’s most feared crime syndicate, run operations from the inside. And they […]
Beneath a vaulted marble sky adorned in constellations of angels, dragons, man and beast, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcherās coffin spent the evening before her funeral cloaked in the Union Jack inside the neo-gothic Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft.Ā Parliament, the starting block of Thatcherās rise to iconic power, hovers above the Chapel in […]
Years of patient diplomatic efforts by China with its belligerent neighbor North Korea seemed to be coming to an end on Saturday, following Beijing’s public announcement of an agreement with the U.S. on ridding North Korea of nuclear weapons. The action comes after last Sunday’s early warning shot by China’s President and CCP Secretary General […]
But the obfuscation, or confusion–it’s your call–in the Boston Bomber case is masterful. Now we hear reports that Ali Alharbi the young Saudi national in Boston on a student visa, the same young man authorities released after questioning him so he could ‘get back to classes'(and who issued the order to release him is still unknown)is under a DHS-issued deportation order based on an investigation that determined he has ‘suspicious terrorist ties’ and has been determined by the US government to be ‘a security risk.’ (Please see my blog of February 26–“ICE Agents Claim Napolitano Forcing Them to Violate U.S. LawāNew Immigration Directives Invitation to Terrorists and Cartels.”
QED: let’s assume enforcement officials used the fact that Ali Alharbi had been investigated and was scheduled for deportation, and that it was this information, that the young man had already been tagged as a ‘national security risk,’ that helped authorities convince a judge that a search warrant was in order.
So what’s happening now? Will the Saudi student with the black backpack be retained in the US while enforcement officials continue to work with him to obtain more information? Keep him around, look for connections, leads, associations? Makes sense, don’t you think?
Not to the FBI, apparently, nor to Janet Napolitano, who heads the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS, it is rumored, is said to be following through with Alharbi’s deportation and getting ready to send him back home to Saudi Arabia.
The administration wants that boy gone.
byĀ Abul-Hasanat SiddiqueĀ andĀ Casper Wuite Abul-Hasanat SiddiqueĀ andĀ Casper Wuite, co-authors ofĀ The Arab Uprisings: An Introduction, talk about the political unrest in the Middle East, the Syrian Civil War, the globalization of media, and the future prospects for the region. Is the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa homegrown or a Western-sponsored revolution for change? Abul-Hasanat Siddique:Ā Home-grown. […]
A few weeks back I contributed to an Atlantic Community theme week on Security Issues in the Sahel. The result was Atlantic Memo #43, Security in the Sahel: Regional Initiatives in Pursuit of Long-Term Stability (pdf, web). The memo has already received a response from Dr. Thomas Bagger, Head of the Policy Planning Staff of […]
Division, a word so simple yet characterized by many intricacies has led mankind through its political evolution. The development of the modern nation-state, which was birthed by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 was based on it. The United States and the Soviet Union threatened to lob nuclear weapons at one another, in part because […]
Each week, the editorial team at ForeignPolicyBlogs.com publishes a list of must-read articles from around the web. This week: Tweeting diplomacy, Cuba, Jordan, the U.S. in Pakistan, and one article on Margaret Thatcher.
President Obamaās decision to take a five percent pay cut to express solidarity with federal workers affected by the sequester is just one more reminder of the many economic challenges that the United States confronts, some of them a consequence of recent political decisions but others rooted in deeper structural causes. Despite this reality, American […]
It was a story that many people missed. United States president Barack Obama met with four African leaders in Washington in late March 2013: President Sall from Senegal, President Banda from Malawi, President Koroma from Sierra Leone, and Prime Minister Neves from Cape Verde. A positive step in the right direction for America in Africa, […]
By Sarwar Kashmeri It would be a mistake to view President Obama’s visit to Israel as just a fence-mending exercise. It is in fact part of a planned redesign of U.S. foreign policy that will change the face of American leadership around the world. The redesign began with the appointment of John Kerry as Secretary […]
Brazilās economy has turned tepid. Last year growth was one perccent, the lowest rate of any major emerging economy. Mexico is now Latin Americaās growth darling. Meanwhile Sao Pauloās jetsetters are squirreling away their savings in Miami real estate, a trend that perhaps has less to do with the perception that U.S. real estate has […]
Each week, Foreign Policy Blogs’ editors help you catch up on the best long-form reads you may have missed.
This week the BBC was promoting a new study that redefined the traditional class structure in Britain into new modern categories. With the assistance of some U.K. universities and research institutes, they made a class calculator that can be taken online and will define in what part of British society you currently belong. You can […]
by Jennifer Norris Americans who left the theatre watching “Zero Dark Thirty” thinking that the dark stain of torture is in our past, should be cautioned by our exit strategy in Afghanistan. As a 2014 deadline for ending our combat mission in Afghanistan approaches, policymakers say that our main objective is to prepare Afghan security […]
Lebanon, a beautiful but tense country ā with two civil wars behind it, has many people on edge these days. A myriad of shifting divisions and alliances, 24 years after the Taif Accord keeps the specter of violence alive. Carl von Clausewitz called war the extension of politics by other means, a truism for Lebanese […]
Depending on whom you listen to, Central Asia could be 1) the next mass target of Islamic insurgents; 2) on the verge of a client-state battle between Moscow and Beijing; or 3) fated to authoritarian leaders for the next generation. Nestled between Russia and China, and bordering Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, a glance at the […]
Anniversaries are dangerous days.Ā There is often a flash of attention, lots of words and supposedly deep thought and meaningful promises. Then the sun goes down, and life goes on as before. The world often notes an anniversary without real thought or determination on how to take the steps needed to make it meaningful. As […]
Obama’s Crackdown on Whistleblowers By Tim Shorrock The Nation Since 2009, the World War I-era Espionage Act has been used to prosecute whistleblowers in the name of national security. Shorrock focuses on four NSA whistleblowers — Thomas Drake, William Binney, J. Kirk Wiebe and Edward Loomis — who exposed the failed system called Trailblazer. My […]
A new article from the Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsĀ on the 25th anniversary of the chemical bombing of Halabja by Saddam’s forces draws attention to the failure of the international community in acknowledging it at the time. The article entitled “the meaning of Halabja” also talks about a similar attack on the Iranian city of […]
Diplomats of the member states of the United Nations have gathered in New York at the organizationās headquarters tasked to hash out an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The potential ATT would set standards for the global conventional arms trade, a $70 billion industry. It recognizes that arms trade is a lawful business with friendly partners, […]
The tenth anniversary of the Iraq War is upon us, and we have been inundated with reminiscences and reflections on the warās conduct and especially on its origins. One that struck me in particular came from Charles Duelfer, who argues that the Bush administrationās case for war ā in particular, the part concerning weapons of […]
By Tyler Hooper On 12 March the Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper, along with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released a document titled āWorldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.ā Ā The document outlines eight major āglobal threatsā and numerous major āregional threatsā to the U.S. Among the regional threats, unsurprisingly, is […]
The new film “Emperor” tells the story of how America made the first key decision of its post-World War II occupation of Japan: the fate of Emperor Hirohito. Gen. Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) and his staff are landing in Tokyo as the film opens, ready to display some “good ol’ American swagger” and establish […]
President Enrique PeƱa Nieto has mounted an assault against Mexicoās entrenched monopolies over the past two months. He first took on the teachers union, then the telecoms, explaining his aim was to ātransform the country, not just to run it.ā Where’s this going? AsĀ notedĀ by the Financial Times, the reform offensive ācould ultimately even shake up […]
The eurozone crisis is back on the international agenda with a very serious crisis unfolding in Cyprus right now. Some Wall Street investors might argue just in time to pull the rising U.S. stock market indices — the Dow Jones hit an all-time high recently — down for a better entry point in order […]
by S.N. Sangmpam One item that dominated American politics after President Obamaās re-election was the opposition by Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham to Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., as Obamaās presumptive nominee for Secretary of State.Ā They opposed her on the ground that she misled the public about the attack […]
PorteƱos (Argentines from the capital city Buenos Aires) will get quite a self-esteem boost today, March 19 when the Vatican inaugurates Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. There has been no news in Buenos Aires for the last five days that has not focused on the Pope. […]
[Atlantic-Community.org] Last week Atlantic Community, “The Open Think Tank on Foreign Policy,” hosted a theme week of articles from various observers on global affairs to discuss the theme of “Security in the Sahel.” My contribution was “A Fight Club Approach to Policy in the Sahel” in which I questioned whether or not it even makes […]
Each week, the editors at the Foreign Policy Association provide a roundup of their favorite must-read pieces from around the web. This week: Iraq, the Putin Doctrine, Hugo Chavez’s polarizing politics, the weakening two state solution, and much more.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Pope from outside of Europe for nearly a millennium, reflecting the reality of a church that has the majority of its followers in Latin America and the strong connection with society and social justice that churches have had in the developing world. Pope Francis I is a native of […]
In late 2012, vulture funds came to light with the bold seizure of an Argentine naval vessel, the ARA Libertad,Ā in the Ghana port city of Tema. After two-and-a-half months under the control of the U.S.-based vulture fund NML capitalĀ — run by billionaire Paul Singer — the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in […]
Since before the 2006 election of President Felipe Calderon, Elba Esther Gordillo has been someone who could wag a finger and move Mexicoās most powerful politicians into line. These include former President Calderon himself. Gordillo is head of the Mexican teachers union, the largest union in Latin America at 1.4 million members. Historically a member […]
Among the more important questions to surface in the wake of Hugo ChĆ”vezās death on March 5: Will chavismo survive? The answer, usually given in the affirmative, frequently invokes a previous era of Latin American history. For example, a column on the London Review of Bookās website, āChavez Hasta Siempre,ā draws a parallel to Che […]
[The Star] There is little doubting that the Kenyan elections just passed went a whole lot better than the last ones, in 2007, that resulted in widespread violence and chaos. December 2007 and January 2008 saw bloodshed that some observers chalked up to simple tribal and ethnic clashes. But that simplistic assessment reduced complex political […]
The debt crisis in Europe, anemic economic growth in the U.S., an uncertain future for NATO’s mission in Afghanistan with the year 2014 drawing closer, and growing cyber security challenges facing Western governments and multi-national corporations are some of the key challenges that deserve serious debate and attention by the public and policy makers. Both […]
Prompted by the release of the Hollywood film “Zero Dark Thirty,”Ā the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative Washington think tank, hosted a panel a few weeks back on the subject of āenhanced interrogation techniquesā (EITs). The panelists were three high-ranking officials of the Central Intelligence Agency from the administration of George W. Bush. Gen. Michael […]
If it were easy to do, an American president would have long ago shepherded Israelis and Palestinians into the negotiated two-state peace agreement that both peoples and their neighbors so clearly need ā a peace that would greatly enhance U.S. interests.
In the kaleidoscopic world of power politics in Asia, the United Statesā pivot to that region may yield the unintentional consequences of fostering closer strategic ties between the two Asian giants — China and India ā which could result in a strategic alliance ostensibly hostile to Western interests in the region. Analysts will be quick […]
This week: Dennis Rodman hangs out in North Korea, Hugo Chavez dies, America plays out its fiscal drama, and Bashar al-Assad follows in his father’s footsteps.
The news media lit up late Thursday on news that North Korea threatened to use preemptive nuclear warfare against the United States and canceled its non-aggression pact with South Korea. The regime ofĀ North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, equipped with nuclear capabilities, seems less interested in peace and only throughout the last 24 hours upped […]
“A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it disregards the principles which it should preserve, and finally degenerates into despotism.ā — Simon Bolivar Regrettably, the late Venezuelan president Hugo ChavezĀ did not heed the sage words of his […]
Last week, Raul Castro announced that he would step down from power in 2018. The last Castro to leave the seat of power in Havana is effectively ending a half-century long novella starting in the 1950s, etching the names of Castro and Che across all of Cuba and world history. The strength of the left […]
As values of certain ideas fluctuate with fashion and practicality, so has that of COIN, or counter-insurgency, one of the principal war-fighting approaches in recent years for U.S.-led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such is the main argument in Fred Kaplan’s recent Foreign Affairs (Jan/Feb 2013) essay “The End of the Age of Petraeus: The […]
Sequestration bringing you down? Turn off CNN and check out Foreign Policy Blogs editors’ must-read pieces from around the web.
(Pictiure from Tribeca Films/New York Times) Oh dear. In a (quite positive) review of the new film War Witch, which is set in an anonymous Sub-Saharan African country (but was filmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and clearly is intended to evoke that country’s conflicts), Stephen Holden drops this little observation: “Superstition, witchcraft, exorcism, […]
Just when things are hotting up again with its neighbors in the East and South China Seas, Beijing faces new challenges from its western neighbors in Central Asia.Ā A report released on February 27 entitled āChina’s Central Asia Problemā issued by the International Crisis Group (ICG), a Brussels-based non-governmental organization tasked with reducing deadly conflict, […]
At a high-level executive meeting in Mexico City on Feb. 13, the conversation turned, as it often does in Latin American circles, into a guessing game on ChavezĀ“ health. Several participants insisted ĀØChavez is dead, we havenĀ“t heard from him or seen him in weeks.ĀØ My response? The man is too ornery to pass away […]
Ā With the French military intervention in Mali shifting to a more sustained action, the reality of the long, hard slog in the Mali region has triggered inevitable questions by diplomats, policy planners and many others as to what defines success ā and what comes next?Ā Most mouthed answer: āSomalia.āĀ Thatās correct.Ā The place […]
Image lifted from the Express Tribune “Hazaras” are Persian-speaking people from Afghanistan, who trace their lineage to Ghengis Khan, emperor of the Mongol Empire. Many migrated to British India and worked in coal mines situated in what we now know as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is estimated that more than 500,000 Hazaras now live in Quetta, […]
Prior to his departure to Europe and the Middle East, Secretary of State John Kerry went to the University of Virginia to deliver his first public policy speech, which focused predominantly on explaining to his audience that U.S. foreign policy and assistance has a direct impact upon domestic policy and vice versa. Secretary Kerry […]
President Hamid Karzai will go down in Afghan history as a weird sort – of politician, of man, who dresses with flagrant panache, favoring a mix of traditional outfits and English tailored clothes and who lives a strangely, elegantly mixed up pro-Western and half-traditional life, guarded, in Kabul. In his politics, too, he favors a […]
The Egyptian government is quite busy these days dealing with continued unrest, instability, and economic woes. Yet it has somehow found both the will and the resources to flood some of the smuggling tunnels between Egypt and Gaza. Former president Hosni Mubarakās regime attempted on a few occasions to destroy the tunnels, but this policy […]
The Washington Monument–a massive obelisk within sight of both the White House and Capitol — and Israel, a small democracy wedged in between its enemies — are not often mentioned in the same article or newscast. However, with the $1.2 trillion sequestration cuts set to slash funding across the federal government within days, both Israel […]
Latin America is often seen as in the lower echelon of State Department priorities, and many experts think this is appropriate, given the worldās current hotspots. However, Latin Americans are our closest neighbors, much of our immigrant population, and our partners in solving major domestic issues. Christopher Sabatini, Editor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly, wants the Obama […]
Each week, the Foreign Policy Blog’s editorial team compiles the five best long-form reads and five best in-house blog posts. This week’s features India-Pakistan relations, drones, GĆ©rard Depardieu and much more.
Dr. Peter Jones is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. He is also an Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He has held various positions related to international affairs and security at the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, the […]
The U.S. conducted airstrikes against Serbian forces in 1994 and 1999, and against Libyan troops in 2011, to reduce threats of genocide and humanitarian disaster. But the sole superpower sat idle in 1994 while hundreds of thousands were slaughtered across Rwanda and bodies floated down river past horrified neighbors. Just what criteria the U.S. has […]
Since 1970, the Foreign Policy Association has been producing, a series for PBS called “Great Decisions in Foreign Policy.” Ā It is the longest running program focused entirely on international affairs topics.Ā This year’s series consists of eight programs covering various foreign policy topics ranging from discussions on EgyptĀ and ChinaĀ to one Iād like to review in […]
For a targeted group of people the hottest moment of the upcoming summer wonāt be at the beach in Ibiza. As Art. 13 of Council Decision 2010/427/EU establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS) calls upon the High Representative (HR) to provide a review of the EEAS by mid-2013, the […]
China, the largest energy consumer in the world, which derives more than two-thirds of its energy supply from coal, is choking. Beijing, with a population of around 20 million, increasing energy consumption and more than five million vehicles, is especially is choking. In mid-January, Beijing officials were forced to conduct an emergency response to hazardous […]
President Obama in his State of the Union address announced that the United States and the European Union would seek out a Free Trade Agreement in order to boost the economy of both regions and help curb the ongoing bouts of recessions. This proposed agreement will be the largest agreement ever formed and comes out […]
Also check out Foreign Policy Blogs’ Maxime Larive (“Great Decisions 2013: Imperfect Union. From Survival to Existentialism”) and Alex Corbeil’sĀ (“Morsi, the military and the Egyptian Youth”) reviews of “Great Decisions in Foreign Policy” 2013 season. The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden…Is Screwed By Phil Bronstein Esquire For the first time, the Navy SEAL (“the […]
The Egyptian revolution could best be described as a pivotal moment in the history of the Arab peoples, and the Middle East more broadly. Inspired by events in Tunisia, the liberal minded youth of Egypt took to the streets in a display of mass defiance. Within days a wide strata of the Egyptian polity joined […]
As many of us here at foreignpolicyblogs.com noted during the presidential race, this was an election centered around the economy and not foreign policy. Tuesday night’s State of the Union address continued this dynamic, with foreign policy issues receiving only a passing mention. I expected President Obama to more explicitly build on the “foreign policy […]
Were I looking to invest in sovereign fixed income, say to pay for a house or travel one day, Bolivia is probably not the first place I would look. However, as of last fall, many institutional money managers disagree with me. Last October, the Bolivian government issued $500 million in bonds at the comparatively […]
If They Build It, Will the Kardashians Come? By Peter Savodnik The New York Times Magazine Azerbaijan is rich — oil rich — pushing one million barrels of crude oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipepline per day. Perched on the Caspian and with a massive energy sector, it’s no wonder it was the fastest growing economy […]
According to todayās news report, the Pentagon has decided to cancel the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman two days before it was scheduled to leave and head to the Persian Gulf. Since 2010, the U.S. has tried to maintain a two carrier presence in the Persian Gulf to counter Iranās threats to […]
Over the course of the last two weeks the African Cup of Nations football tournament has been playing out its myriad dramas across the host nation of South Africa. Historically played every in even numbered years, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided to switch to an odd-numbered-year format in no small part so as […]
Yesterday, February 6, 2013, marked the tenth anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting (FGC). The day was established by the United Nations to generate awareness of FGM and to promote its eradication. The day was established ten years ago, […]
Reacting to a United Nations Security Councilās Jan. 28, 2013 press release that cilled on the Haitian government to hold free, fair, inclusive and credible senatorial and municipal elections that are 14-months overdue, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe reiterated his administrationās determination to organize elections this year, an exercise the note stressed āIs important to maintain […]
Last Friday, Hillary Clinton left her post as Secretary of State as one of the most traveled secretaries of all time. Ā She’s leaving with an approval rating of 70%, higher than any outgoing secretary of state measured since 1948, with the exception of Colin Powell. Ā Clinton has said she’s going to catch up on 20 […]
On January 28, a band playing in the popular Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil decided to add some flare to their show — literally. Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band lit an outdoor use flare, the cheapest available, which in turn ignited flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling. The cost of this polytechnic performance? […]
Editor’s Note: The following is a guest contributing piece by Adam Hedengren. Mr. Hedengren is co-founder and managing editor ofĀ YourMiddleEast.com ____________________________________________________________ Young surfers on the beaches of Gaza, war in Gaza, media censorship in Tunisia, a Libyan boxer and an Algerian painter, youth unemployment, startups in the Emirates, Lebanese pop stars, food crisis in Yemen […]
Since Rafael Correa was elected president of Ecuador in 2006, the country has become a study in new socialism. It is new because it combines the social aspect of socialism while also relying on market forces. Ecuador, like many developing countries, has suffered from the ill effects of ādependencia,ā a system that keeps the nation […]
At the beginning of 2013, Forbes Magazine announced that the first female African had crossed theĀ threshold into the status of billionaire. Isabel Dos Santos isĀ theĀ eldestĀ daughter of Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos. Her wealthĀ is composed of 28.8 percent shares inĀ Zon Multimedia, the biggest cable TV operator in Portugal, making her the largest shareholder in the […]
Each week, the editors at Foreign Policy Blogs put together a selection of long-form articles on foreign affairs. Check out this week’s selection with the best of Foreign Policy Blogs and with Michael E. O’Hanlon on Hillary Clinton, Mitchell Prothero on Lebanese media, Robert F. Worth on spy novelist GĆ©rard de Villiers, and more!
Yesterday’s strike on a convoy heading from Syria to Lebanon is but one act in an ever constant drama. Israel, for better or for worse, has had a history of violating both the air space and the territorial integrity of neighboring countries. Given that the Jewish State’s geographical location and the fact that it […]
One chapter of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred back on April 20, 2010, has been closed, but not everybody is satisfied with the resolution. On January 29th, U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance approved a November 2012 plea bargain agreement between the British oil giant BP p.l.c. and the United States Department […]
“Ki bwa li ye, bwa sa; ki bwa li ye, bwa sa,ā sang euphoric young men and women, floating in a sea of people embarked on a lengthy pilgrimage to unity. At the end of the unprecedented grassroots movementĀ in Northern city Ouanaminthe — Kita Nago —Ā a half-ton tree trunk that symbolizes Haiti, would have, on […]
One my pet peeves is people who feel watching the evening news makes them experts on defense policy.Ā Iām not talking about the average person.Ā Iām referring to the kind of people who engage in heated arguments over the topic and scream and holler about how screwed up the government, military and/or the intelligence community […]
The government of Kenya has been drawing fire for its recent decision to forcibly remove registered refugees from Nairobi and transfer them to already crowded camps. On December 18, 2012 the Kenyan Department of Refugee Affairs announced it would cease to register refugees in urban areas and instructed all existing urban refugees to move […]
Recently I had a conversation with a civil engineer from Greece. He asked me directly if my country accepts economic migrants. As someone who has worked in the immigration system and has followed recent changes to the system here, I had found it odd that people who apply to immigrate would use the term economic […]
There are certain narratives in South Africa that seem immune to change over time. Despite many indications that violent crime has been going down consistently over the last decade or more, South Africa is still tainted as a crime-infested country. Although AIDS rates have been dropping, for many South Africa still represents Sub-Saharan Africa’s AIDS […]
Articles From Around the Web The Force By Jill Lepore The New Yorker Once a country that regarded a large standing army as a form of tyranny, the United State’s has now become one of the largest spenders on defense — and its military spending exceeds all of the nation’s in the world combined. […]
Venezuelan President Hugo ChĆ”vezā ill health is widely known, but what may be less recognized in my neck of the woods is how the presidentās ailments have become front-page news across the Caribbean. This is due to PetroCaribe, the regional oil cooperative Venezuela created in 2005 to provide fuel for neighboring countries. PetroCaribe supplies 18 […]
Senior defense officials stated Wednesday the Pentagon will lift the military’s ban on women in combat, thereby opening up thousands of front-line jobs to them. Not many details have been released at this time, but it is known that Panetta has implemented this change following a recommendation from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Ā The change […]
I first became fully politically aware around the age of 10. Since that time there have been three speeches that resonated with me, meaning I felt the speakers were expressing their true beliefs as opposed to simply spouting political rhetoric. The first was President John F. Kennedyās inauguration address. The second was Dr. Martin Luther […]
In light of France’s recent involvement in Mali, questions about the trajectory and length of this war are naturally coming to the fore. For me, a phrase that I keep thinking about is “the law of conservation of problems,” which comes from an environmental science text I once used. Featured in the text to […]
In my previous two posts I provided what I have come to believe are the most important events and aspects of the Syrian civil war to date. Bashar al-Assad’s country is no more; it has been replaced by a parcelized system. Free Syrian Army (FSA) and jihadist units in the northwest: the commercial hub of […]
Must read pieces from around the web for the week of January 11-18, 2013.
The Economistās Venezuela correspondent put out an informative video on the succession of the next possible leader in Venezuela, that can be found here. I also encourage everyone to read the last few posts on FPAās Latin America blog for information on Venezuela as well. The consensus among many experts in the region is that […]
Last week most stories about Afghanistan focused on the meeting between Afghan President Hamaid Karzai and President Obama.Ā The President announced that starting in the spring U.S. troops would only play supporting role.Ā Of note he gave no information on troop withdrawal schedule but did indicate there would be a U.S. troop presence after 2014.Ā […]
Budget support is in the news once more. Corruption in Uganda recently spurred several Western governments to suspend their budget support to the government there. Unfortunately, for Uganda, this type of foreign aid makes up almost a quarter of its annual operating budget. So I’m thinking about budget support again and its role in […]
For the first part of this yearly roundup, check here The Anatomy of the Syrian Conflict (Part 1) For my in-depth map of developments during the month of November, a crucial point at which the Free Syrian Army switched to attacking regime soft points in Aleppo and Deir ez Zour governorates in order to […]
Recently in my own community, one branch of the government has taken to openly violating some enshrined rights under the constitution using their own legislation that clearly violates the rights of the people. The acceptance in using the legal system to remove the rights of citizens that are governed under a constitution were surprisingly permitted. […]
Hugo Chavez should be officially sworn into office on January 10. But with Chavezās advanced cancer and his recently announced ācomplications,ā it is unclear who will lead the country in 2013.Ā Here is a brief primer. As Tim Padgett recently argued, Venezuelaās Bolivarian constitution provides a āmurky mapā on matters of incapacity and succession.Ā The […]
“We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.” This simple sentence came from a speech given by U.S. President Barack Obama in Ghana in 2009. Never has this premise rung more true than right now. As Africa faces imminent threats in several regional situations, the trend seems to be […]
Co-Authored by Azadeh Pourzand and Reza Akhlaghi The Region at A Glance 2012 was the year that the Middle East entered a period of turbo instability. This period accentuated itself in different parts of the region in different forms. Syriaās civil war reached a point of no-return-to-normalcy, ensuring only one outcome for Bashar Al-Assadās […]
Chinaās investment in Brazil has taken off like a catamaran surfing across the Pacific. While one might associate this trend with a Chinese desire to earn returns and pump capital into a fellow BRIC country, a look at the Chinese approach suggests otherwise. China does not have the variety or quantity of natural resources […]
A few years ago, while being interviewed on a radio show, I was asked what I thought of President Bush.Ā I reminded the host that while in the military the President was my Commander-in-Chief.Ā I said my views of the President were probably similar to many employees in other professions.Ā Some things the President did […]
As we close out 2012 we at the FPA polled 100 of our contributing writers at ForeignPolicyBlogs.com to glean their thoughts on the year behind and the year ahead.Ā What were the events, people, organizations and publications that shaped the way we think about foreign policy this year?Ā What lies on the horizon in 2013? […]
How does one describe the immense changes in the Syrian conflict this year? Well, a group of rag tag defectors and civilians, beaten so badly in 2011, have transformed into a viable insurgency which has effectively freed anywhere from 40 to 75 percent of the country. Secular and Salafist-leaning rebel groups do the bulk of […]
Given all that we know and hear about Africa, success is not the first thing that comes to mind when penning about the African Unionās intervention in the continentās conflicts. But this year, under the continental bodyās watchful eye, Kismayo in Somalia has fallen in the hands of the Somalie government, and the two Sudanās-South […]
[Image From: African Executive] It seems as if everyone and their mother has an opinion on the state of South African politics after Mangaung. For better or for worse, the African National Congress has reaffirmed Jacob Zuma’s status as the leader of party and country. It has brought Cyril Ramaphosa back into the political loop […]
The National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite places in Washington. I didn’t take a single art history class in college, and despite traveling to London, Paris, and Florence as a student I hadn’t retained any substantive knowledge or lasting interest in art until I settled in Washington for graduate school and discovered […]
NGO Human Rights Watch is saying that fighting on both sides of the November 2012 Gaza-Israel conflict violated the laws of war. In two different reports with data and information collected post-fighting, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that militants in Gaza targeted civilian, non-enemy combatants. They also say that Israel made unlawful attacks on Palestinian […]
The following is an article from Atlantic Council Senior Fellow and fellow of the Foreign Policy Association Sarwar Kashmeri. Ā Read the original articleĀ here. President Obama is thinking of nominating formerĀ Nebraska Senator Chuck HagelĀ as the country’s next secretary of defense. It is an inspired choice that the President should be proud to present to Americans and […]
By Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, Middle East Institute Scholar-In-Residence Assertions and opinions in this publication are solely those of the above-mentioned author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Middle East Institute, which expressly does not take positions on Middle East policy. Washington and Kabul have welcomed increased Pakistani cooperation in finding a political […]
Many who believe the Mayan calendarās predictions are factual see December 21st as the last day of days. Recent worldwide events might make many feel that his could be the case. With political strife in the Middle East, the murder of children in both the U.S. and China, ongoing economic problems in Europe and the […]
So, Jacob Zuma was rather easily elected to continue on as ANC President, and therefore to represent the ANC as the party’s presidential choice in the 2014 elections. We can debate whether this is a good or bad idea. But barring unforeseen circumstances (and let’s face it — Zuma is not the poster child for […]
Yesterday in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) acquitted former Congolese WarlordĀ Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui of all charges, including crimes against humanity and war crimes, in connection with the massacre that occurred in 2003, in the town of Bogoro. Ngudjolo was on trial for a host of crimes including rape, pillaging, murder, forced enslavement and […]
In spite of international hype about Iran, the countryās real stories remain underreported. When it comes to struggles against human rights, for instance, we only hear about the noble work of Iranian activists, lawyers, journalists when they are imprisoned, on hunger strike, exiled or seen in mass protests such as the Green Movement of […]
Last week, a U.N. tribunal ordered the release of an Argentine frigate docked in Ghana since October, when a group of hedge funds succeeded in getting a local court to hold the ship as collateral until the Argentine government made good on a $20 million bond. The bond, in turn, is just a sliver of […]
Foreign Policy Association Presents The Best Books ofĀ 2012 in International Relations in Three Categories If itās already 2013, itās fair to say that 2012 was a tumultuous year in multiple respects marked by economic uncertainty, ineptitude of world leaders to agree on major global issues, eruption of civil unrest and in some instances civil war, […]
South African politics have been on a collision course toward Mangaung all year. The African National Congress is holding its National Conference in Mangaung, (the metropolitan region that includes Bloemfontein) this week and all of the political intrigue of the last few years will come to a head. Indeed, one can draw a straight line […]
In the films Taken and Taken 2, Liam Neeson plays a father who tracks down his daughter after a group that seeks to sell her into sex slavery kidnaps her. While this is not a common occurrence for young American students in Paris, it is a major problem in many countries. Often places like Paris, […]
On Wednesday, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) successfully launched a long-range rocket, in defiance of U.N. resolutions against the DPRK using ballistic missiles. The launch of the missile is said to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong Il (December 17) and included a “scientific and technological satellite […]
The Syrian rebels, or opposition, or the Syrian National Coalition (the name this motley assembly of Sunnis, Salafists, jihadists, and foreign insurgents) agreed to take on in Doha as a prerequisite for U.S. support (money PLUS guns), successfully launched a surface to air missile (SAM) about ten days ago, bringing down a Syrian government aircraft. […]
On November 27 the Associated Press published a diagram it received from officials, āof a country critical of Iranās atomic program.ā It allegedly calculates the explosive force of a nuclear weapon, which the sources have labelled, āa key step in developing such arms.ā It has been touted as proof of Iranās nuclear aims and purportedly […]
Itās that time of year again. Another 12 months has flown by. Companies and organizations are celebrating their 2012 achievements and are looking for areas of improvement in 2013. Offices, malls and schools are filled with holiday music and lights. South Africa is no different, but there is some stress, as they prepare to host […]
Editor’s Note: The following is a guest appearance byĀ Gus Constantinou, a freelance writer at the United Nations (U.N.).Ā A full sixty-five years after the United Nations celebrated a United Nations vote to split the Mandate of Palestine into two states, thus creating the state of Israel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stood before the General […]
President Obamaās election victory last month proposed many new policy changes for the next four years. One of the most important policy relationships may be the one between the United States and Mexico. This past Saturday, Enrique Pena Nieto was sworn in as Mexicoās new President. With policy challenges for Nieto tied greatly to Mexicoās […]
Gianfranco Pasquino, a political scientist, former Italian Senator and faculty member at Johns Hopkins SAIS spoke at a discussion form at SAIS late last week on current attitudes towards the EU in Italy. Ā In the course of discussing current budget challenges facing several European countries, Professor Pasquino pointed to trends with bearing on the future […]
Alan Dershowitz made a profound statement Wednesday night at an event I attended in New York City. He said Israel could never rely on another country for its defense and security. He was, of course, talking about the situation with Iran and the United States. The last year and a half has been full of […]
Saudi Arabia is perhaps the only remaining country in the world that takes its name from a ruling family — the Al Saud.Ā It has vast hydrocarbon resources that feed the world’s insatiable hunger for energy.Ā Ā It alsoĀ is an absolute monarchy founded upon religious principles of Wahhabi Islam.Ā The alliance of the Al Saud […]
The imminent fall of the Assad regime in Syria is an event that will not only shape that country, but also its neighbor, Lebanon. A deeply divided society whose cleavages have been widened with the events in Syria, the country has been set on a very disastrous path. On both sides of the political […]
I have been off the blogosphere this month because of foreign travel and poor internet connectivity.Ā Ironically, two of the countries I visited were Egypt and Israel.Ā The current crisis broke out a couple of days after I returned home.Ā As I write this blog a ceasefire announced last week by Egyptian Foreign Minister […]
Last month, Oxfam International released a new policy paper (Our Land, Our Lives) that looked at large-scale farm land acquisitions in the developing world, along with the role of the World Bank in facilitating some of the transactions as an investor and/or advisor to national governments. According to Oxfam, Africa has borne the brunt of […]
Editorās Note:Ā The following is a guest opinion piece byĀ Roz Rothstein and Roberta P. Seid. Roz Rothstein Ā is the CEO of StandWithUs and Roberta P. Seid, PhD is Director of Research at StandWithUs. It is an op-ed response to Ms. Ayesha Vahidy’s recent op-edĀ piece.Ā _____________________________________________________________ Ms. Vahidyās outrage should be with Hamas, not Israel.Ā […]
On one hand, āyouthāāas the clichĆ© goesāāare the backbone and the hope of every nation.ā On the other hand, youth could be a thorn on the side and a nightmare of a nation. Somalia has seen both the Somali Youth League (SYL) that mobilized a broad based anti-colonial movement that ultimately won independence for […]
Editor’s Note:Ā The following is a guest opinion piece by Ayesha Vahidy. Ms. Vahidy is currently working towards her Masters degree in International development at the University of British Columbia in Canada. She holds a BA in Political Science from York University in Toronto, Ontario. Ms. Vahidy works as a consultant in diversity at public […]
Currently an attempt to maintain a cease-fire between Israel and the Gaza Strip is taking shape, with conditions based on the halt of rocket fire and artillery from both sides. An obvious conclusion to create a cease-fire is to stop shooting, but the roots of a cease-fire comes from a balance of diplomacy and the […]
Source: Siemens.com The Desertec Industrial Initiative (Dii) is an extremely ambitious venture that has the goal to construct a large network of renewable energy power plants and transmission lines to span some 16,000 km squared throughout the Middle East and North Africa by 2050. In sum Dii, which is headquartered in Munich, is projected to […]
While foreign policy had a brief moment in the sun during this past election cycle, Americans are still clearly, and rightly, preoccupied with the challenges we face here at home. A CBS poll taken just before President Barack Obama was re-elected found that just 5 percent of Americans said foreign policy was an “issue of […]
It was 2006 when Keith Ellison (MN – 05) made history as the first Muslim to be elected to Congress. The same year, Mazie Hirono (HI – 02) and Hank Johnson (GA – 04)Ā became the first Buddhists in American history to serve as U.S. Senators. But both Hirono’s and Johnson’s achievement was overshadowed by the […]
Barack Obamaās reelection has stirred policy reactions in Mexico in at least two ways. First, voters in the states of Colorado and Washington endorsed ballot measures to legalize recreational use of marijuana. One would expect the next issue up for discussion to be the legal conflicts involving interstate commerce and, in general, how the Feds […]
Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski has written a new book, “Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power.” In it, Brzezinski examines the challenges most likely to threaten the ability of the U.S. to continue as the leading force in maintaining global stability. The EU comes under specific scrutiny for its inability […]
Initially sprung as a pro-reform movement with demands for government accountability and transparency, today theĀ Syrian conflict has morphed into a multiplayer geopolitical chess game that so far has proved to have no limits in inflicting pain on the players involved. With Iran fearing the loss of a key ally, Turkey aspiring to dominate a post-Arab […]
Fighting resumed today between the M23 rebels — now calling themselves the Congolese Revolutionary Army — and government troops just outside of Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ending a two-month ceasefire for the conflict that began in April of this year. While much of the attention […]
As most media outlets are reporting, over the last month several errant mortars have been fired into Israelās Golan Heights from Syria.Ā The IDF has determined many of them can be traced back to forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Showing restraint the Jewish state chose not to respond believing that the shells were […]
Despite the fact that it’s only the 9th of November, election day is far behind us. Ā There’s no option of a lame duck for any officials. Ā The glaringly obvious and ever-pressing question is, of course, what now? Ā Or, to put it another way, where? Some of the “whats” have snuck their way into kitchen table […]
After a summer and autumn listening to campaign commercial after campaign commercial, watching debates and analysing policies from the most passive to the most extreme, the election in the United States has finally ended. It seems the only thing that has changed, however, is the fact that both Democrats and Republicans agree that in order […]
In recentĀ weeks, two southern cone neighbors, Argentina and Chile, have demonstrated radically different youth voting tendencies.Ā Culturally, economically and politically, Chile and Argentina’sĀ approaches toward just about everything are famously different; to say the two countries have a rivalry would be an understatement. Yet, as I sit on the Santiagan side of the Andes, I cannot help […]
āResilienceā has become something of a buzzword in development policy circles lately. U.N. agencies are holding consultations, white papers are being written and policies are being drafted. Resilience has taken on special importance as it relates to two recent food crises in Africa, Ā one in the Horn and one in the Sahel. So, what is […]
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Source: Guardian.com/Friedrich Stark/Alamy At the 10th anniversary meeting of the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) partnership in October, members agreed to decrease global gas flaring […]
A U.N. report leaked last month to ReutersĀ indicated that both Uganda and Rwanda were supporting M23 rebels in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The confidential report stated that while Rwanda’s Defense Minister, James Kabarebe, was actually commanding the rebel group, Uganda was also guilty of supplying arms and soldiers, […]
Who won the war in Nicaragua? Apparently, no one. Pictures from a Revolution examines photographer Susan Meiselasās journey to find the people she photographed in Nicaragua during the 1970s and 1980s. She uses the photos to reach out to people, many of whom are blunt about their shattered hopes. Both supporters of the Sandinista government […]
In the spring of 2006, Austrian Lukas Birk, under the alias āSmiley Wallahā ventured into Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran as a touristāa dangerous endeavor the average person would never dream of doing.Ā In his travels, Birk encounters people from all over the worldāVietnam, Germany, and France, for example, and in interviews with them which he presents […]
Do women leaders matter for women? Not at the national level suggests Nicholas Kristof in a recent New York Times articleĀ focused on a specific woman leader he doesn’t care for very much. According to him, she’s bad for everyone in her country, but especially for the women. Kristof points out that, “metrics like girlsā education […]
Last week the Foreign Policy Association released its annual National Opinion Ballot ReportĀ regarding several topics within the realm of U.S. foreign policy. One subject that received much attention surrounded the United States’ role and responsibility when it came to promoting democracy globally. When the participants were asked if “The United States should activelyĀ promote democracy around […]
When youāre right, youāre right. Iām talking about Fast and Furious, the gun-walking operation the US Department of Justice used (illegally if the Export Control Act still carries any weight) to funnel more than 2000 fully operational combat-ready guns and other serious weaponry across the US-Mexico border and into the hands of cartel gang members.
The ācovert opā nobody in Washington knew anything about but which, nevertheless, allowed cartel assassins to use these weapons to gun down hundreds of innocent people, including US law enforcement agents like Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Almost ten months ago, in this very blog (Brian Terry, Jesus Diaz, Dakota Meyer: Justice in 2012?), this writer suggested that, the nearer we came to the election, the less would be said, and done, in regard to the plight of the Terry Family and their hope that, in the case of Fast and Furious, ājustice would be done.ā
Monday’s debate on foreign policy marked the end of the presidential debate season for 2012. Ā Much has been said about past gaffes — both in foreign policy debates and in general — but we’re going to take some time now anyway to reflect on what could have, and what did, go horribly wrong in this […]
With our third and final electoral pageantry behind us, Americans can now gorge on a spate of lucid and provocative articulations of global security in the 21st century.Ā That is, for those bothering to read below the fold.Ā For most of us, our interest peaked with the morning headlines whose typographic excess was reserved for […]
In this week’s foreign policy debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, terrorism in the northern part of the West African nation of Mali was brought up unexpectedly.Ā FPA’s Robert Nolan speaks with Mali Columbia University’s Gregory Mann about the situation there. Unabashed destruction of historic UNESCO sites.Ā TheĀ banning of all musicĀ aside from the singing […]
Iran has been a major foreign policy issue for all U.S. administrations over the past three decades. In tonight’s last Presidential debate before the elections, Iran is bound to come up as one of the key foreign policy challenges that needs to be tackled. Will there be a change in the Iranian government’s policies as […]
In advance of tonight’s presidential foreign policy debate, U.S. policy towards Africa should be an important question the candidates are considering. It’s an issue the candidates and their teams have undoubtedly thought about and already answered for themselves. But I’ll be (pleasantly) surprised if either of the candidates gives U.S. engagement in Africa much attention. […]
Much of West Africa has been struggling under severe drought conditions ā their third round since 2005. Some experts hope better than expected seasonal rains will bring an end to the regional food security crisis but others fear that rising global food prices, an influx of desert locusts and continuing political unrest will turn out […]
Beirut, the Paris of the Middle East and the regionās capital for assassinations and attempted political slayings. The latest of which in this bloody saga targeted Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, the head of the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces. Hassan, who was tapped to become the Head of the ISF at the […]
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā I have been reflecting on the unrealized but ever-expanding influence that Hispanics will have on our entire electoral process. The Economist recently published an article called āThrowing votes away.ā It criticizes the Republican Party for losing steam with Hispanic voters since leaders such as George W. Bush made significant inroads with this group.[1] […]
Long-term policy goals by Americaās neighbors have made them some of the best performing economies worldwide. Unfortunately, Americaās backyard has received little attention from the Obama Administration and even less attention during the Bush years. During the recent electoral debates there have been some mention of Canada and Mexico, but an overarching emphasis on security […]
By K. Riva Levinson With the presidential debate on foreign policy around the corner, there is one topic that likely wonāt get much attention, even though it should: American aid and investment in sub-Saharan Africa. As Todd Moss, vice president and senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, pointed out in a recent […]
A small domestic market and stiff bankruptcy penalties make Chile an unlikely hotspot for aspiring entrepreneurs. Yet āChilicon Valleyā has swelled to more than 500 tech start-ups since 2010, including Kwelia.com, which makes software for landlords, and Kedzoh, which allows employers to send out instructional videos to workers via mobile phones. Two factors are behind […]
At this point, the plight of Venezuelan prisons is internationally known. Jails are severely overcrowded, conditions are horrendous and members of armed gangs kill each other with such frequency that the government actually created a new Prison Ministry to oversee the rights of prisoners. But the most perplexing aspect of the penitentiary system is […]
Last week, a pharmaceutical company made a novel and potentially groundbreaking decision:Ā GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), announced that it would release the data from all of its clinical trials to researchers, who could use the information from GSK’s successes and failures in drug development to independently make new medical and pharmaceutical discoveries. This is the first time a […]
In their sole debate before the election, Vice President Joe Biden and GOP challenger Congressman Paul Ryan sparred for 90 minutes on the direction of U.S. policy, both for foreign and domestic.Ā Last night’s debate was a stark contrast to last weekās meeting between the two men at the top of the tickets, with Biden […]
By Nathan William Meyer It was an important day for Angola, June 20th, 2006.Ā Amid the diplomatic pomp and handshakes of an official visit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opened the Luanda General Hospital and had his picture taken peering into a microscope surrounded by officials in suits and medics in white smocks. The capitalās General […]
Three days ago Adulateef Al-Mulhim, a writer at ArabNews.com and a former Royal Saudi Naval officer, wrote a ground breaking op-ed called the āArab Spring and the Israel Enemy.ā In it he calls for the Arab population and their governments to stop demonizing and blaming Israel as the source of their problems. āThe Arab world […]
Iām currently in Alabama helping out my 85-years-young mom so I havenāt had time to blog, but the following paragraph in a recent New York Times article caught my eye: The United States military has secretly sent a task force of more than 150 planners and other specialists toĀ JordanĀ to help the armed forces there handle […]
This weekās election in Venezuela was important for reasons outside of Venezuela itself. The victory of Hugo Chavez with over 80% of the electorate voting and aĀ sizableĀ minority voting against the current President showed that Hugo Chavez does have a great deal of support as well as a strong opposition to his economic model. Outside of […]
Polls closed in Caracas, Venezuela at 1800 October 7. Months of anticipation came down to the following four hours as the National Electoral Commission (CNE) counted ballots. Current president Hugo Chavez won the election with over 7.4 million votes, some 54 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate and first runner up Henrique Capriles Radonski obtained […]
Abortion is a polarizing issue wherever you go, and that includes Latin America. On September 26, in the midst of vociferous protests from proponents and opponents, Uruguayās CĆ”mara de Diputados (lower house of the General Assembly) approved a law that would legalize abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In studying this development, I […]
Early October will see an election in one of the most politically influential states in Latin America, Venezuela. Since Hugo Chavez was elected he has become the face of leftists in Latin America and populists worldwide. This upcoming election against rival Capriles is likely to be the closest race in Chavezās career with polls contradicting […]
Thanks to the hard work of several of our bloggers, Foreign Policy Association’s election guide and candidate selector is up! Focusing on the foreign policy views of incumbent President Barack Obama and the opposition challenger, Mitt Romney, the Foreign Policy Association’s bloggers provide readers with background and analysis on the five most-debated topics facing American […]
Less than a week after a controversial, anti-Islamic film incited violence throughout the Middle East, riots and protests gained momentum from a French satirical magazineās publication of crude representations of the Prophet Muhammad. Meant to mock violence sparked by the American-made film Innocence of Muslims, the French weekly, Charlie Hebdo, included pornographic and demeaning illustrations […]
In todayās Guest Post, Jean AbiNader shares his interesting perspective on a recent article on Egypt by former Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S., Nabil Fahmy which appeared in the summer 2012 issue of the Cairo Review of Global Affairs. Jean, a long-time Middle East specialist, is President of IdeaCom, Inc. (www.goideacom.com) and directs its services […]
Which group of countries can be set as an example in the security and defense field for the Central European states? It is my contention that the Nordic collaboration, based on the 2009 āStoltenberg report,ā should be and could be repeated on a V4 level. How V4 cooperation might become as effective and attractive to the U.S. as the one between the Nordic states? One should offer a set of four rules which will be called V4 four commandments: visibility, flexible leadership, active engagement and daring thinking.
The following was taken from Jspace.com. Ā The article was written by Jspace Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Rob Lattin, who also blogs about Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for Foreign Policy Blogs.Ā The Jerusalem District court last Thursday rejected MK Taleb al-Sanaa, of the United Arab List party, and othersā petition calling for a temporary injunction […]
Mexico has come in for positive news of late, thanks in part to a forecast published by Nomura Securities that showed Mexico surpassing Brazil as Latin Americaās largest economy by 2022. While thatās certainly possible, a more realistic scenario would involve Mexico growing at the upper end of the growth range the IMF has set […]
A week ago, in various necks of the Muslim world, protests broke out to show the disapproval with the video that was made showing Prophet Muhammad as an adulterer, child molester and murderer. I’m sure there was more to the movie, but I, like many others, have not seen it. As much as I have […]
President Obama over the last four years has had as successful a record on Latin America as the last two presidents before him. It can be argued he has had some added success in the region considering luck and policy with Colombia gaining a handle on its own internal conflict and Cuba slowly reforming to […]
Bite me. You might as well go outside and shout it loud, because there isnāt enough DEET in your medicine chest to fend off the bloodlust of Culex pipiens, Anopheles, Aedes vexans, and dozens of other species of infected mosquitoes blanketing the United States. And West Nile virus season has just begunāconsider August 2012 a preview.
Donāt get me wrong. Health organizations, federal, state and local, have spent buckets of money on nice-looking, easy-to-understand websites that calmly advise citizens to douse ourselves with bug spray, wear light, long-sleeved clothing (think Out of Africa), eliminate standing pools of water, and, of course, just stay inside the damn house until the Center for Disease Control (CDC) sounds the all-clear.
All good. But hardly sufficient.
West Nile virusāhow it got here, how it travels, how it kills, and how health officials could, but often fail to mount the most effective responsesāis a complicated story, a cautionary tale, some would say, about power, ego, bureaucracy, preparedness, ignorance, incompetence, and disparate champions whose voices routinely go unheard and whose counsel is too often ignored.
Right now, the highbeams are on Dallas, Texas, āGround Zeroā for West Nileāand Mayor Mike Rawlings has indeed declared a state of emergency in the municipality. As the number of victims escalates, however, so does the anxiety of state and local officials, as well as the complaints of constituents, whoāve begun to question and criticize the cityās response to the health crisis….
Editor’s Note: The following piece is a guest appearance by Ms. Sara Akrami and Mr. Saeed Ghasseminejad.Ā Sara Akrami is an Iranian-Canadian student activist, currently in her 4th year of studies in political science at York University in Toronto. Ms. Akrami is also founder and president of the Human Rights Activists Association at York University.Ā Saeed […]
A couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to get a phone call inviting me to the Democratic Convention to hear President Obama give his acceptance speech.Ā Iām a registered independent voter and over the course of my life have voted for candidates of both parties.Ā Attending the convention was one of the best experiences […]
To provide context to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and the death of J. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya,Ā Foreign AffairsĀ has put together a collection of the 33 best pieces on the country. Spanning nearly 20 years, āLibya in Crisisā includes articles by Middle East scholarĀ Fouad Ajami, NATO Secretary GeneralĀ Anders Fogh […]
When commenting on an article about corruption in Liberia, a poster on my Facebook buddyās wall alluded that the state is not always a friend as generally viewed, especially in the Western context. Certainly, as reported by the Liberian Daily Observer, recent corruption index research reveals that that the entire state of this West African […]
With Venezuelaās presidential election coming up on October 7, one question looms large ā can Hugo ChĆ”vez possibly lose? Perhaps the question should actually be, can his challenger win? From what I have read, the opposition is unified, pragmatic, and proactive in a manner different from prior campaigns. Checking my past posts, I havenāt written […]
The production values are terrible. The acting is bad. But this is a movie worth watching. Set in the early 1980s, Latino follows a Chicano soldier recruited to train Nicaraguan counterrevolutionaries along the Honduras side of the border. They were called ācontras.ā Whether the contras were a home grown group or one created and funded […]
Since the announcement of the decision by Canada to sever ties with Iran and expel Iranian diplomats from the country, many Iranian-Canadians have found themselves immersed in heated debates over the issue. While these debates seem nearly fixated on the merits and faults of the decision and the potential it holds for the Iranian diaspora, […]
September 6, 2012 by H.A. Unver http://fikraforum.org/?p=2644 On August 20, a car bomb went off in the southern Turkish province of Gaziantep on the Syrian border, killing nine civilians, including four children. The Turkish government blamed the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group on the U.S. Department of Stateās foreign terrorist organizations list, for […]
The United States has been fighting a war in Afghanistan for over ten years. Over 2,000 our bravest men and women have died there during that time period. We still have over 60,000 troops on the ground fighting in the land that hosted Al Qaedaās leadership a decade ago. Even though, President Obama, the current […]
This film tackles head on the situations modern Palestinians face every day. It revolves around two West Bank friends who have been recruited to become suicide bombers in Tel Aviv. The anguish and self doubt they experience brings the viewer closer to the minds of the would-be martyrs in the hours before they are to […]
Ā Bijan KianĀ is a Senior Fellow for Global Public Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School. He has served President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama from 2006 to 2011 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. In 2011, he served as a member of the White […]
Pockets of people roaming the decorated streets of Uptown Charlotte, snapping random pictures, numerous small gangs of police officers patrolling the city: on foot, bicycles, motorcycles or cruisers, Iconic TV personalities and political figures casing the place, soaking the sunshine through the gentle breeze, yet, it is only the calm before the storm. A few […]
The following was taken from Jspace.com. Ā The article was written by Jspace Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Rob Lattin, who also blogs about Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for Foreign Policy Blogs.Ā I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Israeli Brigadier General (res.) Eliezer Hemeli, who spent a large portion of his life on […]
Student protests this year in the streets of Montreal over a relatively small tuition hike took the Quebec government by storm. In reality, it is likely more than just tuition that fuelled this yearās protests with the Liberal Party of Quebec facing allegations of corruption after nine long years in power. The Parti Quebecois, the […]
byĀ Max ReibmanĀ Muhammad Moursiās exploitation of recent events in the Sinai to shuffle the leadership of the Egyptian military is only the most recent manifestation of the disproportionate influence of the Sinai on Egyptian politics. Events in the Sinai have long dictated politics in Cairo. For decades, they shaped the fortunes of powerbrokers in the […]
I havenāt blogged about Afghanistan in a while so thought Iād cover some of what I thought may be of interest.Ā There have been a lot of reports of rogue Afghan military and police force members attacking their NATO coalition partners.Ā As of the time Iām writing this, the total stands at 42 killed.Ā What […]
This film is almost a documentary. It follows two Israeli medics who are sent to the front lines during the 1973 Yom Kippur war that began when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel. This movie, which is in Hebrew with English subtitles, is not political. Rather, it is a study of life in wartime and the […]
In the past month, we’ve seen the United States’ worst outbreak of West Nile Virus, Ebola in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and cholera in Sierra Leone that’s spread to its West African neighbors. What lessons can be learned from these three epidemics? West Nile, which has only been endemic to […]
Today most OAS members will officially make a statement of support for Ecuador and its diplomatic rights under international law. Most Latin American nations support the concept of a country being able to maintain a secure embassy in the U.K. without British officials entering or taking actions in their embassy. In international law, an embassy […]
There were 48 homicides in Cuidad Juarez in July, according to the Washington Post: ā33 by gun, seven by beatings, six by strangulation and two by knife.ā Forty of the murders are attributed to drug violence. Bad as that sounds, it represents a 70% reduction in the number of murders in the city still widely […]
A new venture in training journalists to be more prepared for dealing with injury in the field is already putting graduates out into the field. RISC, founded by war journalist Sebastian Junger, is a nonprofit that gives battlefield first aid training to freelance journalists. Inspired by the knowledge that reporters on location could potentially save […]
“Violence in Haiti is systemic, that is to say, itās related to the abandonment of the state, the abandonment of society by public institutions that fail to provide basic services.” āI reject the ontological definition of an inherently violent Haitian,ā declared Anthropologist Rachelle Charlier Doucet at Port-au-Princeās Hotel le Plaza on Friday, June 29, 2012. […]
Editor’s Note: The following is an announcement by the organization United for IranĀ on the upcoming conference ofĀ Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries in Tehran, Iran. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Should Secure Cooperation on Human Rights before Visiting Iran Washington D.C. (17 August 2012)–United for IranĀ calls on democratic leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to pressure Iran […]
As the 2012 Olympics come to an end, we could list off the medals received, the records broken, and the athletic milestones reached. For the foreign policy enthusiasts among us, an Olympic recap inevitably includes another kind of list ā a list of the geopolitical issues that the Games have highlighted. With more countries represented […]
Marcela Valente of the ipsnews.net published a very interesting article this week discussing why Mercosur has decided to pass up a recent offer of a free trade agreement with China. Mercosur fell off the radar screen in the discussions on international trade after the FTAA died post 2001. With the recent dramatic suspension of Paraguay […]
In the 1980s, Japanese carmakers began to move production to the United States. Today, they ā along with German and South Korean makers ā account for more than 40% of the autos made in the United States. The move begs a question, taken up by a recent New York Times article: Could consumer electronics makers […]
Wade Michael Page killed six Sikh worshipersĀ in theirĀ gurdwaraĀ (Sikh Temple) in Wisconsin earlier this week. Ā Page,Ā a 40 year old who is said to have been an active member of a white supremacist group, died of a self inflicted gunshot to the head. Although the motive of the crime is unclear, or has “died with Page,” most […]
While recent U.S. efforts with Colombia and Mexico have bolstered security and institutions in those nations, U.S. influence in Central America has been comparatively weak. NAFTA has fostered impressive geopolitical interconnection between Mexico and the U.S.; the analogous and little recognized CAFTA-DR (Dominican Republic-Central America-United States) Free Trade Agreement has not led to much […]
There is much debate in the United States on the dominance of China in the current global economy. These discussions are quite valid as Latin America weathered much of the 2008 economic crisis based upon natural resource exports to China to bolster their booming economy. Canada was also able to rely on natural resources […]
So, what does it mean that Kenya’s debt is low low that if the country were part of the Eurozone it would have the third lowest debt ratio? Probably not a great deal. It means, of course, that Kenya has managed its debt well. It means that data can reveal a great deal, but that […]
This article is a follow-up to “Three Flops That Make Leon Panetta Sad.” I talked a fair bit last week about the various costly mistakes the U.S. military has made in the context of the upcoming sequestration. A survey conducted by the Program for Public Consultation, the Stimson Center and the Center for Public Integrity […]
The Washington Postās Juan Forero recently published an article on the erosion of democratic institutions in Latin America. Among the ānew authoritariansā he cites as responsible for the decline are Hugo Chavez and several of his key allies, namely Ecuadorās Rafael Correa, Boliviaās Evo Morales and Nicaraguaās Daniel Ortega. All of them have ridden roughshod […]
As mentioned in my last blog, Iāve been off the grid for a while.Ā Iām currently in Alabama hanging out with my 85 years young Mom but have been playing catch up with current events.Ā I have to get up every few minutes and stand in front of her air conditioner but then I gamely […]
The Washington Post published a very informative article this week about Mexican immigration to the United States and the logical and progressive nature of immigration and investment coming from mostly illegal immigration to the U.S. Currently, the immigration rate from Mexico to the United States is balanced with many Mexicans returning to Mexico after years […]
At a Foreign Policy Association event in April 2010, former Brazil Central Bank President Arminio Fraga gave a rather intoxicating assessment of global central bank stimulus efforts to stem economic crisis. Fraga asked each audience member to imagine a night when he or she may have gotten ridiculously drunk. A rather tiring, hungover morning […]
Earlier this month, Mehdi Hasan of the Guardian wrote aboutĀ having to deal with Islamophobia on a day to day basis; how his work and family were affected, but asserting thatĀ he would continue to do what he does. Mr. Hasan clarifies that he does notĀ consider his Islamic beliefs exempt from public criticism — just that it […]
First TakeĀ by Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) offers analyses by CFR fellows and experts on key foreign policy issues. The latest issue of First Take,Ā Ā “Syria: Beyond the UN Veto”Ā is by Richard Haas, President of CFR. Mr. Haas suggestsĀ that the United States and other like-minded governments should not equate the United Nations with multilateralism nor should […]
by Nathan William Meyer Twenty-four trillion dollars.Ā It is a number that beggars the imagination, almost 40% of the global economy, and it is buried in one of the worldās poorest and most violent countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo.Ā Failed state, rape capital of the world, humanitarian catastrophe ā the Congo personifies all […]
Today Nelson Mandela has turned 94. Mandela is staying out of the public eye, but that has not kept people from Qunu, Mandela’s home village in the Eastern Cape, to President Obama in Washington, to children around South Africa, and the world from issuing their praises of the great, but increasingly frail, leader of the […]
by Hristiana Grozdanova &Ā Anna Maria Barcikowska When both sides of the Atlantic face fiscal and macroeconomic challenges at home and around the globe, it seems like the only way to overcome to shortcomings is to stay united. Looking back at the history of the European Union, one could see that in the somber times it […]
It’s been a busy few days since my return from South Africa, and I still have much about which I want to write. At the risk of self indulgence, I’ve made a couple of media appearances in recent days. The Colombian news magazine Semana wrote a story on the state of contemporary Africa in which […]
This past week the Council on Hemispheric Affairs published an article on the Obama Administrationās actions to depressurize the relationship between Argentina and the āvulture fundsā that made profit off Argentinaās default from their 2001 economic collapse. With so many formerly healthy economies in Europe now facing the same end game as Argentina did nearly […]
United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeepers have been busy assisting the Congolese brigades over the past week in the fight against rebels known as M23 based in Bunagana. This comes at a crucial time, as the provincial capital of Goma, a military stronghold, may be overrun. This […]
Given Mexicoās ongoing campaign against the narco-gangs and Colombiaās omnipresent civil war, it is not surprising that defense budgets are ballooning across Latin America. According to a report by Rachel Glickhouse of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas and data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI; see links below), Latin American countries spent […]
A new regional economic platform, the Caribbean Growth Forum (CGF), spearheaded by the World Bank (WB), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), mobilized more than 150 participants in Kingstonās University of the West Indies around a common concern: the regionās perennial economic failings. The two-day conference, held on June 28-30, 2012, attracted […]
[Human Sciences Building, University of Pretoria] I am now in Pretoria where I will be participating in the biennial conference of the Historical Association of South Africa (HASA) on 6-7 July. Tomorrow (Friday, 6 July) I will be presenting a paper at 11:30 titled “Combating Hardships: Bus Boycotts in South Africa, 1953-1954, and international implications.” […]
Word is that ICE agents (now tagged HSI, or Homeland Security Investigation agents) have been instructed not to draw attention to themselves or any efforts they may mount to interdict drugs trafficked in the the US from Mexico–or to advertise just how audacious cartel drug runners have become, trafficking openly on US soil. Downplay conflict with the Mexican cartels.
Indeed, ICE insiders say the current ‘standing order’ to US drug interdiction agents along the SW border is to ‘turn and run’ whenever confronted by drug-toting cartel members–‘Do not engage.’
ICE or HSI agents have even been advised not to wear identifying gear–hats or jackets marked ICE or HSI–while on surveillance.
Conversely, the orders issued to the Zetas, or whichever gang traffickers happen to be involved, is “lose a load and lose your life.’
Interview conducted by FPB’s Reza Akhlaghi Ian Bremmer, one of Americaās leading geopolitical theorists and the President of Eurasia Group, sat down with Reza Akhlaghi, senior writer at FPA, to discuss the crisis of global leadership and his new book Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World “…..a loose collection of […]
And so the African National Congress (ANC) survived its National Policy Conference in Midrand. They may have spent upwards of 40 million rands, and toward the end a few punches were thrown by angry delegates. But what are a few fisticuffs among friends? But this is the thing to remember, always: Talk of a one-party […]
By Alexander Corbeil The International Sphere and the Domestic Situation in AmericaĀ We are now witnessing a bloody and drawn own out plan of regime change by civil war in Syria. To put it plainly itās government overthrow on the cheap for the United States, both in political and financial terms. It is true that […]
Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted (255 to 67) to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for his refusal to hand over thousands of documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee more than a year ago. The documents, believes Darrell Issa (R-Calif), who heads the Committee, are pivotal to understanding the […]
The end of the Arab Spring has likely come about in two different ways. The official election of President Morsi in Egypt can be seen as the end of protests against the military government and the beginning of the first democratically elected leader in Egyptās history, or it can become the beginning of a one […]
The following was taken fromĀ Jspace.com. Ā The article was written by Jspace Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Rob Lattin, who also blogs about Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for Foreign Policy Blogs.Ā With all of the turmoil and uncertainty going on in the Middle East right now, the state of Israeli-Turkish relations has largely beenĀ under-reportedĀ and under-analyzed. While […]
27 Leading Experts Say That Current US Policy Does Not Serve Long-Term American Security Interests Ā WASHINGTON — Twenty-seven leading foreign policy experts have sent a letter to President Obama, calling for a broader approach on US policy towards Yemen that āexpands beyond the narrow lens of counterterrorism.ā As US intelligence agencies point to the rise […]
After a run of over five years and 750+ posts, itās time for me to move on from the Foreign Policy Association blog āClimate Change.āĀ In this time, Iāve tried to bring you some perspective on one of the most important issues of our age.Ā I am a proud tree hugger, certainly, but I believe […]
The power brokers of the African National Congress are holding their 2012 National Policy Conference in Midrand this week. This could prove to be a vital few days in the life of the Zuma administration as this week’s gathering is fraught with text and subtexts and sub-subtexts. Putatively the goal of the week is simply […]
ByĀ Max Reibman Egyptās liberals confront a fundamental and long overdue self-reckoning. Like most liberal revolutionaries, who often disappoint and rarely go on to govern, Egyptās are slowly slipping into irrelevance. After setting off protests that paralyzed the old regime, they lacked the ruthlessness to fuel popular momentum, eschewed district and provincial level organizing, and shunned […]
Googoosha: When Totalitarianism isn’t Enough I first discovered Googoosha through The Daily Beast. At first, it was impossible not to laugh; after all, one of the world’s worst dictators having daughter aspiring to be a pop diva is aĀ bit hard to believe. Ā Perhaps as a music lover and, I guess, a former radio DJ, I […]
I select the geographic spot for my posts based on a mixture of issues and variety. Paraguay tends to gain attention either through its soccer team or political upheaval. I looked at the Economist App on my iPhone, and Paraguay doesnāt even show up on the list of economic indicators by country. Iām guessing that […]
The Arab Spring, or rather the Arab Uprising, has made history. Ā Future generations will study this brave series of uprisings as a new chapter in the history of the Middle East-North African (MENA) region. Current generations are both proud and anxious as they watch history unfold before their eyes. Governments throughout the world are worriedly […]
One political earthquake after another is rumbling through Egypt. Things here seem to change on a daily basis, sometimes even on an hourly basis, as has been the case in the recent week. In fact as of late, Cairo feels a bit like the Twilight Zone, particularly in light of conflicting reports about whether or […]
I’m back in South Africa. Most years when I come back I start off and sometimes finish in Melville, in Johannesburg. It’s an area with which I’m intimately familiar, and it gives me a comfortable place to settle in, re-adjust, and recover from jet lag. I’ve been coming to South Africa and traveling internationally regularly […]
To the untrained eye, Argentinaās economic future might seem bullish. Under current President Cristina FernĆ”ndez de Kirchner, an average annual growth rate of 7% has been impressive, and is lower than that of only one other government in Argentine history. Positive external forces have been working in the nationās favor in recent years: new agricultural […]
By Majid Rafizadeh The world may have been able to pretend that it was not aware of the genocides taking place in Germany or in Rwanda in the 1990s. However, considering all the communication technology that exists todayāinternational news outlets, social media, YouTube, etc.āin the future we wonāt be able to claim that we didnāt […]
ByĀ Osman Elmi The following is a guest post response to the article “Sustainable Peace: Why Somaliland Matters” by Abukar Arman. Northern Somalia, āSomaliland,ā was a Protectorate, not a Colony Before the arrival of Britain, the people and lands which became Somaliland Protectorate in the late 19th century were traditionally divided into clans and their territories. […]
Very early tomorrow morning I head to South Africa for my first trip there in nearly a year. I’ll be there for three weeks and will be upping my frequency and volume of posting. But in the meantime, here is a deluge of stories that have been piling up in my tabs: At The Atlantic […]
Interview conducted by Reza Akhlaghi. One of Australiaās leading business leaders, Steve Killelea is the founder and Executive Chairman ofĀ the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). Mr. Killelea is also the driving force behind theĀ Global Peace IndexĀ (GPI), the worldās first and leading measure of global peacefulness. GPI measures ongoing domestic and international conflicts, safety, and […]
We are now deep into year two of the Arab world convulsions. Not one country across the North African-Middle East arc is settled. Even where it sounds quiet it is not. Two years from the first cry of freedom, very few things are how the outside world predicted. As Egyptians vote for their president in […]
After years of writing on the FPA immigration blog on topics usually concerned with Latino immigration in the United States, I sincerely believe that there are no current policies or legal frameworks that can handle the issue of illegal immigration in the US. With no real spokesperson for the millions of illegal immigrants in the […]
What do Greek elections, doctors, Mali, and Obama all have in common? Ā They’re all featured in our weekly must reads! Take a look at our recommendations below. āGreece Votes Itself in the Foot Again: The Rise of the Coalition of the Radical Left and the Demise of Europeā Foreign Affairs 12 June 2012 With the […]
“Those guys didn’t think I would do it. I told you I was going to do it!” That’s what internet-savvy President Obama said in New York City several months ago after belting out a few lines from Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Ā He’s sung at the ApolloĀ and the White House, slow jammed the news,Ā and nominated […]
The latest Global Peace Index (GPI) by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP): Nations improve external peace – seeking to project economic power more than military Ā Key Findings from this year’s Index:Ā Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time not the least peaceful region Iceland is the country most at peace for the second successive […]
Behold, Foreign Policy has announced āa new golden age of oil and gas.ā Hereās the good news: unlike previous booms this one stands to benefit a wide swath of humanity, including places as far flung as the Canary Islands and the Falklands, Brazil and the Arctic. The bad news: We could cook the planet. That […]
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Colombia and Chile have recently layed out initiatives for natural resource policies that place the nations in stark contrast to one another. Colombia, fresh from a successful campaign to clear territory from leftist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels, is aligning its crude oil and mining deposits for export to generate national income. […]
[South Africa Tours and Travel] Man, it’s not easy to coach at the highest level of South African sport. Bafana Bafana is a mess. In the national team’s first two qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup, they drew with Ethiopia–a team everyone thought South Africa would handle easily– and Botswana–a team that actually was […]
Just yesterday at least another 80 people were massacred in the Syrian village of Qubair by Assad regime-supported militia. Ā Women and babies were executed at a low angle, crouching; another turn at Houla. Upon threat of even more brutality the bodies of the victims were buried before U.N and other international outfits could lay witness […]
Here are the week’s must read articles: “Good Leak, Bad Leak” By Uri Friedman Foreign Policy A brief but informative look at the various leaks during the Obama administration and their political and legal implications. “Understanding Cyberspace is Key to Defending It” By Robert O’Harrow Jr. Washington Post In the aftermath of Stuxnet and its […]
In The Guardian a few days ago Binyavanga Wainaina wryly providedĀ “How not to write about Africa in 2012 ā a beginner’s guide” that really is more of a primer on the contemporary culture of the few remaining Africa correspondents for American and European publications. This article serves as something of an addendum to his […]
Dr. Payam Akhavan is a Professor of International Law at McGill University, co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, and the first Legal Advisor to the Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Tribunals at The Hague. Dr. Akhavan sat down with Reza Akhlaghi, senior writer at Foreign Policy Association, to discuss the following issues:Ā […]
The following piece was originally published in YOUR MIDDLE EAST.Ā Reprinted with Permission by Eliot Benman I was standing in the kitchen of an old Damascene house in the Christian quarter of Bab Touma when a figure burst through the door, brandishing a gun and crying āKill the Islamists, kill the Islamists!ā He pointed the gun […]
Me culpa. Yesterday I speculated about the origins of Flame and noted at the outset that Stuxnet generally is attributed to Israel, perhaps with the United States as an accessory. In an exhaustive report published this morning, the New York Times reports that Stuxnet was in fact a U.S. product, part of a cyber-sabotage program […]
These images are photographs of the Syrian activist shot real-time video footage of the then ongoing attacks in rebel-held Houla. These images are a partial record of what must have been the stunting confusion, deafening noise, and blinding dust that marked that day. And even if removed from the widely-circulated devastating images that make something […]
This week The Economist has created a very interesting and innovative forum to discuss the pros and cons of the PRI party regaining power in Mexico after losing the presidency to the PAN in 2000. This forum takes two campaign leaders from both parties and places them in an open debate over the next week […]
Dr. Michele DunneĀ is director of theĀ Atlantic Council‘s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. SheĀ has served in the White House on the National Security Council staff, and on the State Departmentās Policy Planning Staff and in its Bureau of Intelligence and Research. She was also a diplomat in Cairo and Jerusalem. She sat down with […]
The news coming out of Africa is almost always negative. Moreover, it almost never touches on the African youth. So for a change of tune, I want to let you know about some phenomenal young people from the continent who are doing extraordinary things. In January 2012,Ā Young People in International Affairs or YPIA, an NGO […]
Dear FPA Blog followers, As many of you know, FPA’s ‘Great Decisions’ program, dealing with the Arab Spring and its implications for U.S. policy came out earlier this year. I was asked to write a review of the program; that review later turned into a larger article, which also appeared on FPA Blogs. The following […]
Much of the feedback I receive from the various articles I post questions why U.S. foreign policy is so defensive/aggressive. Let me begin by saying that I am far from being an expert on most of these matters. While I did serve in the military and as a diplomat, I never reached a level where […]
Two decades have passed since the collapse of the Somali state. Twenty one years to be exact. According to Lee Cassanelli, Professor of African history at the University of Pennsylvania, this exact number matters in Somali politics ā perhaps in a subconscious way. In August 2007, during one of his presentations at the Somali Studies […]
While much of the world’s attentions are rightfully focused on the election in Egypt, which appear set to go to a runoff between two starkly different candidates, little Lesotho is prepared to go to the polls as well in what is proving to be a tense election campaign. South Africa’s presence surrounding Lesotho means that […]
It is perhaps not surprising that South African rugby included the highest number of black Springboks in match rosters during former coach Peter de Villiers’ tenure. The recently released de Villiers was, after all, the first non-white Springbok coach (and yes, I hate defining him against what he was not, but that’s the history […]
Writing for both the Latin America blog and the Europe blog often has its advantages, and with so little attention being paid to Latin America at this past weekendās G8 Summit at Camp David I am given some space to discuss how the global economy affects Latin America and other developing regions. The late 90s […]
South Africa will be hosting the African Cup of Nations, the biennial African football competition that will be changing from even to odd-numbered years in 2013. In many ways this is probably good news — South Africa has the best infrastructure in terms of stadiums and roads, it has the media facilities and the wherewithal […]
It was a simple statement from the State Department, almost lost in the daily flurry of transcripts,Ā very public reactions and carefully nuanced policy papers aimed at high profile flash points in the world. The statement was from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton congratulating the people of Algeria on their elections in mid-May. The […]
Africa is growing. Sometime two years ago the continent’s population surpassed a billion people. But this is not simply some sort of phenomenon of Malthusian proportions. For as Africa’s population grows, so too does its economy, in ways that most people probably do not realize. Howard French explains: Africa, with a population expected to roughly […]
This past Sundayās presidential election in the Dominican Republic culminated a campaign full of color, passion, and energy. The campaign contrasted with American races in that it focused on personal differences between the two men vying for office; policy differences were minute and less relevant. I visited the DR in September last year on business, […]
U-2ās front man is an able writer on developmental economics, this much became clear when he penned the foreword to Jeff Sachsā āThe End of Povertyā in 2005. A few days ago, Bono published a column for TIME. His premise: the world is on the cusp of another natural resource boom, and it need not […]
Even while American news outlets drone on about the November presidential elections at least 4.7 million people in South Sudan are at riskĀ everyday of severe food shortages. Ā That’s half the population of the newest country in the world, having wrested independence from Sudan. In the Nuba Mountains alone, more than 1million people are starving. Suffering […]
In my first post as part of the Foreign Policy Blog Network, I summarized Peruvian President Ollanta Humalaās efforts to appease the markets through pro-business Cabinet appointments. In two well-respected placements, Luis Miguel Castilla became Finance Minister, and Julio Velarde stayed on as Central Bank Head. Humala hoped to marry economic growth with […]
An aspiring writer in the 1940s, Carlos Fuentes was cautioned by his diplomat father to get a real job. Instead, Carlos threaded the needle: he satisficed padre by acquiring a law degree. Then he spent two decades as a Mexican diplomat, managing to resign twice for more or less the same reason: in 1968 he […]
In a recent discussion on Argentinaās expropriation of YPF there was much commentary on how the Falklands issue was still one of great importance. Seeing Argentina as independent and able to move ahead, despite having poor relations with the Europeans, created a healthy debate on the issue. As the moderator of the posts I create, […]
Obama’s Endorsement is Already Creating New Political Realities NEW YORK – Engaged gay couples are the newest group to be courted in the Mid-East Conflict.Ā A massive outdoor mural in Manhattan’s West Village depicts two men holding hands while looking at scales that weigh the gay rights enjoyed in Israel versus the homosexual persecution in […]
There were many dangers faced by reporters during the four-year Bosnia war. Gunfire. Freezing. Food poisoning. Checkpoints manned by drugged out crazies. Yet one fear stood out, and it was usually away from the fighting. That was going to Zenica, a city in the central part of the area controlled by the Bosnian government. The […]
How do you tell the story of the latest notice of violence in Syria, the devastating twinned car bombs in Damascus that killed at least 55 people, of Syria’s politics and the illegitimate government’s repression against its own people without admitting that one way or another the terrifying status quo–8000 people, or many more, dead– […]
Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, pundits, politicians, and casual observers have all wondered and speculated what the effects of the uprisings will mean for Israel.Ā Will the peace-treaty with Egypt hold? What will happen on the Syrian border?Ā What is going on with Israelās own Arab population? In this episode ofĀ Understanding IsraelĀ I speak […]
Pedestaled by the Andes at 12,000 ft above sea level, Bolivia is one of the most closed off countries in the world. Since coming to office in 2005, President Evo Morales has increased the isolation by implementing a range of measures to discourage foreign investment; most recently, on May 1 he announced the nationalization of […]
Last November during Eid-al-Adha, a week-long holiday when the Haj culminates, I was able to escape crowded Kabul for the western city of Herat. An old city-state linked historically with the Persian empire, Herat was known in itsĀ 1500s heyday for poetry and miniaturist painting. It’s also famous for the fine tilework on its mausoleums and […]
I have yet to address Argentina directly in any of my entries, but fear has brought the nationās business climate to the front of my mind. The deluge of press on President Kirchnerās nationalization of oil producer YPF has resurrected old demons. The act looms like the self-inflicted wounds that caused the currency crisis in […]
On May 6th, Greece will have the most important election of its post junta era.Ā The sovereign debt crisis has humbled the country and the EU imposed austerity measures have angered the people.Ā Unlike the Koskota scandal that led to the 1989 coalition government between Nea Dimocratia (ND) and the Communist Party, the stakes are […]
Last week while out shopping, I ran into a fellow Vet.Ā As we chatted, the subject of media coverage of wars came up.Ā He had served in Vietnam and we both found it interesting that media coverage of that conflict was pretty extensive and covered almost nightly.Ā In contrast the war inAfghanistanis not covered to […]
Last week the New York Times exposed that Wal-Mart de Mexico bribed local officials $24 million to hurry permitting for new stores. Most of the subsequent reportage has focused on stateside implications for Wal-Mart, which may include violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The companyās stock is down over 7% since the story broke. […]
It is with great pleasure that I announce the addition of two highly professional bloggers to our Iran page at Foreign Policy Association Blogs: Ā Ms. Azadeh Pourzand and Ms. Allison Kushner. When it comesĀ to Iranian geopolitical and socio-economic affairs, Azadeh and AllisonĀ bring an impressive track recordĀ in personal, professional, as well as academic experience Ā to share […]
Three Molotov Cocktails were thrown, early this morning, in South Tel Aviv. If Jews were involved, they were not the targets, but the perpetrators. The victims were African refugees, fleeing war and genocide – primarily from Sudan, but also from Eritrea. Israel has a difficult and tenuous relationship with their ever-growing African refugee community. They […]
Laura Seay has an important piece in Foreign Policy, “How Not to Write About Africa.” In addition to pointing out what not to do Seay also argues that coverage of Africa ought to derive from within Africa by and large by Africans. This is a useful prescription, but I would shift the remedy […]
Investors often fear one outcome to their investments beyond any natural disasters or recessions, one that has characterised possible nightmare results of investing in Emerging Markets, that of a nationally supported expropriation. Latin America as a whole has often fought and suffered as a result of state expropriations of American and European companies over the […]
In New York this week the United Nations is hosting the Commission on Population and Development, an annual weeklong conference. In the face of the planetās ever-booming population growth, and the fact that 90 percent of the worldās 1.8 billion youth live in developing countries, this yearās focus is on youth and adolescents. On […]
image lifted fromĀ http://cdnnews.onepakistan.com Pakistan and the United States of America may seem like polar opposites, but when you push aside the semantics, youāll find the same people everywhere: insecure, intolerant, injudicious and irrational. In Pakistan: The Domestic Violence Bill was first proposed in the Senate in 2009 and has since been lying dormant and the […]
The American Revolution and the broad romantic view of U.S. democracy have often provided inspiration and guidance to those seeking democracy in their own nations ā and for good reason. The amazing set of circumstances that made the American Revolution spark and then succeed, the lofty words of human rights that fueled the new […]
The recent BRICS summit at the end of March 2012 led to a substantial amount of controversy surrounding South Africaās membership. Various political analysts were seen on television and in newspapers all answering a similar question to this one: Given its economic, military and population numbers, is South Africa really worthy to be part of […]
In a recently published study in the journal Environment Research Letters aĀ team of scientist argue that āthe total volume of water in aquifers underground is 100 times the amount found on the surfaceā.Ā They also have produced an impressively detailed map of the scale and potential of the groundwater reservoirs. This finding could be a game […]
Iran today is well-positioned to leverage the Arab worldās difficult political transition toĀ religious-based politics and influence this transition to suit its geopolitical interests. After a 15-month hiatus marked by mutual distrust and reciprocal accusations of insincerity to negotiate, on April 14 Istanbul hosted a new round of negotiations between Iran and the worldās major powers […]
We are a very polarized nation when it comes to environmental issues. These days, it seems as if Democrats MUST embrace any environmental cause, no matter how small and that Republicans MUST eschew any environmental issue, regardless of its merits. It is hard to convince people that once upon a time, Republicans and Democrats worked […]
Every year in the United States and more than 100 other countries join together in the celebration of Earth DayĀ on April 22nd. Ā Earth Day was born on April 22, 1970, in San Francisco, California. Ā Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. On Earth Day, one is reminded to appreciate nature and learn […]
No description of what you or I might think is the experience of the people now suffering in the Sahel, in West Africa, canĀ relieve us of our duty to help alleviate that suffering. (This work, based on the reification and re-activation of video and photographic narratives about politics around the world, will now be a […]
For Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, the past two weeks have been a hellish test in international diplomacy. Last weekendās Iran talks ended in a stalemate, and yesterday, the UN observers in Syria were attacked by mobs. With little but more heated rhetoric and violence coming from all sides, itās clear that neither crisis is likely […]
This week, the European Foundation of Management Development (EFMD) announced the winners of its annual business case competition.Ā In addition to a bit of shameless self-promotion, I am pleased to see that business cases about global health and emerging marketsĀ are getting recognition.Ā The winners were selected in 14 categories, and then a panel of judges […]
(cntasul.blogspot.com) In the September 2011 issue of National Geographic, to which I subscribe through my beloved grandmother, Cynthia Gorney chronicles the steep decline in fertility rate of Brazilian women. It is a thought-provoking coincidence that, in the short-term at least, this decline has coincided with a woman ascending to the presidency.[1] Gorney shows that […]
US policymakers have never known how to deal with Latin America. Now, in the wake of last weekendās embarrassing Summit of the Americas, domestic politics and diplomatic inertia add up to ongoing US disengagement from the region. It doesnāt have to be this way. Rather, President Obama should make a follow up speech to his […]
Guinea-Bissau followed Maliās example last week, as members of the military seized power, overturning the civilian government and disrupting elections. But for observers a coup in Bissau is vastly different from last monthās upset in Mali. While Mali had been upheld as an icon of democracy in West Africa, Guinea-Bissau is seen as a troubled, […]
Three main issues surrounded this yearās Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia this past weekend. For the most part, those issues created a division between the Americans and Canadians poised against most of Latin America with the exception of the prostitution scandal that will likely be more of an issue between Obama and the […]
Space has become an increasingly important domain within regional security cooperation initiatives. While the Nordic countries have embraced the prospect of a joint satellite system as an important tool in advancing common interests, the Visegrad nations have yet to recognize the immense potential of collaboration in outer space. Central European leaders presently face a challenge of focusing too much on the challenges and risks associated with the declining defense budgets, while overlooking the opportunities that might offer unique investments with long-lasting benefits.
Russian Orthodox Easter has arrived, but one man is refusing to give up his fast. Oleg Shein lost to the ruling United Russia candidate in the Astrakhan mayoral elections in March, and has gone on a hunger strike until the election, which he alleges was fraudulent, can be held again. He has been on hunger […]
Israeli politics more so than in many other countries tends to focus on larger than life characters and individuals placed in larger than life situations. Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a war general at the heart of a major controversy in the Lebanon War, rose to power after decades in politics, dumped his party’s long […]
The following is a guest appearance by by Adam Hedengren, co-founder and managing editor, and David Hedengren, co-founder and editor-in-chief ofĀ YourMiddleEast.Com We are two brothers on a quest to challenge the major media companiesā Middle East and North Africa coverage. We believe that there are no satisfactory sources of news and information in English about […]
No, itās not because the land of the Pampas looks to become an energy giant as it taps the worldās third-largest shale gas reserves. Rather, Argentina is becoming the victimizer of internet-gullible Westerners. PRIās āThe Worldā recently aired a story on foreign nationals recently arrested in Argentina for trafficking cocaine. Says The World anchor Marco […]
āRomney is a risk when it comes to foreign policy and national security,ā read bullet number three in an email titled, āFive things you should know about Mitt Romney,ā sent by President Obamaās campaign manager Jim Messina to supporters Wednesday. Mitt Romney took on the role of presumed Republican nominee long before Rick Santorum left […]
The North Koreans have announced that sometime between Thursday April 12th and Monday April 16th, as part of the celebration for Kim Il Sungās 100th birthday and the 80th birthday of the North Korean Army, they will launch a weather satellite, Kwangmyongsong-3, aboard a Unha-3 rocket into space. Ā The celebration is also expected to see […]
Mileuristas are 20-something Spaniards who, beyond the current economic crisis, also face a labor market oversaturated with qualified candidates. Despite impressive CVsāmany are bilingual and possess graduate degreesāmileuristas canāt earn more than 1,000 euros a month. Hence, theyāre forced to live with their parents and, in general, put life plans on hold until they can […]
Hollywood on the Potomac–movie actors deserting Tinseltown to remind the Big Dogs back east that every time an A-list celeb is arrested for picketing a foreign embassy an angel gets his wings.
Actor George Clooney, his father Nick, and four Congressional Democrats were among more than a dozen protesters who descended on the Sudanese Embassy on March 16 for the purpose of crossing, in a disorderly fashion, a police line.
The cast of characters? Along with Clooneys I and II, it included Reps. James Moran (D-VA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), John Olver (D-MA) and Al Green (D-TX). NAACP President Ben Jealous was also arrested, along with Martin Luther King III.
Clooneyās mid-day performance on Mass Ave was the finale to a 3-day tour in DC that included an impassioned plea to a standing-room-only crowd at the Council on Foreign Relations, and dramatic testimony delivered to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the miserable state of affairs in the border region of Sudan.
Omar al-Bashirās military, operating out of Khartoum, is working assiduously to wipe out mostly Christian populations hunkered down on some highly contested, oil-rich real estate to the south.
Clooney, who has frequently taken on the role of the world-weary activist in his films, accuses Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the āsame criminals responsible for Darfurā of conducting a genocidal war against his own people, of starving, maiming, raping, and murdering them.
And he says it as if no one has ever heard it before. . .
A recent article by IPSNews.net discussed the downside of Brazilās investment relationship with China. While much of the article discusses the positive exponential growth between Brazil and China, the different nature of growth and long-term investment between the two BRICS are quite different, and in some cases places the two countries on opposite sides of […]
If you are going to be anywhere near Athens, Ohio and the beautiful campus of Ohio University this weekend I strongly encourage you to attend this conference (I’m not certain if it is an enticement to say that I am on the program, but I am, in fact, on the program).
By Anne Bilala, Anna Maria Barcikowska, Jordan Becker, Benjamin Bilski, Benedetta Berti, Dustin Dehez, Hristiana Grozdanova, Francisco Galamas, Dominik P. Jankowski, Gonca Noyan, Jelena Petrovic and Timothy Stafford Over the past six weeks, a group of young leaders from all over the world has been actively involved in discussing the future of transatlantic relations through […]
[Mackie Sall, BBC Africa] It has been a few days since the dust cleared in Senegal. The recent presidential election was quite remarkable. After a first ballot could not establish a majority candidate the two finalists, sitting President Abdoulaye Wade (who ran for another term despite constitutional prohibitions against doing so) and former Wade protege […]
Investors will be interested in purchasing Bolivian government bonds when they are issued, if for nothing more than diversification purposes. Ā The planet is awash in liquidity. Ā Furthermore, developed market fiscal crises (read: in Europe and the U.S.), coupled with high commodity prices and huge concentrations in bellwether emerging markets such as Brazil and Mexico, are […]
The recent FPA conference, Africa Emerging (see this link), touchedĀ on a number of important themes related to Africa’s improving economic performance and the formidable challenges that lie ahead. Ā One theme echoed louder than all the rest — the necessity for investment in human capital — in education and health care. Ā As in most discussions about […]
As the geopolitics and technology of natural gas continue to change rapidlyāwith such developments as shale gas production and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transportāthe European community would do well to consider the strategic value of supply diversification. Crises in 2006 and 2009, both the result of intentional supply decreases from Russia, highlight the risks of overdependence on any one source for this vital commodity. But overreliance on Russia is not the only possible source of distress for the European market: from environmental concerns to instability in other potential supplier nations, every natural gas supply comes with its own set of challenges and risks. For this reason, an āall sourcesā strategy for natural gas production (one that spreads the risk and minimizes the impact of a reduction in any one source of supply) should characterize the European approach in years to come.
The following is a guest post byĀ Ansis SpridzÄns and Valentina Gevorgyan. In 2008, Latvia, as a result of deteriorating economic conditions in the world and an international financial crisis that led to the collapse of the world’s second largest bank, faced an economic crisis. Although the reasons and the scale of events were different, we […]
Andrew J. Shapiro, the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, has been making the rounds lately, speaking on the subject of pirates (not the intellectual-property kind, the old-fashioned kind). Addressing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce one week and the Center for American Progress the next, he adjusts his emphasis just a tad (a […]
President Obamaās recent open-mic gaffe while speaking with Russian President Medvedev prompted Republican Presidential contender Mitt Romney to declare, āIt is always Russia, typically with China alongside, and so in terms of a geopolitical foe, a nation thatās on the Security Council, that has the heft of the Security Council, and is of course a […]
Despite many promises from the international community that the āFriends of Yemenā would help this poorest country of the Arabic Peninsula to jump start its battered economy after having endured a catastrophic years in terms of the meltdown of its financial institutions, its industry sector, its currency and its dire humanitarian situation. With a chronic […]
Wide speculations about the possibility of military confrontation with Iran and Israelās military intentions seem to be the order of the day. The debate on Iran has now found its way from mainstream media to leading academic institutions. Earlier this week at the University of Toronto a panel of experts discussed the increasing tensions between […]
The world has found a way to strike back at Syrian President Bashar Assad: they have slapped travel sanctions on his London-born wife, Asma, to thwart her addiction to luxury shopping. One year into Assadās churning assault against various opposition groups, stopping his wife from shoping in Europe is one of the few things the […]
Last Friday, March 23rd, I attended a special event titled āWater: The Global Challenge For Our Futureā at NYUās Center for Global Affairs on the occasion of Ā World Water Day 2012, held annually on March 22nd. This yearās theme intended to draw attention to the relationship between water and food security. As the Food and […]
The rising tensions over the Iranian nuclear program presents an opportunity to review just what the programās status is. There has been controversy over assessments of the program for years, with the U.S. intelligence community arguing (since the National Intelligence Estimate published in late 2007) that Iran worked on developing a nuclear weapon prior to […]
In 2011 Jack Layton, the left of center leader of Canadaās New Democratic Party, changed the political landscape of Canada by campaigning for his partyās position as the third party in the Canadian political system. The New Democrats, known as the NDP, always was Canadaās third party behind the Conservative Party and Canadaās natural governing […]
NATO summits have always been exceptional events. In fact, some of the most recent ones went down in history for both positive and negative reasons. The one to be held in Chicago will be no exception, especially as it will be the first NATO summit in the United States in 13 years. Central Europe, with the Baltic States included, is one of those regions in the transatlantic sphere that in particular awaits summitās outcome. Indeed, being a hingepoint on the Euro-Atlantic fringe ā with deep uncertainties about Americaās long-term regional commitment in the face of politically unpredictable or military muscular neighbors ā makes you long for clear declarations. Will the NATO summit in Chicago bring any security affirmations to the Central European states?
As weāve heard far too many times from Iraq, āthe situation is bad, and weāre expecting the worst.ā To update the piece I wrote back on March 7th regarding the targeted killings of members of the LGBT community in Iraq, the violence has metastasized. Now the victims are āemos,ā a term once reserved in the […]
Few days after its release, amid controversies, the 30-minute documentary about Ugandanās warlord Joseph Kony, viewed by over 80 million on Youtube, went viral online. The NBC Nightly Newsā reality check section announced that it was sending a team to Konyās village in remote Uganda east of Gulu to check the facts on the ground. […]
Here is Peter Alegi’s most excellent YouTube promo for his online Global Soccer course at Michigan State University: Meet Dr. Futbol Alegi is the doyen of African football scholars. As you can tell, he also has mad skillz.
The documentary When China Met Africa sheds light on the relatively new relationships China is creating in Africa. It focuses on three key characters: a Chinese entrepreneur who starts a farm in Zambia, a manager for a multinational Chinese company, and Zambiaās trade minister. China now invests more in Africa than the World Bank. Funding […]
Colombia is now Latin Americaās fourth-largest oil exporter, but production seems to have hit a ceiling just shy of 1 million barrels per day. āGushers and Guns,ā a piece in this weekās Economist, delves into the security dimensions that initially cleared the way for Colombiaās oil boom, but now impede rapid advances. This may be […]
This documentary reeks of desperation. It spends the first third showing the lives of Cubans in the early to mid-1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union made for hard times in the communist country. Balseros (2002) Trailer As many as 50,000 balseros (literally, āraft peopleā) took their chances in flimsy rafts to reach the […]
This following post is from Nazim Can Cicektakan, a PhD candidate at the University of Essex, Department of History, who recently returned back from a research visit to the Turkish province of Hatay, on the border of Syria. I asked him whether he could write a summary of his thoughts for the FPA blogs and […]
You know, I promised myself I wasn’t going to write about this. Promised. The fact is I heard about it yesterday, so we’re talking, what? 24 hours? But this is the Foreign Policy Association global blog site, right? And despite my focus on crime and corruption, I like to think I bring a certain (educated) perspective to events too often triggered by what even I, an east coast elitist, can only describe as bad, bad craziness. Boundaries–or their absence–can be important cultural markers, and I knew–I know–even as I write, that this is a name guaranteed to set a lot of very straight, very white teeth on edge: Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa Country, Arizona.
A few weeks back we discussed on this FPA blog how Brazil was likely to choose the French candidate as its new fighter jet over its American and Swedish rivals. Part of the decision to choose the French Rafale jet was based on past restrictions by the US on Embraer and Brazil to sell its […]
Geoff Porter’sĀ op-ed in the International Herald Tribune provides an outstanding discussion on Libya’s new electoral law (viewĀ the law in Arabic) and its implications for the government’s ability to democratically represent citizens, encourage political unity, and further disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of former fighters. In sum, Porter highlights concerns that surround the law’s exclusion of […]
Dr. Lloyd Jeff DumasĀ is a Professor of Political Economy, Economics, and Public Policy in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at the UT-Dallas. Dr. Dumas sat down with Reza Akhlaghi, Senior Writer at FPA, to discuss his new book, “The Peacekeeping Economy: Using Economic Relationships to Build a More Peaceful, Prosperous, and Secure […]
This article, appeared on the Political Reflections Magazine, vol.3, n.2, is the second part of my review of FPAās Great Decisions episode on the Arab Spring: The first part, providing a general overview of the debate can be found here. ********************************** As the uncertainty of the Arab Spring continues, the debate on the future of […]
A debate this week on CNN between Naftali Bennett, former chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hooman Majd, a former adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, included no new talking points or information. But it was certainly remarkable nonetheless. As evidence by a major narrative in the news cycle for last […]
ICC Press Release Today, 14 March 2012, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided unanimously that Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is guilty, as a co-perpetrator, of the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities from 1 September 2002 to 13 […]
Foreign policy scholar Robert Kagan has a new book, The World America Made, and surprise, surprise he’s out on the speech circuit promoting it. Below is a video of Mr. Kagan being interviewed by David Gregory of Meet the Press and semi-debated by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Kagan, like another historian/foreign policy scholar […]
The Greek dimension of the EU sovereign debt crisis is by now well known to all.Ā Investor anxiety over excessive national debt throughout the EU led to demands for higher interest rates from several governments with greater debt levels and current account deficits. Ā This in turn made it difficult for some governments to finance further […]
Growing suspicions that recently engulfed the credibility of humanitarian organizations working in Haiti could cause people to underestimate the significant initiative launched in Cap-Haitien by Hands on Haiti, Mothering Across Continent and STARS Alliance; however, their work in Northern Haiti this spring will be nothing short of extraordinary. Haiti proclaimed its independence 208 years ago, […]
The more popular narrative to explain Russiaās uncompromising support of a bloodthirsty Syria – whose draconian crack down outmatches itself one day to the next – seems to rest on two simple assumptions. First, Damascus is Moscowās premier arms client. Second, Syria plays host to Russiaās only remaining naval stopover outside the former Soviet Union. […]
We all know that China is deeply invested in Africa. There is, at least on the surface, a mutually beneficial relationship to be had between China and individual nation states. China has money, the capacity to invest and build in Africa, and tends not to be too concerned with such niceties as human rights. Africa […]
A couple of weeks ago South Africans and people the world over waited anxiously for news about Nelson Mandela. The 93 -year-old Madiba had been admitted to the hospital, and while he was released after a weekend of testing, spokesmen assured the media that there was nothing “seriously wrong” and that Mandela was in good […]
So many of us whose work, lives and studies involve the Arab world have spent the last year making sure everyone realized that each countryās āArab Springā experience is unique. That said, there is a need to step back and take a moment to see what unites the peoples (and their aspirations) across the region. […]
Contrary to the generally considered āsuccessfulā mission in Libya, the ongoing international intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the antithesis of a model for humanitarian missions. Though the transition to peace and democracy officially āendedā in 2006, the situation in the eastern part of the central African country continues to deteriorate. Why, […]
In this bleak economic era, the only constants that have prevailed throughout the most part of the global financial crisis are risk and uncertainty. On January 12th, Standard and Poorās downgraded France, joint-chief compere of the Eurozoneās economic horror show and its second largest economy. The very same day, the economies of Spain, Italy, Portugal […]
I was privileged to present last weekend at the Convergencias Conference sponsored by the Yale Mexican Students Organization (YMSO), and organized skillfully by Lissy GiacomĆ”nā12 and Ana del Toroā13. YMSO successfully rounded up government officials, scholars, and talented college students from all over to hypothesize on Mexicoās future for a weekend in New Haven. I […]
What the decline of a hallowed institution says about Argentine politics, and why Chavez shares the blame. The Economist recently announced it will no longer publish inflation figures supplied by the Argentine government because of chronic underreporting of official figuresāby half, according to just about every independent surveyorāand the politicization of INDEC, Argentinaās official statistics […]
Many commentators have raised the apparent inconsistency between the Obama administrationās participation in a multilateral intervention in Libyaās civil war and the lack of any comparable undertakingāso far, at leastāin Syria. Inconsistency in international relations is nothing new (or necessarily alarming), yet the issue is worth examining. While there are striking similarities, especially on a […]
I was recently asked to review FPAās Great Decisions episode on the Arab Spring, featuring columnist Mona Eltahawy and Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center and also featuring short comments from key foreign policy professionals like Madeleine Albright, General Michael Hayden, Robert Malley and Carl Gershman. U.S. Policy and ‘dictatorial […]
Great Decisions: Inside IndonesiaĀ (click for Great Decision video preview) To its credit, FPA’s annual world affairs discussion program, Great Decisions, covered the strategically-important, but ambivalent, rising power, Indonesia. Ā With all the focus on China, the BRICs, conflict in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the like, it is easy for the average world citizen, and Americans […]
Guest post by Medair CEO Jim Ingram The current situation in Afghanistan takes the focus away from its long-suffering people. Already struggling in a violent and chronically poor country, the Afghan people are more vulnerable than ever. The need to provide crisis relief ā and equally important ā sustainable support that will help the Afghan […]
Two days ago, I wrote a brief post about an apparent exodus of al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) operatives to neighboring Syria ā resulting in an abrupt drop in violence in the capital city of Mosul, and a surprising lull across Nineveh province in the northwest part of the country. Today, at least 60 people […]
It took NATO 46 years and eight months before it intervened with military force to protect innocent civilians from harm and manage a conflict on its periphery. Can we truly expect the Arab League to move any quicker in dealing with problems in its neighborhood? Probably not. When NATO finally heeded the call from those […]
Over the course of the past decade, thousands of civilian contractors, including armed security personnel, have passed through Iraq and Afghanistan. Even though the United States has pulled it troops out of Iraq and is in the process of drawing down in Afghanistan, large numbers of contractors remain in those countries. Still, the number of […]
Noam Chomsky, more prolific as an author of books than op-eds, recently published an essay on HuffPoĀ titled “The Imperial Way.” In it, he argues: In the past decade, for the first time in 500 years, South America has taken successful steps to free itself from western domination, another serious loss [to US primacy]. The region […]
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation and Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, Vice-Chair woman of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, hosted an historic gathering of leading scholars on Islam and the West at The Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University, Wednesday, February 8th, 2012. The […]
June 6, 2012. Four months after the post below went online, the MSM (NYT, CBS, New York Post, Fox) is reporting that Representative Darrelll Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee investigating DOJ’s gunrunning scheme, Fast and Furious, claims the wiretap applications submitted during the course of the operation prove that DOJ officials at the highest levels knew ATF agents were bending, ignoring, and violating US law to move more than 2000 combat-ready weapons across the US border into Mexico. None of the weapons carried tracing devices, and ATF whistleblowers who pressed superiors about the need to have some sort of interdiction strategy in place that would allow them to recover the weapons before they could be used to murder innocent people (Brian Terry) were told to stand down or find another job.
Whether Issa’s latest revelation will revive the official investigation into a government scheme to supply Mexican gangs with weapons that could be traced back to recent sales by US gundealers along the SW border, a move that even the most skeptical mind has trouble believing was designed to do anything but shore up the argument for stricter gun control in the US, is yet to be seen.
Attorney General Eric Holder has told the press that Issa’s Committee is on a ‘witch hunt’ meant to target high-ranking ‘African-Americans’ within the Administration, officials Holder identified more explicitly by adding ‘like me, and the President,’ and it is unlikely the GOP House Leader John Boehner is eager to divert pre-election media coverage from Romney’s singleminded focus on the economy–even though Fast and Furious, with its parallels to Iran-Contra, might well result in the prosecution of admininstration officials for contempt, obstruction of justice, perjury, and multiple violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). Think Ollie North.
In case today’s (June 6th) reports about the importance of wiretap applications linked to Fast and Furious still leave you confused, there’s a repost of my earlier analysis below. Of special interest should be the photocopy of the memo requesting approval for a wiretap signed by Lanny Breuer in March 2010. A DOJ spokesperson says Breuer never scrutized the details, that they were never spelled out to the Head of DOJ’s Criminal Division.
Hmmm…..
Let’s talk wire taps, investigative tools popularized by every cop and criminal show that’s crossed our television screens.
Well, it turns out that ATF agents involved in the gun walking scheme known as Fast and Furious made numerous applications over a significant period of time for the issuance of court orders authorizing wire taps.
Bad news for top cops at DOJ. Like Willy Sutton, who said he robbed banks “because that’s where the money is,” members of the House Oversight Committee have told DOJ they want those wire tap applications because they know that’s where the evidence is–in detailed descriptions of investigative techniques and signatures they believe will point to the involvement of senior DOJ officials.
I recently spoke with Stanford University professor and founding co-editor of the renowned Journal of Democracy Larry Diamond about U.S. democracy promotion. Mr. Diamond authored this year’s Great Decisions article, Promoting Democracy, in which he analyses the evolving significance and use of an American foreign policy mantra.Ā In an update to the article, Mr. Diamond […]
The New York Times reported Sunday that in 2011, for the first time, deaths among civilian contractors working for American companies in Afghanistan outnumbered the deaths of U.S. military personnel in that country. The figure highlights the extent to which modern U.S. military has come to rely on the private sector in carrying out its […]
Guest Post by Artur Kluz, Guy Billauer The European Union is walking aĀ thinĀ line.Ā BloombergĀ News recently reported that European CEOs are actively considering the worst caseĀ scenario ā namely, the end of the Euro. Spanish and Italian companiesĀ are increasingly movingĀ funds to Germany in expectation of one or more Eurozone countries exiting the Eurozone. Germanyās Central Bank recorded […]
Two weeks ago Wikistrat launched a simulation on North Americaās energy bonanza. In case youāre wondering, Wikistrat is a firm that relies on a six-continent wide arsenal of analysts to stake out geostrategic scenarios, and the scope of its simulations are equally broad, at least at the start. For example: What if current estimates of […]
The great transformation taking place in the Arab World is long overdue. Whatās happening is not a freak moment in history but is rather a natural reaction to what has been a long suppression of Arabs by other fortunate Arab oligarchs and bands of opportunists. Leaders, they were not. I remember when Omar Suleiman, the […]
Dear FPB Readers, My name’s Adil Elassali and I just like to take a quick moment to announce my return from my long absence. I am happy and excited to resume blogging again along with my colleagues for the Middle East region. This world is changing, resistance is futile!
There are two kinds of people currently following the Africa Cup of Nations: Those who are stunned by Zambia’s advance to the finals of Africa’s biennial championship and liars. Once the semifinals were set there were precious few observers (outside of certain wildly optimistic circles in Mali and Zambia, I suppose) who saw anything other […]
Mere days after sobering official ceremonies marked the end of the U.S. mission in Iraq, Americaās most dubious partner ā Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki ā charged his Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi with aiding and abetting terrorism and sought to remove his Deputy Prime Minister, Saleh al-Mutlaq from office. In short order, sectarian violence spread […]
Anniversaries are dangerous days and dangerous moments. There is often a lot of celebrating, a flash of attention and then the sun goes down and life goes on as before. We properly celebrate an accomplishment from the past without real thought or determination on how to preserve and build on the celebrated triumph. So now […]
Countdown to the February 2nd Issa-Grassley hearing into Operation Fast and Furious is underway, and one of the biggest questions still unanswered is whether Congress will offer former AUSA Patrick Cunningham immunity for his testimony, and if Cunningham, so immunized, will shed any light on the parentage of an ATF operation that allowed roughly 2000 military-grade weapons to walk across the US-Mexico border and disappear, without a trace, into cartel arsenals.
Nobody seems to be holding his or her breath, but if Congress does pull an ‘Ollie North’ with Cunningham, or any of the witnesses it seeks to depose on Fast and Furious, expect the narrative to change. The irony alone, in a case that so closely resembles Iran-Contra, may provide the MSM with a much-needed jolt: Cunningham reprises North’s role when Congress, challenged by his close hold on the 5th Amendment, compels him to testify by granting him use or (less likely) transactional immunity.
Don’t remember the way it worked with North? Consider the following, pulled from court documents…
2012 could be the year that Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) technology takes off and enters the public consciousness. And to highlight this, Altarock, the Seattle based geothermal energy developer, has recently announced plans to undertake field tests by 2012 on a volcanic site in Oregon, with expected support from the government department of energy and […]
This week COHA.org writer Natalia Cote-Munoz produced a great piece comparing and contrasting Mexicoās current drug war with Colombiaās historical drug conflict in order to differentiate between policies that should be applied to the two countries. Often parallels are depended upon in discussing the two countries and their internal drug conflicts, but with a lack […]
Standard and Poor’s rating agency has lowered the credit ratings of 9 eurozone members, including formerly AAA-rated France and Austria. The move is significant, affecting as it does the future of the eurozone’s bail-out fund, the French presidential election, the roll-over of existing European sovereign debt, and more. However, the downgrade is not really a […]
This week Iranian President Ahmadinejad toured Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela in a push to expand Iranās international relationships as well as to establish Iran in Americaās backyard. With recent tensions being ramped up exponentially between the US and Iran, world focus on any actions made by Iran receives a fair amount of attention. There […]
Last week I participated in a Department of Defense Bloggers Roundtable on President Obamaās new defense strategy with Captain John Kirby (USN), Deputy Secretary of Defense for Media Operations; and Dr. George Little, Pentagon Press Secretary. In support of the new strategy the Department of Defense published a paper called Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities […]
“First They Ignore You — Then They Ridicule You — Then They Fight You — Then You Win” Mahandas Gandhi Will technology fundamentally change the relationship between the nation state and citizens? Are hyper-connected citizens a threat to or opportunity for government? These are the kinds of questions that the political ruling class across the […]
In the end, Terry, Diaz and Meyer found themselves on the sharp end of the stick for their efforts: the US Department of Justice, agencies like DHS and the Department of State, and the usual entourage of corporate and political underwriters, including the government of Mexico, all had a hand in creating scenarios designed to transform good guys into villains, narratives that ended in Terry’s death at the hands of a cartel gunman, Diaz’s imprisonment for ‘exercising excessive force’ during the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker, and in Meyer’s case, the loss of a high-paying job with a multinational defense contractor, and blowback that now has this decorated young veteran on the ropes in the court of public opinion. Let me tell you something. The only ‘mental problem’ from which Meyer suffers is a chronic case of integrity, an inability to distort the truth to accommodate political reality.
Consider–if Terry, Diaz and Meyer had ‘occupied Wall Street’ instead of the killing zones along our SW border and in Afghanistan, they might have been poster boys for the March of History, and on top of it all, alive, free, and gainfully employed.
As is the custom for all FPA Bloggers with the year drawing to a close, itās time for me to give my thoughts on how events fared in 2011. All in all there were a number of defense policy successes, with the most spectacular being the death of Osama Bin Laden, the continued dismantling of […]
In 1988 I was pulled out of an assignment in Hawaii18 months early and sent to Korea to be part of the U.S. Forces Korea staff. My job would be Chief, Combined Indications and Warning (I&W) Center, Intelligence Production Division. In civilian terms, I ran the newsroom. It was a 24/7 job and my folks […]
And you thought your biggest social media worry was being defriended. Last week, the New York Times published an interesting piece on the use of social media by terrorist groups.Ā They focused on a recent Twitter battle instigated by the Somalia-based, loosely al-Qaeda linked, al-Shabab.Ā Their targetā¦African Union peacekeeping forces and the Kenyan army.Ā The […]
FPA Russia Blog Studios presentsā¦ā¦Russiaās top box office hits of 2011 GOODBYE BREZHNEV As the traumatic events of the 90s send Mother Russia into a coma from which she takes a decade to recover, dutiful son Vova worries that any further shocks to her system might trigger a catastrophic relapse. Thus, he decides to dupe […]
In the wake of recent shocking cases of child abuse and neglectĀ such as the Penn State cover-upĀ scandal, theĀ infamousĀ Casey Anthony murder trial and the ongoing global abuse investigations of Catholic Priests, the issue has become headline news. Ā Sadly, most cases of abuse both across the globe and in the United States go unreported, or are reported […]
The online world has been all aflutter in recent weeks over the introduction of two pieces of legislation in Congress: the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House of Representatives. As PROTECT IP already passed in the Senate, last week the focus shifted to the hearings […]
As iconic personalities Oprah Winfrey and Robert Deniro traveled to Haiti on parallel humanitarian and business missions, growing insecurity stole the headlines, threatening to crush the spine of Martellyās administration, and the spirit of Christmas with it. Merely 15 days into December, two officers of the Haitian National Police (PNHĀ French acronym) succumbed to assassinsā […]
The debt dynamics equation was in the past of interest onlyĀ to sovereign credit analysts (such as thisĀ blogger) and macro policyĀ wonks.Ā Now, more people want to know about it.Ā You can generate such an equation that isĀ elaborate or not, but the gist is the following:Ā The primary budget surplus, thatĀ is, government revenues minus expenditures — not […]
The Russian oil rig KolskayaĀ sunk 200 miles off the east coast of Sakhalin late Saturday night in stormy weather with 67 crewmembers were on board. So far, four people have been found dead and 14 people rescued, while 49 people still remain lost. The Kolskaya sunk in twenty minutes in fifteen-foot, 32 degree seas. In […]
The final paper assignment for my class on energy and the environment at NYU’s MS in Global Affairs program this semester was to “…provide for all the energy needs of the world in the year 2050.”Ā I said “In the next 40 years, we will need to transition to safe, secure, affordable, clean and abundant […]
The year was filled with missed opportunities but also promising developments in U.S.-India relations.Ā 2012 is shaping up to be the same. President Obamaās state visit to India in early November 2010 appeared to impart new dynamism to a bilateral relationship that had been listless since his inauguration. The trip offered an effective tonic for […]
Imagine having no country to call your own. For an estimated 12 million people around the world, that is a daily fact. Individuals who are not considered nationals of any country have no written rights. This means no access to health care, no chance to vote, no property of your own, and often no education. […]
The crisis in Syria continues to deteriorate. Recently, the U.N. reported that more than 5,000 people have died in Syria. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch published a report providing firm documentation that the very highest levels of Syriaās government regime gave security forces āshoot to killā orders. And today, security forces are āclashingā with protestors in […]
Every 90 seconds a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. That’s 1,000 girls and women a day, more than half a million women every year. Ā Additionally, more than 1 million babies are stillborn each year because their mothers could not access the proper medical care.Ā And yet experts say more than 80 percent of these […]
1. Summary of the Past Year 2011 seems to have been a mixed year for renewables. At the research and development level, we have seen maturity in wind, electric transport, solar technology and great marketing which has fuelled record growth in these sectors and this may have contributed to the loosening of public sector funds […]
The issue ofĀ exclusiveĀ breast-feeding for the first year has been an area of confusion for many mothers in developing nations, especially following the marketing practices of many formula companies to push products in a misleading manner, an issue about which I have previously written. However, for mothers who are HIV-positive, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, exclusive breastfeeding […]
Off the east coast of Chukotka’s peninsula, winter has come hard and fast, freezing parts of the Bering Strait. Fifteen miles south of the village ofĀ YanrakynnotĀ in theĀ Sinyavinsky Strait, 100 beluga whales are trapped in the ice. Hunters have reported that they are in two polynyasĀ and are currentlyĀ able to breathe freely. However, food and clean water […]
Yet another euro crisis summit is over, and yet another deal has been struck. This time, the deal has taken the shape of an intergovernmental agreement. If I am not mistaken, and I may very well have lost count by now, that makes nine summits and five deals in the past 19 months. Although it […]
Months after South Sudan emerged as the worldās newest country, celebrations have died down and the government in Juba must address the numerous challenges that face the fledgling nation. Apart from addressing unresolved issues with the north and the many domestic challenges, the key to South Sudanās progress will be maintaining good governance. Much of […]
Brazil 2011-2012: Vamos LĆ”! Summary of the past year: Well, in summary, from soaring to just plain growing. Economists surveyed by the Central Bank expect GDP to grow 3.0% in 2011 (adjusted real terms) versus 7.5% in 2010. As a recent Reuters report on Brazil puts it: āā¦corporate leaders, investors and government officials already express […]
Last Saturday Russia witnessed one of the biggest anti-government ralliesĀ of the past two decades. Just a few months ago the possibility of a protest this large seemed very unlikely. Putinās confidence ratings remained high holding steadfast belief in the efficiency of a strong ruling hand over the country, although the support for his United Russia […]
IĀ had a friend in college who was discovering Islam around the time I was. Though we were both born Muslims, we were now understanding it and practicing of our own accord. We were not converts, but āReverts”. After college, she went on to study Islam at a madrassa-esque school for women and I went on […]
An agreed outcome with legal force – Thatās the major aim of the conferees from the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that wrapped up its work this past weekend in Durban.Ā What that headline phrase signifies, according to a decision of the parties, is that work will […]
Long live His Majesty King Bhumibol! I felt that this post is going to need such a qualifier. I previously lived in Thailand in 2008 as a volunteer worker with an NGO. I love Thailand: the people, the culture, the food. I hope to return there one day, and it would not do me any […]
Africaās economic prospects have always been a topic of great consternations for local governments and international analysts and commentators.Ā A continent rich in commodities (oil, diamonds, minerals), with a favorable demographic trends, and the potential for economic growth, has historically been āstuck in the muckā.Ā Yet, things are turning around, and the past decade has […]
As the clock ticks, it appears Israel will have to pick between two frightful scenarios; attack Iran or live with a nuclear Iran and the constant fear of annihilation. This choice crossed my mind during a recent trip to Israel. While at the ancient fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea, the tour guide proclaimed […]
Today is the twentieth anniversary of the enactment of one of the most important, far-reaching bipartisan initiatives of the twentieth and, thus far, the twenty-first century: the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program, originally known as the Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act. It was twenty years ago today that an initiative that began as an amendment […]
The New York Times carried an article last week by David Sanger and William Broad providing additional detail about the mysterious blast that leveled Iran’s major missile test center on Nov. 12, killing one of the country’s top rocket scientists and others. The article also provides useful hints to sources, without ultimately shedding any new […]
Caracas last week welcomed all leaders from across Latin America in order to establish CELAC, a new regional organisation that seeks to create an OAS without a United States (or Canada!) and create a forum for one voice for Latin America. CELAC, while attended by all Latin American countries, is hosted and promoted by Venezuelan […]
The end of 2011 is fast approaching and with it the departure of U.S. forces and equipment from Iraq by December 31st so thought Iād pass on some of my thoughts. In November, I participated in two Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers Roundtables on our force drawdown efforts there. One was with Army Brigadier General […]
Another year is coming to a close. Itās time to look back, recap and rewind 2011 in Central Asia.Ā Let’s start with elections: two Central Asian states, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, held elections this year. Kazakhstanās presidential election took place on April 3, 2011. Guess who won? Not surprising to anybody who follows Kazakhstan in the news, […]
Mexicoās peso has been topsy-turvy since October 2008. The classic explanation is that developing countries with open capital markets, like Mexico, get hurt by a flight to safety in times of global uncertainty. Sure enough, after the collapse of Lehman Bros. and the onset of the global financial crisis, the peso plummeted. It was a […]
Guest Contributor: The following piece was written by Jubeen Sharbaf. Based in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Sharbaf is an organizational development advisor in the non-profit sector. Mr. Sharbaf is involved in grassroots organization work focusing on leardership issues in civil society. He is a native of Tehran, Iran. 1. Negotiate: Richard Holbrook once said: “You don’t […]
With the arrival of December, it’s time to check the rear-view mirror to see where we have been in order to have some clue as to where we are going. In the energy realm, 2011 was the Year of the Three Fs: Fukushima, Fracking and Finance. Japan is used to earthquakes, and the odd tsunami […]
āIn much of the world, and especially in our region, the military has been the source of the most thankless collective memories,ā read a letter addressed to Haitian President Michel Martelly from former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias SĆ”nchez, who advised his Excellency to reevaluate his military plans through a historical lens. āIn the best […]
“Human Security Is The Primary Purpose Of Organizing A State In The Beginning.” — Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN In the wake of the Arab Spring, and in light of the ongoing global economic disorder, world leaders would be well advised to examine their understanding of national security. Recent events paint a picture of national leaders […]
Japan is using 2.28 billion yen ($29.4 million) from its 12.1 trillion yen ($156 billion) extra budget passed last month to beef up security for its whaling fleet. This comes after Australia refused to deploy its own ships to protect Japan’s fleet as it does “scientific research” by killing whales in the South Ocean Whale […]
2011 began with yet another governmental crisis for Lebanon, as the ministers affiliated to the March 8 coalition walked out of Premier Saad Hariri’s cabinet, forcing its collapse. With impeccable (and, no doubt, carefully calculated) timing, the representatives of Hizballah, its Shiite frenemy AMAL, and the Free Patriotic Movement, led by the revenchard General Michel […]
If a countryās government is democratic and classically liberal, men and women are generally treated as equals. However, if men and women are treated equally, does this mean a government is democratic? No. Example: Tunisia. Under Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, women were, broadly speaking, given equal treatment. They were entitled to receive […]
This year, for most of us, our wallets are not as fat as they once were. Charitable giving may seem like a daunting task or just plain impossible, as you search your pockets and come up empty handed. For those of you who find a few pennies to spare, and want to ensure that you […]
2011 was a year of heartbreaking tragedies for journalists caught up in the tide of massive world events. Certain cases of journalists killed and attacked in the crossfire of the stories they were reporting stand out. In 2011, there were many instances in which the media became part of the story they were covering. Sometimes […]
Events last week illustrated that the true fault line in India-China relations remains the 60 year-old acrimony over the Tibetan frontier. From Indiaās increasing presence in the disputed waters of the South China Sea to the duel over diplomatic influence in Myanmar, developments in recent months amply illustrate how India and China will bump into […]
As the 2012 election nears, Democrats and Republicans are both courting the American Jewish community, although the process is inherently an antithesis to one of their key talking points. Earlier this week, six GOP presidential candidates attendedĀ a forum by the Republican Jewish Coalition, condemning President Obama for what they say is a lackluster response […]
Today, in Washington, DC there was a really interesting roundtable, āWhatās Next for Morocco? Assessing opportunities and challenges after the elections.ā The experts on the panel were academics, think tank leaders and former US diplomats. (Click here for a full description of the event, the participants and the video.) I say “interesting” because the panel […]
A committee of lawyers and an accountant appointed by Japanese precision technology maker Olympus said, “The management (at Olympus) was rotten to the core and contaminated what was around it, creating in the worst sense a group mentality of the typical salarymen,” in reference to the company’s practice of “tobashi,” making losses “fly off” the […]
In October, the War in Afghanistan reached its 10-year anniversary. Our invasion of Afghanistan was launched as a direct result of the events of 9/11, with a goal to eradicate Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the various terrorist factions based there. Rushing headlong into the fray, driven by a righteous fervor to exact revenge or […]
Events of this past November revealed more cracks in U.S. -Russia relations that seemed propitious just several months ago. To start with, on November 22, the U.S. announced the decision to cease its obligations under The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), referring to information sharing and mutual inspections with Russia. The decision came […]
Live webcast speech by Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Saturday,Ā December 10th from 2:45-3:30pm Central European Time (CET). Dr. ElBaradei will be delivering a highly anticipated keynote at the Cisco Public Services Summit on the topic of āEgyptās March Towards Democracy.ā Ā Dr. ElBaradei will speak for 20 minutes and then take questions from […]
2011 in Liberia was all about the elections and although they could not be deemed a complete success because of the oppositionās successful, but ultimately fruitless boycott– 2011 was still a very good year for Liberian democracy. The year was also very good to Liberiaās President Sirleaf, Africaās only female head-of-state who garnered a Nobel […]
There are two types of power evident in the study of international relations: hard power and soft power. The former is coercive, and is associated with a stateās use of military force or economic pressure in order to maximize its interests. Hard power is advocated by those who believe that relative gains are the most […]
As Iāve written on the subject before, Uzbekistan is one of the worst human rights offenders out there. Recent news of child labor during this fallās cotton harvesting season once again put the country into the international spotlight drawing sharp criticism by human rights activists. Meanwhile, in the same vein, Bell Pottinger Groupās dealings with […]
Women and children are hit the hardest by hunger worldwide. Why? In developing countries women face unique barriers to critical resources like income, land, education and the ability to borrow money.Ā The global population has now hit a astonishing 7 billion-plus mouths to feed, and women and children account for more than 60% of those […]
Republican candidate for President, Mitt Romney, said this week that if he becomes President, he will visit Israel during his first foreign trip. So he is only two elections away from those famous Israeli breakfasts and some photo ops at the Kotel with those awkward cardboard kippahs. So he has obviously earned the votes of […]
The Congressional Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, held a hearing on Thursday, December 1 on U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Arctic. The chief topic of concern was icebreakers. As I reported back in February, the U.S. will be without heavy icebreakers for at least two […]
It is still too early to determine which Arab Spring countries will eventually become successes in their government reforms and transitions and which stagnate or descend into chaos. Tunisia. With a homogeneous and well-educated citizenry, distaste for Islamist extremism, and recent free and fair elections, Tunisia stands the most to gain from the āArab Spring.ā […]
āThe Venezuelan cooperation is now number one,ā said President Michel Martelly shortly before boarding his plane to Caracas, land of Hugo Chavez. āIt gives most grants and aids to Haiti,ā added the president at Toussaint Louverture airportās diplomatic room ahead of his first official trip to Venezuela as a member of the Community of Latin […]
1. Summary of the Past Year This year was a wildly eventful one, headlined by the Arab Spring and the debt crises in both the US and Europe. Other major events included the nuclear accident and natural disasters in Japan, the Occupy Wall Street movement, the independence of South Sudan, the increase in drug-related killings […]
A recent reading of E. M. Forsterās novel, A Passage to India, prompted me to reflect on the Westās drawn out engagement in Afghanistan. The centerpiece of this prescient narrative is an incident in an ancient cave in Northwestern India between an Indian doctor and an English woman during the heyday of the British Raj. […]
Here are a few stories that I’ve been thinking about in recent days: A new report from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), Africa and the Arab Spring: A New Era of Democratic Expectations, the first volume of the Africa Centerās new Special Report series, uses the Arab Spring as a lens through which […]
It’s not surprising that Putin lost his 2/3 majority in parliament today. Many people have turned against him and his party for many reasons: his inability to improve living standards, deal with corruption and reform the military, police, health and education systems. But perhaps most damning: his inability to get more than 50% of the […]
Georgia 2011 was the year when former Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze put the finishing touches on her long campaign to discredit former Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze. Ms. Burjanadze began her re-branding effort from responsible, clear-headed opposition leader to uncompromising radical after forming her own political party in 2008. The disastrous Russo-Georgian War in the same […]
Thursday, December 1, was World AIDS Day.Ā Each year, people gather worldwide to remember those lost to or affected by HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness.Ā It’s also a time to reflect on what’s been accomplished and what remains to be done, and the day serves as a time for politicians, celebrities, implementers, and activists to […]
Did you know that there is an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals trafficked into the United States each year?Ā Shockingly, the number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher! “Is it really that bad?” is the question usually asked- the answer is undeniably, “Yes!” According to the 2009Ā Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking […]
A couple of weeks back South African cricket legend Basil D’Oliviera passed away, presumably from complications due to the Parkinson’s disease from which he had suffered for many years. D’Oliviera is best known for his centrality in the crisis that bore his name, the “D’Oliviera Affair.” Unable to play cricket at the highest levels in […]
Luke Somers has been documenting Yemen’s revolution since late February.Ā Below is a selection of images highlighting the role women have played in the protests, along with the twists and turns that Yemen has experienced throughout 2011. To the Western eye, it may be difficult to apprehend the significance of Yemeni women taking to the […]
It is December and that means holiday parties and awards for most companies, organizations and government departments. So here is a little award of my own. Two of Transparency Internationalās (TI) biggest reports were recently released. The first is the 2011 Bribe Payerās Index (BPI). The 2011 BPI ranks 28 of the worldās largest economies […]
The two biggest developments in U.S. foreign policy this year were the Obama Administration’s efforts to lower the American profile in the greater Middle East and initiate a strategic refocus on the Pacific region. Regarding the former, this trend was most evident through the administration’s decisions to step back from the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, defer […]
This year in Cuban history will be viewed as a significant one, having seen more economic change and reform on the island than some entire decades. But Washington’s response over the course of a year has proven insignificant. Let’s start with a brief summary of the past year. In January, the executive branch of the […]
Haitians began 2011 with heavy hearts as they approached the first anniversary of the Jan. 12 earthquake that crippled their homeland and crushed 316,000 lives. Haitian leaders watched a steady stream of nongovernmental organizations (NGO) invade the country, carrying a $1-billion purse collected on behalf of the victims. Meanwhile the population remained on edge, following […]
Co-Authored with William Sweet U.S.-Russia 123 and New START A relatively busy year in arms control and nonproliferation started out with two events that were set into motion the year prior: entry into force for the U.S. Russian Agreement for Civilian Nuclear Cooperation (the so-called 123 agreement) and the bilateral New START agreement. The congressional […]
Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths. In 1988, the UN General Assembly expressed deep concern over the pandemic proportions of the AIDS virus. Following theĀ World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of 1 December 1988 as World AIDS Day, the General Assembly draftedĀ resolution 43/15. According to the 2011 World AIDS Day Report, […]
Mexico has been slow to mend from the repeated stabs of a drug war, declared in 2006, and the blunt pummel of Americaās recession in 2008. But 2011 showed more signs of recovery than relapse. At least 40,000 Mexicans have been killed from drug-related violence over the past five years, and the number directly affected […]
Summary of 2011 For the EU, any summary of the 2011 will necessarily be dominated by the sovereign debt crisis. The crisis, starting in late 2009, seems to have no end. The past year, and the year before that, has seen a string of crisis talks resulting in an ever-increasing number of initiatives: First the […]
The Foreign Policy Association has asked the blog team to write year-end summaries and even provided a nice little template for us to follow. So, without further ado: Summary of the Past Year What an extraordinary year 2011 has turned out to be. The U.S. appears to have successfully navigated a year of extreme turbulence […]
Summary of the Past Year This year, the Arctic has witnessed a lot more cooperation and a lot less conflict. Whereas past years were marked by sovereignty squabbles, boundary disputes, and accusations of airspace intrusions, this year, events took a more peaceful turn. First of all, members of the Arctic council signed the Agreement on […]
Reflecting on 2011: where to start? 2011 has been another busy year for writers, analysts and students of foreign policy: from the Arab revolutions, to the nuclear disaster of Fukushima, to the war in Libya, to the Euro crisis, to the domestic turmoil in the US, so on and so forth. Instead of examining certain […]
Although global health in 2011 was overshadowed by the economic recession and related budget cuts by donor countries, there were a few rays of hope to be found.Ā Much progress has been made in combating some global epidemics and more attention has been paid to others.Ā Innovations in global health, from simple solutions to harnessing […]
Today, the House Homeland Security Committeeās Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held a REALLY interesting hearing on Boko Haram, the Nigeria-based militant groupāwhich they deem an āemerging threat to the U.S. homeland.ā (Color me surprisedā¦ it is a rare occasion when US policymakers on the Hill focus on āemergingā threats instead of waiting until itās […]
Efforts to combat trafficking are diverse and growing. Businesses, NGOs, academics, politicians, governments and individuals all have a role to play. So, instead of spending Thanksgiving weekend watching the Macyās Parade, eating turkey and shopping (my usual Thanksgiving activities), I was in Amsterdam and London for meetings on fighting human trafficking. Human trafficking, or modern […]
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Summary 2011 Latin America in 2011 became more important and influential on the world stage as the economies of the United States and Europe could not achieve the growth it required after the 2008 economic crisis, placing emphasis on the BRICS nations, particularly Brazil in Latin America to be […]
Icelandās Minister of the Interior, Ćgmundur JĆ³nasson, rejected Chinese businessman Huang Nubo’s bid to purchase a large tract of territory in the northeastern region of the country. Huang had sought an exemption from an Icelandic law which prohibits nationals from outside the European Economic Association from purchasing large amounts of land. Huang wanted to purchase […]
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into being at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992.Ā The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the convention got underway yesterday in Durban, South Africa.Ā There are 194 countries that are party to the convention, plus the European Union.Ā There are also […]
The son of the Iranian ayatollah who issued the 2006 fatwah calling for the assassination of Azeri author Rafiq Tagi has issued a statement on his web site praising Tagiās murderers. Sheikh Mohammed Fazel Lankarani, a prominent ayatollah like his late father, has written on his site that “Without a doubt, the man who performed […]
Japan has voiced concern over the second trial of China’s first aircraft carrier, which started Tuesday. Even though the refitted Soviet carrier is technologically pretty much what you’d expect from a third-world country, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, “I am concerned about their reinforcement of national defense power, which lacks transparency, and their acceleration […]
āHaiti is a country that supported the fight for freedom in Latin America, a country that terrified slave owners across America and is now subjugated to foreign occupation that has nothing to do with humanitarian purposes, as proposed,ā said Julio Turra, president of Unified Confederation of Workers (CUT French acronym). āItās embarrassing,ā added Turra during […]
Thousands gathered in Senegal yesterday for the opening of the secondĀ International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), the largest meeting of its kind, which will run until December 2, 2011. The objective of the groundbreaking meeting is to push forward an agenda for broad family planning access and support across the globe. The outcome of the […]
Thereās a LOT going on in the Middle East/North Africa this weekāelections in Morocco and Egypt, unrest in Syria, crackdown on protesters in Bahrainā¦the list goes on.Ā Donāt have time to sift through all the commentaries and coverage?Ā No problem.Ā Let me break it down for you and give some highlights about whatās being said […]
On November 22 Mexico signed a free trade agreement with the Central American states of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. At the signing ceremony in San Salvador, El Salvador, Mexican foreign secretary Patricia Espinosa said: āThis new agreement is very innovative because it fosters dialogue among companies, private investors and governments. I […]
According to a recent poll by LatinobarĆ³metro, a public opinion survey conducted in 18 countries in the Latin American region, 45% of Brazilians agree that ādemocracy is preferable to any other type of government.ā[1] Alarmingly, the figure is down from 54% last year. The Economist proposes an explanation: āDilma Rousseff, the new President, has taken […]
It is roughly 1644 miles between Tibet and Ho Chi Minh City, where 48 years ago Buddhist monks burst into flames in protest against the U.S. backed government. Those actions also burst into the public eye through newspaper photos and television reports, igniting a different kind of flame āa slow flame of questioning and then […]
Yesterday, Moroccans went to the polls for the first parliamentary elections after the Constitutional referendum earlier this summer. As I mentioned last week, there would be three questions to answer after the elections, so letās see 1) What was the turnout? The official figure is 45%, which is definitely decent. (). The big fear was […]
On November 22, 2011, CNN hosted a debate between the Republican candidates for the presidential nomination, this time dedicated to the theme of national security. The debate was sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), two of the most conservative think tanks in the US, with considerable influence in shaping policies […]
I just wanted to post this powerful photo taken by Aziz Elkhanoglu today at Rafiq Tagi’s funeral.
A huge topic in academia at the moment is the changing global economic and political landscape. The āReshaping Power, Shifting Boundariesā theme of the 2012 International Political Science Association conference being held in Madrid in July is a testament of this. Academics from around the world will gather to discuss how power is being reconfigured […]
Sheikh Abdel-Mageed al-Zindani a prominent cleric and staunched opponent to the regime is adding to his many list of alleged crimes, human testing. The Sheikh who is now in hiding since President Ali Abdullah Saleh issued a warrant for his arrest earlier this year for his ties with al-Qaeda militants has been on the American […]
The Civil Coalition of Youth Revolution (CCYR) announced rejection of the Gulf’s agreement which was signed by President Saleh’s regime and the opposition Wednesday in Riyadh. The following is the official statement issued by the group. It should be noted that the great majority of Yemeni are against an immunity clause for Saleh, his family […]
A term that does not yet exist, but may be a simple and direct explanation of how many institutions, governments and companies currently operate is to call these organisations Idiotocracies. An Idiotocracy can be defined as a structure, group of managers or culture within an institution that actively works to undermine and slowly destroy and […]
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan will offer Iraq $750 million in his meeting with visiting Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki Tuesday. The loans will go toward refurbishing oil refineries and other infrastructure and health care projects. Noda said: “We are proud of having contributed to the development of Iraq through yen loans and technical cooperation. […]
Another sad day for Azerbaijan, a country saddled with more than its fair share of injustice and pain. Rafiq Tagi, who was hospitalized a mere three days ago after being stabbed by unknown assailants, died today in a Baku hospital of complications after initial treatment for his wounds and surgery to remove his spleen. He […]
I recently came across two worthwhile pieces on Persian Gulf states punching above their weight. The first is a New York Times analysis of Qatar, the lil’ oil rich country that could: Qatar is smaller than Connecticut, and its native population, at 225,000, wouldnāt fill Cairoās bigger neighborhoods. But for a country that inspires equal […]
āOne Vision, One Identity, One Communityā is the motto of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Was that the case in 2011? The region was predictably under-covered by the US mainstream media. I tried my best to bring unique, insightful coverage of the region as best I could from afar, highlighting a different country […]
One of my pet peeves is when I run into a friend or acquaintance and they say: āGail, where yaā been. Havenāt seen you in quite a whileā. The implication being if they donāt see me I donāt exist; which brings me to the topic of todayās blog. During the last 20 years or so, […]
So I just received a press release from Senator Rand Paulās (R-KY) communications director, Moira Bagley, informing the American public that her boss has introduced an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill to formally end the war in Iraq. According to the release: The war in Iraq cannot be considered definitively concluded if […]
If you are a follower of foreign affairs, you are likely aware of the Obama Administrationās decision to table the Keystone XL pipeline deal until after the 2012 election. Because the project is an important bilateral commercial deal with implications for American energy security, I thought Iād briefly comment on it here. This was a […]
The year 2011 saw dramatic changes in Africaās landscape. The unprecedented sweep of the North African uprising has endangered the lives of in Egyptians, Libyans and Tunisians. Instability caused by election disputes in CĆ“te dāIvoire and Zimbabwe coasted the lives of thousands of protesting. The long waited independence movement of South Sudan has come to […]
A recent report from COHA about the current relationship between the UK and Latin America was published last week in order to outline the lack of ties between a UK mired in European economic Telenovela and the great need to expand ties beyond traditional economic and cultural sources. UK links to former colonies and ties […]
Mexicoās industrial output rose by 1.7 percent from August to September, the biggest leap in nearly two years. Analysts had expected a negligible 0.21 percent increase, but the hearty rebound of Americaās car industry helped Mexican car factories chalk strong gains. In addition to manufacturing, the construction industry posted a healthy uptick. “Despite all the […]
A trade dispute has arisen between U.S solar firms and their Chinese equivalent in a row that is threatening to put a dampener on solar energy technology in the near future. The disagreement erupted when the US manufacturers called for a 100% mark up on solar imports from Chinese manufacturers that are driving artificially low […]
The LatinobarĆ³metro poll is out. The 2011 survey included 20,204 face-to-face interviews in 18 Latin American countries. Conducted annually since 1995, the poll is widely seen as the most comprehensive study of public opinion across the region. For most of the past decade it has been a delight to read. Support for democracy and market […]
In todayās World Politics Review I argue that Argentinaās recovery from meltdown in 2001 is not a model that Greece can emulate. Primarily, this is because Argentina devalued its currency by 70 percent, then saw its fortunes rise with a global commodity boom. By contrast, most scenarios for a Greek default include the country staying […]
Will education quality strengthen as Latin Americaās economic growth continues? With Latin Americaās GDP projected to grow 4 ā 5% in real terms over the next three years, and most major economies holding positive trade balances, Latin Americaās growth engine is far from slowing down. Recent developments in Chile, Mexico, and Brazil show civil society […]
Al Jazeera is reporting that three people have been killed in in an exchange of gun fire with riot police in Monrovia. There are also reports of injuries to several UN peacekeepers, part of the 8000 strong UNMIL mission which has been in the country since 2003. It is still not clear whether the boycott […]
New blog by Ed Husain, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and expert on counterradicalization, offers a unique perspective on Middle East. Mr. Ed Husain explores the role of religion in Muslim-majority societies, the narrative and appeal of radicalism, and efforts to counter facets of Islamist extremism. Mr. Husain, among other things, explains […]
Guest Post: Leila Hanafi As the Arab Spring turns to fall across the Middle East and North Africa, the region is unquestionably in the midst of transformational change. The cascade of events over the past few months have varied from country to country, but in each case there has been a focus on the emerging […]
Lots of moving parts in the Afghanistan situation. Iāll cover them in a series of blogs. Last week the Department of Defense released its quarterly report: Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan. If youāve read any of my previous blogs, youāll remember I always like to begin topics like this with reiterating […]
There has been lots of news on the national security front over the last few days; the death of Libyaās Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi, President Obamaās announcement of bringing home all Iraqi troops in time for the holidays, and Secretary of State Clintonās visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the midst of all of this, some […]
With the ensuing brouhaha over the alleged assassination plot by the Iranian government to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington, the spectrum of viewsāfrom skeptics with their outright rejection of the plot as yet another pretext for military confrontation to those who firmly believe that the plot can be traced to the top echelons of […]
Todayās announcement of Qaddafiās death is a reminder of the remarkable geopolitical shift taking place in North Africa and the Middle East, one that has the opportunity to radically alter decades of static rule, corruption and oppression. The Arab Spring, or Arab Awakening, or Great Uprising certainly also creates vast challenges, and for the international […]
Suffice to say, the Foreign Policy Associationās National Opinion Ballot confirmed an attitude thatās prevalent in the foreign policy community. Key findings suggest that some defense budget cuts are necessary, global financial regulatory regimes are welcome and opposition to military adventurism is robust. Perhaps most importantly, disillusionment with the huge costs and uncertain outcomes of […]
On August 16, Ecuador police commander General Wilson Alulema announced that the nationās 42,000 police officers will each take lie detector tests. The rule stems from the September 30, 2010 incident when large numbers of police verbally and physically abused President Rafael Correa, culminating in the armyās rescue of the President from a hospital where […]
This week FPA.org presented the results of the FPAās National Opinion Ballot Report that surveyed many policy experts on key issued related to US foreign policy. With over 200,000 policy experts contributing to the survey, it was found that respondents were in favour of an increase of counterinsurgency efforts as opposed to funding traditional warfare […]
Watched an extraordinary episode on PBS last night on how the women of Liberia stopped a long running civil war in Liberia. Its part of a series PBS is doing and is definitely worth watching. Hereās the summary of the program from the PBS web site. Introducing Women, War & Peace Episode 2: Pray the […]
The main political parties in the UK have just finished up their annual conferences, and by and large, they were rather dull affairs this time around. However, along the fringes of the Conservative Party conference, the Scottish branch was preparing to, possibly, go out of business. The Tories in Scotland, officially known as the Scottish […]
Whether it provides an opportunity, or compromises our right to food, many of the currently used bio-fuel crops such as soybean, sugarcane and corn are traditionally used as staples. These staple food crops also have various other uses, such as animal feed, and for all intents and purposes, occupy the same soil or agricultural land. […]
Market analysts and economists can never fully judge the promise of an incoming president, but in Latin America they provide a welcome unbiased gauge for doing so. In the case of Peru, said analysts and economists are confused. The numerical confusion reflects the conflicted vision of President-Elect Ollanta Humala: maintain Peruās revered economic prosperity while […]
The following is a report from the Israeli newspaper, Haartez: The list of Palestinian prisoners due to be released as part of a exchange deal that would secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit includes many names rejected by past Israeli governments as being too dangerous to release. One of […]
According to the official Hamas website, Marwan Barghouti, along with Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Secretary General Ahmad Saāadat, will be released from Israeli prisons. Ā The two are part of a deal that is believed to bring the release of about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Corporal Gilad […]
According to reports from various media outlets and Hamas and Israeli officials, Hamas and Israel have reached a prisoner swap agreement that will see the release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.Ā Officials from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have confirmed the talks.Ā Corporal Shalit was abducted by Hamas during a cross border […]
Today’s announcement that President Sirleaf of Liberia has won the Nobel Peace certainly must have come as great news to the head of the Unity Party’s reelection committee in Monrovia. What a gift to have your candidate win the Nobel Prize just days before a hotly contested election. I think it is fair to question […]
Last week the team at the University of Salamanca in Spain launched their project Ciudadania 2.0. The focus of the project is to engage citizens in Latin America and those outside of the region interested and invested in its future by giving average citizens and those related to the region a virtual voice in Latin […]
Today’s New York Times reports that serious cuts in U.S. overseas assistance are being contemplated by Congress. Using our own economic woes as an excuse, many lawmakers deem it necessary to make cuts in programs they feel are not justified when so many remedies are required at home. Fair enough. The question is how will […]
by Suzanne Trimel, Amnesty International New York, Oct. 3, 2011 Amnesty International condemns the arrest of six individuals — documentary filmmakers and a producer — in Iran and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. The organization said it appears the five men and one woman are being held solely for the peaceful exercise of […]
Last week the UN published a report that made headlines around the world called: The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. Headlines screamed, āUN says 39% jump in violence in 2011ā. As fate would have it the day of the announcement I was scheduled to participate in a Department of […]
The premiere public university in the state of Georgia is setting up shop in Mexico. In cooperation with Technologico de Mexico, Georgia Tech will run a Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Center in Mexico City aimed at education, research, and industry growth. The center is expected to become a fountain for research on supply chains […]
I first heard about Vincent Naramba in a piece by Jackee Budesta Batanda, a Ugandan human rights journalist who is currently a Neuffer Fellow at M.I.T. Mr. Naramba, a grass-roots political activist from the slums of Kampala, was inspired by the works of Gene Sharp, the so-called “Clausewitz of non-violent war.” On his website Mr. […]
As mentioned in my last blog a couple of weeks ago Iāve been laid low by back issues and unable to sit up for long periods of time. Because of the wonders of medical science, I am once again mobileā¦at least mobile enough to sit up for longer periods. I was even able to get […]
Altogether overshadowed by developing Israel-istine histrionics, the president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, stood before the United Nations General Assembly on Friday to promote his vision for a democratic state anchored in peace and the rule of law. He extolled the need for a harmonious state, irrespective of sectarian, ethnic or factional affiliations. āThis is the […]
Walid Jumblatt Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt appears to be repositioning his Druze bloc in the face of changing national and regional political realities. In the past few weeks, Jumblatt expressed his support for financing of the Hariri Tribunal, was seen at recent March 14 social gatherings, questioned the value of Hizballah’s arsenal to […]
Overcrowded, unhealthy, unmanaged and inhumane: that is how Amnesty International has characterized Liberia’s prison system in a damning report issued last week entitled “Good Intentions are Not Enough.” The report documents situations in several government run facilities where there is no sanitation, prisoners are forced to sleep in shifts and where psychological counseling or legal […]
Speaking of modern challenges, during a Congressional hearing, Adm. Mike Mullen made some damning accusations of the Pakistani governmentās role, particularly the ISI, in some serious attacks on American targets: The remarks by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, represented the strongest U.S. criticism to date of the long-suspected ties between […]
In a report highlighting political and economic prospects of a new, post-Qadhafi Libya, the Economist Intelligence Unit, the in-house research unit of the Economist magazine, explains what world and business leaders should expect over the next twenty months in this oil-rich north African country. The report, entitled Libya’s Year Zero, offers a number of scenarios […]
It is interesting to see how international institutions define development as a promotion of specific economic development model. Well developed development practice requires a certain level of state intervention to protect private property and enforce laws that respond to social changes. I have no doubt that such institutions contributed in promoting and facilitating development practices […]
Amnesty International Calls on Authorities to Stop Attacks on Peaceful Protesters, as Security Forces Kill Dozens (Amnesty International–New York): Yemeni authorities must immediately stop the killing of peaceful protesters by security forces, Amnesty International said today, after dozens of people were shot dead in the capital, Sana’a, since Sunday. The organization called for an independent, […]
The spirit of the EU 2020 energy strategy seems to be well underway. The EU is planning to streamline the practice of deal making in the energy sector between EU members and outside parties and fortify the voice of Brussels. This sounds difficult, as the EU is home to half a billion consumers and about […]
Been off the blogosphere for the last couple of weeks. My back went out and the only comfortable position I could find was lying down. Guess I went at the bike riding thing too heavily this summer! Iām of the mind that there is a seed of good in every adversity. In this case it […]
Emerging economies are often described as being in the process of increased urbanisation. In industrialised countries the process of growth in manufacturing is often met with an influx of population from rural areas into the centres of production within metropolitan areas. This process which took place in the late 19th century in Europe and North […]
One of the many indignities that African countries suffer is that their circumstances are often debated in the absence of voices from the continent. Part of the problem is lack of networks between African universities and policy institutions with partners in the North and also an absence of websites and journals that give the African […]
A lot of really strange analysis has been coming out on the subject of Obama Administration foreign policy following the apparant toppling of the Ghaddafi regime in Libya. Broadly criticized by opinion leaders of the left and right on his Libya policy until recently, it seems that many decided this past week that the policy […]
As if fueled by some cosmic irony to enhance sales of Dick Cheney’s In My Time, we have welcome news from the Near East! For the first time since the former Veep’s “Coalition of the Willing” sand-plowed Saddam’s twisted regime in 2003, an entire month has passed without a single United States service member dying. […]
An Ethiopian by the name of Mehari Gebre. But no matter, young Liberian Lucy Massaquoi,16, took the gold in the womenās event and a fun time was had by all. The event, which was held on August 28th, was the brain-child of BHP Billiton, the Australian mining and energy giant who has recently taken a […]
About three weeks ago, President Saleh delivered a televised speech to the nation, in which he reassured his followers that he would indeed be coming back, his convalescence coming to a close. His rather lengthy address put to rest rumors that the Saudis and the Americans had managed to exert enough political pressure on the […]
In my inaugural post for the FPA blog I would like discuss recent events in the country where I have most recently been: Liberia. On Tuesday the 23rd Liberians went to the polls for a referendum vote on three issues. One of them was whether Supreme Court justices should retire at age 70 as is […]
After Gaddafi Libya may not find what it is looking for. As I write this, the majority of pro-Gaddafi forces have lost, or are in the process of losing their resistance against the mostly civilian rebels. The pictures and stories coming from Libya are not incomparable to Egypt and/or Tunisia. Young men holding rifles in […]
China and the U.S.: Who’s winning? The IMF’s prediction earlier this year that China will have a larger economy than the US in 2016 has gotten a lot of press.Ā The validity of this forecast depends on two factors — how you value a country’s output or GDP and what your forecasts for GDP growth […]
Overnight on Sunday, the news from Libya turned from questionable progress (on any front), to reports of jubilation, as rebel forces drove through Tripoli, securing the majority of the city and arresting two of Qaddafiās sons. Reports Monday claimed Qaddafi loyalists control a mere twenty percent of the Mediterranean city, localized to the rulerās expansive […]
For the past 8 months, Yemen has been thrown into the midst of a popular uprising of such intensity that it has left its governmental institutions in tatters and its economy in ruins. Enthralled in a fight against alleged Islamic militants in the south and a tribal war in the north, Yemen has had to […]
Yesterday, at the suggestion of my older brother I went to see the movie The Help. Since heās Gulf War Vet and a real manās man and wouldnāt normally go see what many had said would be a āChick Flickā; that got my attention. I had been a little reluctant to read the book or […]
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, under pressure to ensure stability two weeks after replacing the military’s high command, warned that Turkey’s “patience” was exhausted and ordered airstrikes against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party after the group killed nine soldiers and militiamen. The attack by the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and […]
In a historic televised event, former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appeared in his own court, facing hundreds of lawyers defending Egyptian protesters who helped oust the dictator from decades of unabated power. Yet is the trial an expression of justice, or a show, symbolic perhaps only in image? Mubarak has been charged with corruption, and […]
I recently interviewed Nasser Maweri, a Yemeni pro-Democracy activist with a serious understanding of Social Media. Be it Facebook or Twitter, Nasser has been from the get go a permanent fixture of the online Yemeni revolution. A fervent defender and promoter of peace, Nasser represents Yemenās brightest and vibrant youth. And because he is willing […]
Brigadier General Yehia Mohamed Abdullah Saleh, one of Presidentās Saleh nephews and head of the Central Security Forces recently told Reuters in an interview that although he was willing to engage into talks to get Yemen out of the current political stand-off, he was also ready to ābreak the necksā of whoever would try to […]
A few days ago, the London based Saudi paper, Asharq al-Awsat, published that officials in Saudi Arabia are claiming that the US and the KSA have successfully convinced President Saleh to remain in Riyadh for good. The paper further wrote that under the pressure of both of his strongest allies, the US and the KSA, […]
Wanted to finish up my thoughts on the Aspen Instituteās Security Forum. Thought I would begin where I ended my last blog with comments from the former Director of National Intelligence (DNI), retired Admiral Dennis Blair. There was quite a bit of talk during the forum revolving around the history and purpose of the DNI […]
So here we are my fellow Americans, starting a fresh week after learning some pretty dark news. For starters, we learned that the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s on Friday downgraded the credit rating of the United States, stripping us of our gold medal and replacing it with a tarnished silver pennant. Yes, we […]
Since the beginning of the popular uprising, Yemenās government has had to intensify its military recruitment campaign. With the recent waves of defections and the opening of several new fronts, the army is in great need of fresh blood. But most importantly, the government is trying to gather new loyalty under its banner in order […]
Just as the Saudi officials announced that President Ali Abdullah Saleh was being discharged and moved to a private residence in Riyadh, the most senior Yemeni spokesman, al-Ganadi, declared that the President would be returning home before the end of Ramadan. Since Saleh failed to return to Sanaāa on the anniversary of his appointment as […]
As one of the bloggers for the Latin America blog and the European Union blog, I often have to divide my attention between the two regions and the political and economic events between them that almost always involve one of the BRICS nations or possible future BRICS. Despite some of these BRICS not being located […]
Probably the talk that generated the most media headlines at last weekās Security Forum held at the Aspen Institute were the comments of former Director of National Intelligence, retired navy Admiral Dennis Blair. His session was moderated by Lesley Stahl of CBS news and 60 Minutes fame. Some of the media headlines gave the impression […]
The following is an interview that I conducted with an inspiring young female Yemeni activist. Despite being in Canada, Yusra A. has become a valuable asset of the Yemeni Revolution, inspiring her generation to follow in her foot steps and build a better Yemen. From her hometown of Halifax she has been relentlessly fighting for […]
As promised here are some more gems that came out of the Aspen Security Forum. Iāve already talked about the comments of Pakistanās Ambassador and a little bit about Admiral Blairās comments, more to follow on that but Iād like to start out talking about the very first session. It was called The Role of […]
Over the past few weeks, the Yemeni government has been pounding the village of Arhab, which is situated on the northern outskirts of the capital, Sanaāa. As a result, thousands of villagers have had to flee the war zone and seek refuge in the neighboring mountains; hoping that they will be able to return […]
In my last blog, I mentioned I would be heading out to attend a forum on national security issues sponsored by the Homeland Security Program of the Aspen Institute in partnership with the New York Times. The topic of the 3 day forum is counterterrorism. On their website the institute stated: āThe Forum will bring […]
I was interviewed by a writer from the Associated Press on the issue of stadium security ten years after 9/11 largely on the basis of this piece for The Public Sphere that I wrote about three years ago. And when you get quoted in a story by AP it ends up appearing everywhere. (My personal […]
Last week the UN declared a famine in two regions of Southern Somalia and warned that it could spread to other parts of the Horn of Africa. That is a big deal. As Mark Leon Goldberg of UN Dispatch pointed out, a famine is a technical finding based or mortality, malnutrition and water consumption; they […]
Recent news reports from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region have depicted a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty that cost Iran at least six soldiers from the elite Revolutionary Guards, and the death of senior officer in the Qom brigade. It is the latest chapter in a complex, ongoing conflict between the Islamic Republic and the shadowy […]
Been a little slower than usual in finishing up this topic. If youāve read my blog before you know I live in one of Coloradoās bicycling Meccaās. Letās just say I rode āa bridge too farā on my bike, damaged my body, and have spent most of the last few days in the only comfortable […]
The discussions on US debt and European defaults have characterized much of the last month in an effort by Western governments to prevent another large recession in the American and European economies. Serious discussions on raising the US debt ceiling has been met with a great deal of resistance by Obama’s opponents in the US, […]
This week in foreign policy, the world’s top news stories are reviewed in a new FPA video feature. FPA blogger Crystal Huskey discusses implications of the famine in Somalia, and Walter Raubeson warns of sectarian violence in Syria. Many thanks to both bloggers for their insightful input!
The congratulations have rolled in from around the world. As has United Nations recognition. And a new currency. And of course a new president in Salva Kiir. People have celebrated in the streets and generally speaking a mood of hope and optimism and happiness prevails. Exiles from years of civil war and devastation have returned. […]
Is the provision of inexpensive, sturdy bicycles part of the solution to poverty in sub-Saharan Africa? I have no idea. But I can certainly see bicycles as a potential social good for a host of reasons, poverty alleviation being only one. In my research on my current book project on bus boycotts in the United […]
Ok, so imagine for a moment that you are a member of the Zimbabwean opposition party the Movement for Democratic ChangeĀ (MDC). Within days of hammering out a deal with your alleged coalition partner in government, Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, that decided that elections would not be held until next year, you wake up one morning […]
We now have a deal from France, Germany and the ECB: bending European Financial Stability Facility rules to allow recapitalization of banks and create easier credit terms for Euro countries; and debt rollover into longer-term (some might argue “indefinitely long” given Greek debt of 140 percent of GDP) maturities. Most chillingly, the plan bakes in […]
The Japanese prime minister has caused something of a stir with his recent remark that perhaps Japan should end its reliance on nuclear power altogether, as Germany and Italy are in the process of doing. The obvious implications are in energy and climate policy, both national and global. But there’s also a more subtle military […]
Perhaps one should not read too much into the wave of strikes that seems to have taken over South Africa in recent weeks and led to what at least one observer has called “strike fever.” After all, one of the signs of South Africa’s vibrant civil society is the strength of its unions, especially given […]
With the help of development aid Sierra Leone has joined the ranks of sub-Saharan African countries offering free medical care for women with a particular emphasis on women and children. Even if it is too early to glean whether or not these programs are a success, suggestive evidence indicates that more women are being helped […]
Weāre all very well aware of the political predicament Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is currently facing. In a ādamned if does, and damned if he doesnātā scenario, Iraqās political boss is stuck between the presumed necessity of US military support to secure his fragile government and the obvious friction a continued troop presence would create […]
Dan Drezner imagines the lead paragraphs of prominent world affairs pundits if they covered the Women’s World Cup.
Well, I’ve made the big time. As a result of my role in Freedom Riders, I now have an IMDB page. A barren, consequenceless IMDB page, but an IMDB page nonetheless. But I’ve buried the lede. Freedom Riders has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including “Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking,” “Writing for Nonfiction […]
Two Afghanistan items in the media grabbed my attention today for two different but related reasons. First, a Reuterās article on the first Afghan women to qualify as pilots arriving in the U.S. for training reminded me of the continuing progress that has been made by NATO as part of their training mission of the […]
No, it was not a bunga bunga party (not this time at least). Rather, the bond vigilante feeding frenzy recently let loose upon Rome was triggered ā depressingly ā by the resolution of the (immediate) crisis in Greece. Basically, investors are playing whack-a-mole with Europe sovereigns. This July 6 piece from Bloomberg explains it all: […]
Over at The Economist's Africa-related blog, Baobob, correspondent "D.G." travels in Zimbabwe, going by vehicle from the country's capital, Harare, to Bulawayo, a trip that in good times once took about three hours but that can now take twice as long due to deteriorating road conditions and the ubiquitous reality of cops with outstretched hands […]
The 18 day protests that ousted the once thought unmovable Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak have been heralded as a model for thousands struggling across the Middle East. Yet how is Egypt faring four months after those fateful days? Months after reporters left, where does Egypt stand? From the recent reports of protestersā return to Tahrir […]
British-American Security Information Council (BASIC) Executive Director Paul Ingram, who also does a program on Iranian telly, recently attended the second International Conference on Disarmament and Non-proliferation, which was held at the Iranian Foreign Ministryās Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) from June 12 to 13. Laughable as it may seem, Paul’s participation provides […]
āChange Squareā in Sanaāa has become like Tahrir in Cairo, the epicenter of the Yemeni Revolution in the capital. For over 5 months now, Yemenis from all walks of lives have demonstrated day after day against a Regime they abhor, determined to bring about the fall of the House of Saleh. In recent weeks […]
The IMF has put forward a new paper on new International Evidence on Expansionary Austerity (which Krugman as well as Herdentrieb linked to). From the abstract: This paper investigates the short-term effects of fiscal consolidation on economic activity in OECD economies. We examine the historical record, including Budget Speeches and IMF documents, to identify changes […]
In a historic ceremony Saturday, South Sudan became Africaās 54th nation. Independence from North Sudan came after a U.S.-backed referendum in January, and represents the culmination of over 50 years of conflict. New York Times columnist Jeffrey Gettleman raises an interesting question over Americaās fixation on Sudan. The large country found a place at the […]
Turkeyās foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Benghazi last week, where the Libyan opposition is getting stronger every day. Davutoglu was welcomed, as any other AKP official in a Muslim country, and the crowd cheered for him holding interesting posters with the words, āThank you Erdogan, Turkey and Islamā written on them. Davutoglu was pleased. This […]
On Thursday evening, embattled and injured Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh made his first TV appearance since the attack on his compound only a few days ago. The speech, which essentially conveyed no specific message other than that he was still very much alive and kicking, ignited an array of feelings amongst his fellow countrymen. […]
Human Rights Watch, which is a leading human rights group, announced that more than a dozen of civilians were killed in the south province of Abyan in Yemen, caught in the fight between alleged al-Qaeda militants and the military. Since a group called āAnsar al Shariahā invaded Zinjibar several weeks ago and advanced on other […]
A month after the attack on his Presidential Palace, embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, addressed his nation in a televised appearance from his hospital room in Saudi Arabia. This is the transcript of his speech: “I would to convey my sincere thanks to all the Yemeni people inside and outside the country, men and […]
Ā With the worst power and fuel crisis of its history, Yemenās already shaken economy is being pushed towards the edge of a precipice. With the majority of its people living on less than $2 per day, Yemenis are struggling to make do. Over the past few weeks, food prices have skyrocketed, forcing families to […]
A Yemeni General called on the international community to intervene in Yemen, saying that the entire region was about to slip into chaos. As al-Qaeda militants continue to hold on to their positions in Abyan, the government has decided to resume its airstrikes to block their advances. Problems in the south started just around the […]
It all started with the death of an unknown and poor fruit seller in the streets of Tunisia. Little did the world realize that one manās desperate act of retaliation against a regime that had robbed him from his future and dignity would set ablaze revolutionary sentiments of such intensity that they would bring about […]
Last Thursday the Syrian Presidential Guard, led by President Assadās brother, approached the Turkish border, causing a brief standoff between the two countriesā armed forces. As hundreds more Syrian refugees crossed the border, Turkey opted to move back its patrols slightly, avoiding direct engagement. The encounter epitomizes the now omnipresent threat that an already tenuous […]
Today the world anxiously waits to see whether or not the Greek government will pass its austerity measures in order to save the Greek economy in the long run, hold off another wave of global recessions and perhaps save the Euro itself. While a Greek meltdown would have an amplified effect on world markets, where […]
Whether foreign investments are flowing into Brazil as a river or as a trickle, Brazilās reputation as the next large fast growing super economy is being cemented by the attention it has received after 2009 as the BRICS that may become the next China. While China and Brazil are growing in different ways for different […]
While China has won allies across Latin America over the past decade āand access to natural resources to bootārelations between Beijing and Havana remained piecemeal. What gives? Chinese Vice President Xi Jinpingās three-day visit to Cuba provides an opportunity to look at the odd tenor of Sino-Cuban relations. This post is based on an essay […]
Over the last few years Mexicoās drug cartelās have moved into different markets, one of those being selling stolen fuel which most often is taken from pipelines or trucks from Mexicoās national oil company, PEMEX. PEMEX has a special role in the Mexican economy, traditionally being one of the greatest sources of revenue for the […]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy releases a study today that is unusually stark: “global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world.ā Ā It contends the āwar on drugsā strategy needs to change by focusing more on demand, while acknowledging that US policyāAmerica is the largest demand-source for […]
This is the first of several review pieces on books about Brazil that Iāll be writing in the coming months on the blog. Please participate in the discussion by sharing your views on these books in the comments section. Brazil is at a crucial juncture in its history. Already the undisputed economic leader of Latin […]
Accelerate Brazil on May 26th and 27th is a forum for anyone who is interested in one of the biggest foreign investment projects to exist in Latin America in generations. The Accelerate Brazil Infrastructure and Investment Expo-Forum is an exhibition for foreign investors who wish to learn about what projects and opportunities are open in […]
Dilma Rousseffās (PT) victory over centre-right candidate JosĆ© Serra (PSDB) last October transformed Lulaās former Chief of Staff into the first female President in Brazilās history. It is fair to say that Rousseffās victory gained ample international media attention for two central reasons: first, the āeconomic marvelā of Brazilās booming economy, currently sitting at a […]
Israel’s minister of industry, trade and labor recently hosted a delegation of Brazilian business leaders. The following Q&A looks at relations between the two countries: WPR: What is the extent of the economic and political relationship between Israel and Brazil? SG: The two countries have a history of friendly, but rarely robust, relations. Ā Ambassadors have […]
The whole world became aware last week of the accusations against the head of the IMF, French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn when he was arrested for sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York recently. Video and pictures of Mr. Strauss-Kahn in handcuffs and in court were blitzed across world media this week and the story […]
This weekās Economist includes a special report on international banking. On page 8 of the report, tucked inside an article on Japanās woefully conservative banking industry, is an interesting graphic. A survey conducted by Datamonitor asked internet users in a dozen countries how important mobile banking is to them. Brazil leads the pack in percentage […]
The position Brazil and most of Latin America has been in since their establishment as independent nations has been one of commodity exporters, successful in boom cycles but suffering when the specific commodities they export lost value in the international market. The recent boom in the Brazilian economy still has a lot to do with […]
The EU has long had a virtual monopoly over a realm of trade dispute known as ālabeling,ā using a name on a product label that invokes a specific region, concentration of ingredients, or production process. Time-crafted traditions that, after generations, yield global renown should be protected from any Johnny-come-lately ripping off the name. Thatās the […]
Led by maestro Daniel Barenhoim, an Argentine symphony played to a crowd of 400 in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory of Gaza yesterday, marking the first time Gaza has hosted an orchestra. The immediate impact was stunning.Ā āI felt I was dreaming. This concert took me out of the difficult conditions we are facing here. I […]
Next week Canadians will decide what kind of Parliamentary arrangement they would like to represent their country for the next few years. The minority Conservative party is seeking a majority in the vote this upcoming Monday, but they left leaning NDP party is absorbing the opposition Liberals in order to create a government split between […]
With a barrel of oil going for $120 on world markets, emerging economies are suffering from the growing strain of fuel subsidies.Ā The IMF estimates that fuel subsidies reached $250 billion in 2010, up from $60 billion in 2003. Compared to Asia, Latin America is fairing rather well. Mexico and VenezuelaĀ certainly have high fuel subsidies. Ā VenezuelaĀ spends […]
Cedatos, a polling firm in Ecuador, expects President Rafael Correa to handily win a May 7 referendum to overhaul the countryās judicial system. Chief among the ten ballot proposals is the establishment of a temporary panelāto be replaced by a five-member council with a six-year mandateāthat will appoint top judges. Other measures on the ballot […]
This week the investment group definition created by investor publications over ten years ago claimed their identity as a defined face and voice in this weekās BRICS conference. The added āSā took the investor defined grouping past its investor created definition to include South Africa. While countries like Mexico, Turkey and Indonesia were likely better […]
Brazil this week joined a list of countries that can claim a link to senseless violence which sends chills among its innocent population and their children. Today Rio buried 12 of its youth who were murdered by a gunman yesterday at a school in a working class area of Rio de Janeiro. The gunman, Wellington […]
When it comes to scientific production in the new millennium, Brazil has gone from a minnow to a marlin. Science and technology investment tripled, from $10.6 billion in 2002 to $30 billion in 2009. The number of active researchers has burgeoned, as has the number of labs and refereed papers published. Brazilās inroads into cutting […]
An idea was floated by LEX at the FT.com by author Edward Hadas to have BRIC economies help with the European debt crisis by absorbing them into their own countries, namely Brazil could absorb its former colonial master, Portugal, and easily handle their debt in its large growing economy. In an Op-ed by the LEX […]
For much of the last four decades the FARC has its generated revenue to fight the Colombian government by trafficking drugs. In the 1990s the group gained more infamy by diversifying their sources of revenue to include high-profile kidnappings. While this didnāt change in the ānoughtiesā the FARC was badly whipped by the government, aided […]
This week our colleagues who study Latin America at CSIS issued a press briefing on President Obamaās Saturday trip to Latin America. Many Latin Americanists have taken to commenting on how this trip might change the shape of US policy towards Latin America focusing on a region of the world that has to compete with […]
The support once had for Mr. Gadhafi, even from Mr. Chavez, has seemed to have dwindled over the last few short weeks. While the sign still remains on the stadium, the once proud Hugo Chavez futbol stadium in Libya was recently renamed after the first martyrs to fall in Libyaās revolution. Attempts by Mr. Chavez […]
In a conference call last week, Brazilās Finance Minister Guido Mantega confirmed that Brazilās GDP grew 7.5 percent in 2010, the countryās highest rate of growth since 1986. Although this is hardly a surprise (the 7.5 figure was projected six months ago), that annual figure includes a laggard fourth quarter of 0.7 percent growth. However, […]
Cracks in the narrative between Latin Americaās populist and unpopular leftists and the wave of revolution in the Middle East is bubbling to the surface as pro-US fiefdoms and anti-US dictators all seems to be drowning under the popular movements taking hold of the entire Middle Eastern region. Like their European and American counterparts, leaders […]
By Sean Patrick Murphy One would think Dr. Strangelove was released after Fail Safe because it is an excellent parody. But it wasnāt: Dr. Strangelove came out earlier than Fail Safe in 1964. This was at the height of the cold war, with the Cuban missile crisis not too far from peoplesā minds. Stanley Kubrickās […]
Until recently, a quintile of Boliviaās citizenry could be found working outside the country. As a result of the global recession though, and specifically the ailing construction industry in Spain and the United States, Bolivians are returning home in droves, often after many years of informal work. Of course, Boliviaās economy has also suffered since […]
For generations the United States has claimed Latin America as its backyard, but as any good homeowner knows if you do not maintain your backyard you will learn to regret it. News this week on Chinaās official position as the second largest national economy made headlines as it beat out Japan for the second spot […]
Growth in the BRICs, while unrelated between the four countries, are often seen by outside investors as a group action where large and similar developing economies are currently booming to the point of overtaking the US and European economies by producing manufactured goods to the benefit of the entire world. The real benefit is lifting […]
David Frum, the former Bush speech writer and the creator of the phrase āThe Axis of Evilā made an interesting point during a panel discussion on Fareed Zakaria GPS this week. He said that last weekās meeting between Jintao and Obama was framed by the impression by many in the US believe that China has […]
A briefing in World Politics Review considers the impact of the growing mass of states in South America that are recognizing a Palestinian state. The trend started on December 3, when Lula officially recognized Palestinian independence. Since then, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, and Uruguay have followed suit. Peru and Paraguay are rumored to be […]
This monthās Atlantic magazine reports on use of hallucinogenics by indigenous groups in Peru.Ā Ayahuasca, a plant-based medicinal served as a drink, has been used by various peoples for centuries to treat a variety of maladies as well as for ceremonies. By reporterās account, taking the drink induces a very unpleasant physical reactionāāusually occasions some […]
In the New Year, all media outlets rush to make their predictions for the coming year. In reality, it is hard to predict the several natural disasters that characterised 2010, or the economic crisis that surprised the global economy in 2009 and 2008 and even recent tragedies like those in Arizona this past weekend which […]
On December 26, Boliviaās vice president announced a gas subsidy cut,Ā saving the government $380 million, but meaning a rise in fuel prices of 57-80 percent. Massive protests and street demonstrations followed, but the Morales government insisted that the move would be mitigated by cost of living subsidies to families and public employees. In the meantime, […]
Overview Brazil has long seemed poised to join China, Germany and the US as one of the few nations with influence that stretches far beyond its borders. Years from now, many historians may look back on 2010 as the year that Brazil at last turned the corner in its ascent as a global power. Brazil’s […]
Struggles over ever-more scarce natural resources are likely to be a theme in our future. The NYT recently posted a photo-essay documenting six topos affecting growth and climate change. The sixth deals with Brazil, and it is the most positive trend of the lot: Brazil is curbing deforestation. Government policies, put in place since 2004, […]
International headlines focused on Mexico yesterday as an attempt at stealing oil from one of PEMEXās pipelines resulted in 28 deaths and a town being covered in petrol and flames. According to sources, an organised gang made an attempt at stealing fuel directly from the pipeline in Puebla state, damaging 115 houses, and destroying completely […]
Wikileaks has dominated international headlines with information haemorrhaging out of secret US files with an often muted result, some bad results and in some cases, even positive developments. While much of the information are things that journalists and analysts likely knew already, the interest in seeing secret documents in their original form has captured the […]
After the latest G8/G20 meetings in Korea and the recent thumping Mr. Obama received in the latest elections, the importance of China, its exchange policy and the rest of the BRICs are being relied upon to keep the global economy moving, while Ireland is saved, the US sorts itself out slowly and the young Ms. […]
A piece in this weekās Economist begs caution on regulation of for-profit microlenders. The article mainly concerns the sprouting number of microfinance institutions (MFIS) in Bangladesh and India, but Peru also warrants mention. Many MFIS’ in India, like the ones in Mexico, charge seemingly high interest rates on their small loans. The Economist generally defends […]
An emerging pop culture fad? Hardly. As the death toll rises from the cholera outbreak in Haiti, the handshake, involving all those potentially unwashed digits, is being replaced by the elbow bump as the preferred greeting among Haitians. Practitioners include President Rene Preval, who has been spotted knocking ābows with his staff. It is a […]
When assessing economic problems in modern economies, there are always anomalies to the norm that are usually overlooked by policymakers or are addressed after an overwhelming example that brings attention to solutions that were previously not recognised or simply ignored. SMEās, or Small and Medium Sized Enterprises often create grassroots solutions or work between economic […]
After a runoff election at the beginning of this month, Dilma Rousseff and Jose Serra take their campaigns to a final vote in order to capture the support and become the successor to one of Brazilās most popular Presidents, Ignacio āLulaā da Silva. The October 3rd runoff election surprised some as Jose Serra gained enough […]
Nestor Kirchner, 60, has died from a massive heart attack while at his home in El Calafate, in the Patagonian region of Argentina. President from 2003-2007 is often credited with stabilizing Argentina in the wake of its financial crisis in 2002, and restoring growth to the country. His wife, Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, the current president […]
This month Toronto, Canada hosted the Latin American Studies Associationās annual conference, LASA 2010, where academics from all disciplines came to give hundreds of lectures on their latest research and meet others who have contributed to research and teaching on Latin America from all around the world. This yearās conference focused on Crisis, Response, and […]
Earlier this week, President Rene Preval confirmed that Haiti was suffering its first cholera epidemic in a century. Over 1,500 people have been reported, and 142 people have died, as of Friday morning. The outbreak, which is causing some Haitians to die in a matter of hours from extreme dehydration, is centered in the Lower […]
In just a few hours, the first of the 33 trapped miners in the collapsed mine near Copiapo, Chile will be raised from the ground via the newly invented mechanisms and one of three drilled holes created to solve Chileās latest crisis. The year 2010 has not been an easy one for Chileans with a […]
Today Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa became the sixth Latin American writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Mario Vargas Llosa is more than a trenchant novelist, he is a political icon who represents just how far Latin America has come; from strident leftist to pragmatic conservative. His novels are deeply critical of a […]
Brazilianās took to the polls this past weekend at the end of Lulaās Presidency in order to elect the next Lula, Mrs. Dilma Rousseff of the PT-Brazilian workers party or to adopt the right of centre, Jose Serra who is close to former President Cardoso, seen by many as the architect of Brazilās successful economic […]
Last week was a big win for Colombiaās new President, Juan Manuel Santos. FARCās second in command and ideological leader was killed last week when intelligence gathered from a FARC fighter lead the Colombian Army and Air Force to target the underground base of FARCās second in command, Mono Jojoy. Since the rescue of Ingrid […]
As the ballots are counted from Sunday’s parliamentary elections, it appears that Venezuelaās opposition has made critical gains. Turnout was high, and ChĆ”vezās United Socialist Party, is believed to have gained a majority of seats. Still, two-thirds is the magic threshold for ChĆ”vez to enact further reforms to strengthen his power. Short of that, ChĆ”vezās […]
A recent piece in the Economist gushes over Embrapa, the public company whose āgreen revolutionā has helped turn Brazil into an agricultural powerhouse. Though it presents a one-sided view of GM crops, whose effect on health and livelihoods is a cause for deep concern, the article gives an excellent overview of Brazilās rise as a […]
This year, and especially this week, the Bicentennials took place for Chile, and the Bicentennial for Mexico and the 100 anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina also celebrated their Bicentennials earlier this year, marking not only the freedom from Spanish rule 200 years ago, but also a push by Latin Americans to […]
Earlier today Brazil and the UK completed a deal to provide the South American country withĀ Ā£2.9 million in ships and frigates. The deal will be a boon to BAE Systems, the British company which has been awarded the contract. The largest arms company in Europe, BAE is expected to experience diminishing profits as a result […]
Alvaro Uribe has kept a storied tradition aliveāthe post presidential appointment as āDistinguished Scholarā at Georgetownās School of Foreign Service. A week ago SFS announced the appointment. Uribe is expected to lead seminars and āinterface,ā allowing GU students to gain a better appreciation of the nexus between theory and policy. Such appointments are standard fare […]
Where do Middle Easterners fit in the cultural society and economic system of the Americas? This question has become part of much debate recently due to the Islamic Cultural Centre being built close to Ground Zero in New York and the response by many in the US that believe that it is an affront to […]
Itās the kind of article that will drive the Rio tourism board to litigate. In a new post, the Economistās Gulliver blog reinforces Brazilās outsized reputation for crime and murder. Just how bad is Brazil, according to the piece? Worse than even Mexico, the new global poster-child for murder and mayhem. The article is mostly […]
Private equity fund 3G agreed to buy Burger King on Thursday, in a deal valued at $4 billion. That makes 3G, controlled by a group of well-heeled Brazilians, the buyer of the most expensive fast food chain ever sold. 3G is said to be interested in expanding the burger giantās presence in Latin America and […]
Anyone who has entered Mexico Cityās Benito Juarez airport is met by a security check that requires the newly landed passenger to press a button for a traffic signal, which is permanently fixed in the airport terminal. Red means you will be randomly searched, and greens means you can avoid that annoyance for the day. […]
Mental stability has become a top concern of those half a mile above the 33 trapped miners in northern Chile. One day after discovering they were alive, the primary calculations began. Four months: thatās how long it is going to take to rescue the miners. After President PiƱera dropped a few hints that they werenāt […]
In a recent interview Manuel Zelaya, the ex-president of Honduras, singled out Brazil, and specifically Lula, for keeping him alive after being ousted in a military coup. āBrazil saved my lifeā said Zelaya, who now lives in exile in the Dominican Republic. āLula, Marco AurĆ©lio and Celso Amorim saved my life because they gave me […]
Thirty-three Chilean miners are miraculously alive, 17 days after being trapped in a collapsed shaft. President Sabastian Pinera reported the good news today, after rescuers lowered a probe into the mine, which was sent back with a note attached saying they were all fine. Apparently, they survived by burrowing a hole under their shelter to […]
Earlier this week the anthropologist and historian Lilia Schwarcz gave her impressions on contemporary Brazil in an interview for the New York Review of Books blog. As part of her conversation with Roger Darton, Schwarcz points out that, with 130 recognized gradations of color, the issue of race is far more complex in Brazil than […]
Americans made a hero of āSullyā Sullenberger when he was able to glide his plane gently after losing engine power at take off and landing in the water next to New York city. In that crash, while the plane sank, everyone survived. This week in Colombia a crash occurred on the island of San Andreas, […]
One of the most widely believed myths about the harms of marijuana is that it leads to the use of more dangerous drugs. Drug policy experts have debunked this claim and time again, but the āgateway theoryā still holds a certain amount of traction, not least because of the misinformation peddled by drug war proponents. […]
Almost eighteen months after it spread out of the rural state of Veracruz in Mexico and gripped North Americaās largest metropolis, the H1N1 āswine fluā pandemic is over and done. Thatās the ruling of World Health Organization. As it turns out, H1N1 was a rather benign strand of influenza, but it struck at an unexpected […]
In late July Haitian activists organized rallies in cities across the country to mark the 95th anniversary of the start of the US occupation of Haiti in 1915. Among the protestorsā concerns is the contingent of 11,000 uniformed UN personal ā including 9,000 military troops ā stationed in Haiti as part the United Nations Stabilization […]
The international community responded to Januaryās earthquake in Haiti with teams of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare experts. At first, the biggest problem to providing medical care to the hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors appeared to be a lack of electricity and inadequate sterilized space for surgery. As immediate infrastructure was addressed, many Haitians […]
Today marks the last day of a protest by the AwĆ”, one of Brazilās last remaining hunter gatherer tribes. The main message of the tribe is simple: we exist. The protest is largely in response to the comments made by the mayor’s office of nearby Ze Doca denying the existence of the tribe, which for […]
This past week was characterised by one major international news story and one minor one. The European Union and Canada gave notice to Iranian officials this week of their support for sanctions against Iran because its nuclear program. Canada was making a point of sounding off with the EU possibly due to Iranās ironic and […]
Playing to public fear over drugs and crime is a tried and tested formula for electoral success. With the presidential race heating up, one has to wonder if JosĆ© Serraās gung ho views on drug interdiction are driven by personal conviction or political calculus. To curb imports of illicit drugs, Serra has called for Brazil […]
As I highlighted in my last post, violent crime is peaking in Brazilās interior. A disturbing corollary to this trend is the high rate of targeted violence against indigenous communities. New data compiled by the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) for a report on attacks on indigenous peoples underscores the severity of the problem. As well […]
A vicious cold spell has gripped a large swath of South America, including parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. At least 175 people have died in these countries over the past fortnight, 27 in Argentina and 18 in Bolivia. Hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heaters are the direct causes in […]
Emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India have always been recipients of foreign aid from Europe and North America since the end of the Second World War and were the subjects of global development projects that often failed to bring BRICs and similar economies out of poverty and create sustained and viable growth. In […]
With the possible exceptions of soccer and samba, Brazilās global reputation is shaped more by its high rates of violent crime than anything else. Romanticized in popular films and culture, the countryās favelas are the most visible symbol of the issue. But according to the Map of Violence 2010, a new report from the SĆ£o […]
Apropos a readerās comment in the New York Times comment forum: Anyone notice that the leading nations in the World Cup all allow gay marriage or gay civil unions? Spain (marriage), the Netherlands (marriage), Uruguay (civil unions), and Germany (civil unions). I doubt that there’s any causal link here, but it at least shows that […]
More than 50 ādrug subsā have been seized by law enforcement from Ecuador to Mexico over recent months. Many of these vessels are considered āsemi submersibles,ā capable of travelling 5-10 meters below the waterās surface and carrying hundreds or thousands of pounds of drugs. At this depth, they tend to leave a surface wake, allowing […]
The biggest upset of this World Cup might not have been champion Spainās opening defeat to Switzerland. For many the tournamentās main shocker was that South Africa didnāt plunge into a cesspool of crime and chaos, an outcome feared by many pundits who doubted the countryās ability to hold an event of such magnitude. One […]
You can find some of the biggest futbol fans in Spain and Holland, and that was before either of them reached a World Cup final. Neither team has ever won the prestigious title and Spain, while being the current European champions, have never been to a World Cup final in their history. Holland reached the […]
A recent blog post from the Open Society Institute cites a staggering figure: Over 90% of Rio de Janeiroās homeless are addicted to crack. This figure is shocking, even for a city as beset by social problems as Rio. (Though reliable data on drug use and homeless populations in other major cities has proven difficult […]
Over the weekend FPās Josh Keating linked to a piece that quotes Lula as stating, with regards to criticism of the proposed Belo Monte dam, that no āgringo should stick their nose in where it does not belongā. Keatingās post reminded me of a recent article I came across in CIP citing a World Rainforest […]
America and Europe may be haggling over austerity vs. stimulus, but Latin America has smartly righted itself from the global financial crisis. An article in todayās New York Times states the return to growth has surprised even most government planners. In Brazil, for instance, growth could reach a brisk 7.3%; Mexicoās growth may be 5% […]
This blog has been posted in FPAās European Union Blog and Latin America Blog. Ā Ā The G20 started off where everyone expected, getting the fiscal houses in order of the United States and European Union with inputs from multinational financial institutions, the UK and as a mediator and G20 and between the BRICs, advanced […]
This blog has been posted in FPAās European Union Blog and Latin America Blog. Ā Ā Yesterday we discussed the opening of the G8 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario and some initial policy announcements and opening talks between the G8 leaders and invited diplomatic guests. Friday and Saturday morning saw the completion of the G8 talks […]
This post has been posted on FPAās European Union Blog and Latin America Blog. Ā Ā FPA.org and the European Union Blog and Latin America blog is proud to blog directly from Toronto and the G8 and G20 meetings in Canada this weekend. Rich Basas, who is one of the principal bloggers and writers for […]
In the May 31st blogpost on FPAās Latin America blog called: Voting for a New Colombia, we discussed the run-off election for Colombiaās Presidency between the recent Mayor of Bogota, Antanas Mockus and former Uribe Defence Minister, Juan Manuel Santos. While Mockus initially had a lot of support and managed to get enough votes to […]
With Brazil having already clinched a spot in the World Cup round of 16 and Portugal all but assured a place as well, Fridayās game between these two soccer powers doesnāt have the significance many of us anticipated when the match was announced last year. (The fixture was one of the first of this World […]
Known to some as soccer, and to others as footy, le foot, football, futebol and futbol, the sport that is seen by many as the only true international competition has opened with much fanfare in South Africa this past week. The World Cup has always been the greatest tournament worldwide, and is often called The […]
On Sunday, a Colombian military operation in the southeastern province of Guaviare rescued four prisoners, taken by the FARC 12 years ago. Among them were Luis Mendieta, a police general, and arguably the āhighest valueā prisoner the FARC had. Once an imposing guerilla force whose power challenged that of the Colombia government, the FARC has […]
A small collection of human rights story from the FPB network and beyond: And the clashes continue… For those of you living under a rock (or just caught up in World Cup fever), Kyrgyzstan is currently in the midst of some of the worst ethnic violence seen there in years. As ethnic Uzbeks flee from […]
Many parts of Latin America are struggling to recover after debilitating natural disasters. International attention has largely waned, if it even existed. Still, government and institutions havenāt buckled as many feared. The Haitian government now believes 230,000 people died from the January 12th earthquake, and one million were made homeless. A slow recovery now seems […]
This week Hilary Clinton will make her way to Latin America to attend the Organization of American Statesā (OAS) 40th General Assembly in Lima, Peru as well as make additional stops in Ecuador, Colombia and Barbados as well as have meetings with CARICOM. Despite adding a few FTAās over the last few years, the lack […]
Jaron van der Sloot, he of Natalie Holloway infamy, is the prime suspect in the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Lima, Peru. Yesterday Peruvian Criminal Police Chief Gen. CĆ©sar Guardia told reporters that they’ve launched an international manhunt for van der Sloot, now 22, in the Sunday slaying of 21-year-old Stephany Flores. On Sunday […]
Alvaro Uribe has received a great deal of criticism over his last few years in office from anti-trade advocates in the US, human rights groups and some of Colombiaās neighbours, especially Mr. Chavez, but despite this he was one of the most popular freely elected leaders in any country worldwide in the last 20 years. […]
Mount Pacaya began erupting yesterday, spewing volcanic rock and debris over parts of the capital, Guatemala City, located just 20 miles to the north. So far, one death is attributed to the volcano, and three children are also missing. President Ćlvaro Colom has declared a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of surrounding areas. […]
The year 2010 began with the West being comprised of untraditional economically weak states developing out of the US economic crisis that started in 2008. Since January, it has expanded into economically crippling other states as the Euro continues to plunge after a Trillion dollar bailout and Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy quickly try to […]
Jamaican police and military are hounding one of the most wanted drug dealers on earth, Christopher āDudasā Coke. After initially resisting call for his capture, three days ago Prime Minister Bruce Golding gave in to pressure from the United States, and ordered his capture for extradition on drug trafficking charges. He is widely known to […]
Sean Murphy of FPAās Global Film Review blog has posted yet another intriguing post on a documentary called Inside Guantanamo (2009) in which the director interviews those who work with Guantanamo detainees, including former prisoners there and the legal counsel for many current detainees in Guantanamo. With no official legal status of detaineeās being yet […]
If you cherish the environment donāt go to the GalĆ”pagos, thatās the message of TIMEās most recent Postcard. In 2008, an estimated 175,000 people visited the islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, a tenfold increase from 1980, and the permanent population has doubled to 30,000 since 2000. The human influx has brought invasive […]
OFAC authorizes more Cuban options (UPI) The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) did not authorize a single new service to do business with Cuba in 2009, but in 2010 has already expanded the list ofĀ authorized U.S. travel and remittance services allowed to do business with Cuba by 42, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. […]
Today and tomorrow the Spanish Presidency of the EU will be hosting the 2010Ā EU-Latin America SummitĀ in Madrid. Since 1999, the Summit has sought to engage Europe and Latin America in increased cultural and trade ties and create a defined relationship between the two regions on a permanent basis. Latin American and European economic interests between […]
The last summer created a great shift in the discussion on security and the nuclear issue worldwide. Protesters in Iran took to the street after a perceived action by President Ahmadinejad in fixing the elections in Iran to maintain himself in power with the backing of Iranās religious leaders. The popular protests in Iranās major […]
Lately music appears to be the only successful avenue for achieving greater US-Cuba exchange, and likewise for expressing critique of the government on the island. Something about this medium allows for greater flexibility on both counts. Silvio Rodriguez, the Cuban folk singer that has been called “the voice of the Cuban revolution” for his songs […]
Carbon credits are bought and sold to offset carbon emissions. Over the past five years the carbon credit market has gone from zilch to $300 billion, in anticipation of governmentās placing a tax on carbon emissions. The logic behind CCs is simple: those who surpass their state-mandated quota buy credits from parties whose emissions stay […]
Another important “mutual concerns” pro-engagement argument is presented by the New America Foundation’s Anya Landau French in a recent Havana Note post. The jist: future prevention/mitigation of disasters like the April 20 explosion (and ongoing spreading mess of an oil spill) of BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico is too important […]
We seldom post on GuantĆ”namo and the US detention facilities there because most times (as below), the relevant stories and issues have little to do with Cuba per se, other than the fact that the property lies on the island. But every so often, a note on it is necessary, as the area and the […]
It used to be the case that new technology in Latin America and abroad would be seen as a threat to the new regimes in the region and in similar oppressive governments worldwide. One story that stood out in my mind was the description of the feared Fax Machine, one that was kept under armed […]
Remember the multi-syllabic deprived days of 2006? I sure do, and I donāt think I am alone. A good many people seemed to despair when an American leader stood up in front of an audience only to throw out some obtuse generalization. Awkward phrases and K-5 conceptualizations were par for the course. Then Bill Clinton […]
An interesting, mostly below-the-radar note (for some reason this story had little traction in the brief window of its relevance, and I missed it entirely until now): from April 2009 to March 2010, Cubans that owned cars were allowed to import new cars from abroad as replacements. The idea was to get some of the […]
Chances are not great for Congress to unite for much of anything controversial in the current partisan environment. But Cuba legislation is making its way around, and we continue to watch its path. The House this week mulled legislation that would lift the travel ban and remove some obstacles to agricultural sales. In a hearing […]
Another month, another chance to move forward on the US-Cuba relationship… Progress seems to have stagnated lately, and April’s comments by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predict more of the same.Ā Clinton, speaking at the University of Louisville at the beginning of this month, answered a question from the press about Cuba by underlining the efforts […]
Just over a year ago the emergence of H1N1 stoked global hysteria; today it is all but forgotten. With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder, What lessons can be learned from the public health responses around the region? In considering this question I have focused on the regionās bookends, Mexico and Argentina. Mexico responded swiftly […]
Cuban voters have so far held over 21,800 assemblies to nominate candidates to the People’s Power Municipal Assemblies (local governments) for 2010 elections. The elections will be held tomorrow, and on May 2 where there will be a second round in the constituencies if none of those nominated wins over 50 percent of valid votes. […]
As the ash cloud ruins plans for many to attend the funeral in Poland and China becomes the next location which suffered from a major earthquake, Latin American leaders spent the last week and a half mostly in international summits in the region and in Washington DC. As a reflection of the regionās new found […]
To be honest, I do not know much about the Cuba Business Bureau, and cannot vouch for it. Anyone out there that can? Please feel free to leave info in the comment section. The group is new to me as of today. I do know that the Cuba Business Bureau conducted a survey, the results […]
In a previous post, we mentioned RaĆŗl Castro’s April 4 speech to the Youth Communist League (UJC) in Cuba, focusing on its discussion of regime continuity in the coming years. But the speech merits revisiting in order to zero in on another topic: economic reform. RaĆŗl’s discussion covered a number of familiar topics—the moral imperative […]
(Photo: Inside Havana) Cuba expands its limited free-market experiment (Los Angeles Times) Cuban barbershops and beauty salons are now joining a small but growing group of free-market entrepreneurs on the island: the government is allowing owners of these businesses to set their own prices for services rendered—according to the market, of course—and pocket their revenues, […]
The Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL) puts out two highly relevant electronic publications that readers might find helpful and interesting. One, the Chronicle on Cuba, is a monthly compilation of top news items on Cuba, collected from diverse sources.Ā The other, FOCALPoint: Canada’s Spotlight on the Americas, is a broader look at important current issues […]
A thrilling article in this weekās TIME recounts the effort to safely remove highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Chile. The spread of HEU across the globe is just one more cold war legacy that threatens blowback. In order to prevent states with nuclear ambitions from developing their weapons, the nuclear club decided to give HEU […]
{Preface: In my penultimate post I discussed the trends that may allow Argentina and Chile to upend the regionās longstanding natural resource curse. I then pointed to one notable exceptionāBolivia. In response to that piece I received a very pithy comment from Roque Planas, an editor at Latin Dispatch. My aim in this post is […]
Senator John Kerry (Democrat – Massachusetts), as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has put a temporary hold on all US democracy promotion programs for Cuba while the State Department conducts a review of these programs so that the Committee can investigate their effectiveness. This is a review that many experts have hoped for, […]
Last night the Mexican state of Baja California was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, about 10km below the surface at the epicentre of the quake. The closest major city of Mexicali was hit hardest by the quake, albeit only one victim was reported as of this morning local time. The quake was felt as […]
Sean Murphy of FPA’s Global Film Review blog has posted yet another intriguing post on a documentary called Crude (2009) which details evidence regarding a lawsuit against Chevron in Ecuador’s Amazon region and the difficulties in achieving justice for those victims of toxic dumping in the affected region in Ecuador. Like judicial decisions in the […]
In recent posts we’ve discussed the future of Communist Cuba after the current generation of leaders is gone, and what might be expected of the next generation. These questions are on the top of the minds of current leadership, and so this weekend’s conference of the Union of Communist Youth fit smoothly into that context: […]
For all the hubbub surrounding President Evo Morales socialist agenda, one element of his political project seems largely overlookedārevanchism. On March 23, Morales headed Boliviaās Sea Day Celebration, commemorating the end of War of the Pacific, which resulted in Chile annexing half of Bolivia, including its Pacific coast. The feteās recently adopted sloganāāMotherland or Death: […]
Despite predictions that recent polarizing events would freeze the slow steps of US-Cuba rapprochement, the last week or so has shown more persistence on both sides to overcome differences in favor of continuing productive dialogue on relevant issues. US business representatives and Cuban tourism officials met in CancĆŗn last week for three days to discuss […]
The “vicious circle” is, as Dalia Acosta and others have written, a pattern that has been repeated over and over during the history of Cuba in the last decades: the seemingly inevitable cycle of relaxing and tightening among the governments of Cuba, the United States and the European Union.Ā The reasons for the vicious circle are […]
These are actually by no means “the” answers. But here are mine: Are Communist Party officials a bit overoptimistic when they say, as they frequently do, that “the future of the Revolution is guaranteed”? Overoptimistic yes, but completely off base, no. Many Cubans beyond the so-called “dissident” community are frustrated with the Cuban political and […]
Supporters and opponents alike frequently look to the Cuban regime with the same impression: the current political cadre is aging without indicating a clear method of succession. The average age of RaĆŗl Castro’s cabinet is over 70. Fidel Castro is 83, andĀ RaĆŗl is 78. The general sense that the regime might successfully pull off a […]
The U.S. Treasury Department has made a rule change that it says will help people in Iran, Sudan, and Cuba communicate with the outside world. An amendment made this week will make it possible for American companies to acquire general licenses for exportation ofĀ personal Internet-based communications services, such as instant messaging and chat, to these […]
The last few weeks have been an intriguing one for Latin America. With the release of a report showing an increase of 150% in weapons purchases by Latin American governments over the last 5 years, US officials being murdered in Mexicoās drug war, Lula visiting the Middle East and Medvedev confirming a trip to Argentina […]
Excerpts from a European Parliament resolution passed on March 10, 2010: The European Parliament… strongly condemns the avoidable and cruel death of the dissident political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo after a hunger strike of 85 days, and expresses its solidarity and sympathy with his family; Condemns the pre-emptive detention of activists and the governmentās attempt […]
As the move toward energy conservation takes hold, lithium for use in ion batteries is destined to play a significant role in the energy equation of the next generation. From 2003-2007, global demand for lithium carbonate doubled, and realizing current hybrid car technologies will require access to massive stocks of lithium, which is largely harvested […]
Brazil’s President Lula is a largely beloved figure, in his country and abroad: Barack Obama is widely quoted as having told Lula, upon meeting at the G20 summit in London in April 2009, that the Brazilian leader was “the most popular politician on earth.” But even Lula appears to have some issues that he cannot […]
No greater nightmare would have been imagined by the technocrats in Brussels when forming the guidelines for expanding the EU than one of the new and relatively unprepared nations joining the EU becoming a candidate for removal from the Union. All nations in applying for EU membership had to meet specific economic stability levels to […]
Mari Carmen Aponte (shown above right) has been down this road before. This time it does not look like she is backing down—yet. Senate Republicans (including Senator Jim DeMint, above left) are blocking approval of the Obama administration’s nomination of Aponte to the post of Ambassador to El Salvador, claiming concern over her past ties […]
This week, NAFSA’s Senior Advisor for Public Policy, Vic Johnson, commented on Barack Obama’s words before a Town Hall in Istanbul, Turkey last year. There, President Obama had made a statement on the great benefit of exchanges between young people across country boundaries, saying: “Simple exchanges can break down walls between us, for when people […]
In the face of machismo and homophobia on the island and in much of the Hemisphere, and despite an international community that may be tending more towards tolerance of LGBT individuals but is still far from fully accepting these into society, Cuba—as we’ve noted previously—has a surprisingly high level of institutional support for the gay, […]
Brazil is set to institute wide-ranging tariffs against the United States in 28 days. Dry milk products, cars, corn, wheat, boats, patentsāover 100 goods in allāwill be included. Last year Brazil argued before the WTO that US cotton subsidies to the tune of $3 billion were āarchaicā and constituted unfair protection; the WTO agreed, authorizing […]
Cuba offers payback plan for frozen bank accounts (Reuters) After freezing hundreds of millions of foreign businesses’ dollars in Cuban banks over the last 1-2 years, Havana is now offering a 2 percent interest rate and a five-year plan to pay these funds out to the companies that are owed. One loophole-sounding proviso: the payments […]
How can we interpret the new government measure Havana disclosed on Saturday, which requires visitors to the island to buy health insurance? The measure states: FIRST: For entry into the country, all travelers, foreigners and Cuban overseas residents are required to possess a travel insurance policy, covering medical expenses, issued by an insurance entity recognized […]
One of the most interesting historical agreements in the last few years among most Latin American states was signed last month, albeit without the signatures of the Americas partners of the US and Canada, and with a strong point being made by Latin America towards Falklands oil and the UK. Recently Latin American leaders, especially […]
Chile has weathered the earthquake well by most accounts, but little credit has gone to outgoing president Michelle Bachelet. The most pointed critiques center on her hesitation to deploy the military to Concepcion, which fell prey to rampant looting shortly after the quake. Instead the tragedy has renewed debate on Chileās past. In an op-ed […]
The newest issue of theĀ Economist falls into the more and more common “honeymoon” rhetoric trap in its discussion of current developments in US-Cuba relations: an article dated today is entitled, “Honeymoon cancelled: A familiar mistrust descends.” The analysis is lacking two distinctions: one, the distinction between public perception and government intent/activity; and two (again), between […]
Fascinating. But apparently quite true. In 1959 or so, Fidel as new Commander-in-Chief in Cuba had all golf courses on the island razed butĀ one 9-hole course in Havana and an 18-hole course in Varadero. Following in his socialist footsteps much more recently, Venezuela’sĀ Hugo ChĆ”vez announced that he would shut down luxury golf courses in that […]
Inflammatory phrases like “Havana’s human rights hell” and “11 million Cubans enslaved for the last 50 years” are just that—inflammatory. They do nothing toĀ encourage any sort of international understanding or change on the part of the Cuban regime. Nor do theyĀ advance the cause of detente between the United States and Cuba, or indeed, Cuba and […]
The death last week of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the hunger-striking Cuban prisoner, has proven to be a international issue of grand proportions, and Havana is stubbornly pushing back against the waves of pressure from friends and foes abroad. On Wednesday, authorities arrested or detained at least 30 recognized dissidents in order to prevent them from […]
Early this morning at 3.35AM near one of Chileās major cities of Conception, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country. The effect of the quake destroyed many of Chileās historic buildings and other structures in the capital Santiago de Chile. The main highway linking the north and south of the country has reportedly been greatly […]
This was a week of international attention for Cuba. On Tuesday,Ā Orlando Zapata Tamayo—a 42-year-old plumber imprisoned in 2003 who was serving a 36-year sentence for disobedience of the government, among other charges—died in prison after an 85-day hunger strike in protest of inhumane prison conditions. His death drew condemnation from the United States, Canada, Spain […]
Meeting in Cancun (which has oddly become quite the host of international meetings despite its gringo-kitsch aesthetics), 32 Latin American nations have decided to form a new organization to advance the interests of the Americasāincluding Cuba, excluding the United States and Canada. President CalderĆ³n was quick to herald the move, stating, āWe will strengthen our […]
According to a press release from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota introduced the bill H.R. 4645 to the House today with bipartisan co-sponsorship from 30 other members of Congress. The bill, which is also known as the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act, would not […]
High-level U.S.-Cuba talks on migration did occur on Friday, and the five-hour talks were open and frank. State Department officials called for the release of detained U.S. contractor Alan Gross. The Cuban side listened, though without indicating how they would proceed. Cuban officials brought up their own demand for the release of the Cuban Five. […]
Tensions are rising between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falklands Islands, located 300 miles off Argentinaās coast. The row has to do with the imminent arrival of a drilling rig, the Ocean Garden, in the service of British firms, to explore for oil and gas in the waters around the islands. The frigid south […]
The AP ran a story today titled, “US-Cuba immigration talks under cloud of mistrust.” The course of the article makes the current US-Cuba relationship and future prospects look pretty dismal. But we had always expected progress to be slow, and mutual recriminations do not disappear overnight. I, for one, am not discouraged. Still, one cannot […]
The U.S. State Department announced today that its highest-ranking envoy yet (under the Obama administration) will travel to Cuba to participate in fresh talks on migration issues. The spokesman’s office reported: U.S. and Cuban representatives will meet in Havana to discuss implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. The discussions will focus on how best to […]
This February 14, the Chinese New Year (based on the lunar calendar and marking the arrival of spring) was celebrated in Havana with performances by dancers and students of martial arts and other artistic displays in a celebration sponsored by the Havana Historian’s Office and the Cuban School of Wu Shu, Havana’s martial arts school. […]
Completely unrelated to U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations (or lack thereof), Cuban imports of U.S. agricultural products—exempted from the 48-year embargo since the year 2000—declined by 26 percent last year, from a peak of $710 million in 2008 to $528 million in 2009. The United States remains the largest seller of food to Cuba. American analysts judge […]
Republican Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Florida) is one of the staunchest congressional supporters of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. In a noon conference today, Diaz-Balart announced that he would not run again in his Florida election district: he will retire from politics and return to practicing law. In that context, he said, he would work […]
FPA blogger Richard Basas discusses COHA’s recent article—“No ‘Common Policy’ as Europe Grapples over its Future Ties to Cuba“—in this post on the Latin America blog. He addresses the difficulty the EU faces in adopting a single policy toward Cuba when its member states have diverse levels of connection to the island: Spain, which has […]
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs recently published an interesting article online discussing the EU policy towards Cuba, and its effectiveness in balancing trade, human rights and US-EU policy regarding Castroās Cuba. COHA research associate Evgenij Haperskij points out that the EUās āCommon Policyā towards Cuba has suffered from the same problems as many policies in […]
Laura Chinchilla was elected president in Costa Ricaās election on Sunday. A former justice minister and vice president, Ms. Chinchilla nabbed 47% of the vote, easily outpacing her campaign rivals. Long known as a halcyon enclave amidst the poverty and lawlessness of Central America, Costa Rica has fell victim to its geography of late. Crime […]
We say this every year. But like the stubbornly optimistic Chicago Cubs fan (which I also happen to be), we’ll say it again: 2010 could be the year. This year we could see further change in U.S. policy toward Cuba, starting with opening travel. The Congressional push to open up Cuba for travel by U.S. […]
It is the reverse of what might be expected: the oil-rich, OPEC-member country Venezuela will be counseled through its energy crisis by the small island nation of Cuba, which is renowned for its blackouts and imposed rationing of electricity amid energy shortages of its own. Caracas, which supplies the bulk of Cuba’s oil supplies, turned […]
Earlier this week, Havana announced a two-month amnesty for gun owners across the countryĀ to register their unlicensed guns and thus (ideally, but probably not actually) eliminate the illegal gun culture in the country. Today, perhaps on a related bent to curb illegality in all its forms and better account for the true situation in the […]
Today, Cuba declared a two-month amnesty for unlicensed gun owners—an implicit acknowledgment of the presence of an illegal underground market in Cuba, since very few individuals beyond active military personnel and state security agents are legally allowed to even possess weapons. As the Associated Press reports: “Even most police officers are required to leave their […]
Havana is not alone in its judgment that the Obama administration has not done enough in its first year to achieve rapprochement. Analysts have been voicing their dissatisfaction in connection with the end of year one: the Center for International Policy’s critique sums up the main complaints that have been circulating. Over-arching thesis: “Obama is […]
The date has been set: on February 19, the second round of U.S.-Cuba immigration talks will take place in Havana. Recall that the first session took place last July in New York, and the follow up discussions were postponed in December. According to the New York Times, Cuban officials aim to negotiate an agreement with […]
With a revival of aid and interest in Haiti post-earthquake and another round of bickering from Latin Americaās left wing leaders accusing the US of occupying Haiti in their aid efforts, the rest of the Americas and the world have taken to sending support and aid to Haiti, running collection campaigns and rescue teams to […]
Perhaps even more than Cubans would like to see normalization of relations with the United States, they would like to see full normalization of relations with Cuban emigrants—the friends and family members who have moved abroad but maintain connections to the island, and oftentimes send money and goods back to those who remain. For years […]
Amidst the horror, criticism, and yes, punditry, only cursory attention has been paid to the forces that made Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, even before the earthquake. Haitiās woes were not a foregone conclusion: over two centuries ago it became the second independent country in the Americas. As a colony Haiti accounted […]
In the first days following the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, American media failed the public by misreporting or omitting entirely Cuba’s involvement in the relief efforts. Only two mainstream media outlets reported on Cubaās response. One was Fox News, which claimed (incorrectly) that among the neighboring Caribbean countries providing aid, Cuba was absent. The other […]
(Story below from AFP) US and Cuban experts are teaming up to try to save the Cuba home where Ernest Hemingway lived for more than two decades and penned his classic “The Old Man and the Sea,” official media said Wednesday.Ā Cuba’s National Patrimony office chief Margarita Ruiz inked an agreement with the private US Finca […]
This week Havana will hold the fifth Cuban Conference on Sexual Education, Orientation and Therapy, organized by the National Center of Sex Education (CENESEX) under Mariela Castro. Ms. Castro, notably, is the daughter of Raul and niece of Fidel Castro, and an outspoken rights advocate on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual Cubans. In […]
Canada keeps a much lower profile in the hemisphere than the outspoken United States; perhaps it is the simple comparison to Washington which allows it to maintain largely friendly relations with every government in the West. Still, it is interesting that Cuba’s two large northern neighbors would have such very different relationships with Havana. One […]
Welcome to the Foreignpolicyblogs.com blog, the latest addition to the Foreign Policy Blogs network.
The death last week of 26 patients in Cuba’s largest psychiatric hospital has stirred up considerable controversy on the island. Such a high number is extremely rare, but the cause is even less common on a Caribbean island—cold weather. More specifically, Boyeros, the Havana neighborhood where the hospital in located, experienced “prolonged low temperatures that […]
Early estimates place the death toll around 50,000 in Haiti, and another 3 million Haitians are feared to be injured or homeless. No one really knows, and casualties could rise if aid efforts are inefficacious. Several impediments are complicating aid delivery. Aid started arriving hours after the quake, but has just started to trickle out. […]
Few people are unaware of the earthquake to hit Haiti on Tuesday evening and information about the number of victims and difficulties in getting aid and assistance to Haiti in time in order to free those trapped under rubble, to give food and water and to give medical treatment is coming out by the minute. […]
The White House announced today that Cuba has opened its airspace—an area from which U.S. aircraft are usually restricted—for medical evacuation flights from Haiti. “We have coordinated with the Cuban government for authorization to fly medical evacuation flights from the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Miami, Fla., through Cuban airspace,” a spokesman said. This […]
David Sussman of FPA’s Venezuela blog reports on Cuban (and other) doctors fleeing Venezuela over the past year. Cuban doctors in Venezuela, he says, are overworked and underpaid under the government-established health project MisiĆ³n Barrio Adentro. Recently, seven such doctors paid bribes to Venezuelan and Cuban officials in order to secure a safe departure from […]
Yesterday evening, as Haiti was rocked by a devastating 7.0 earthquake and a number of further damaging aftershocks, a tsunami warning was issued to Jamaica and Cuba. Cuban authorities evacuated some residents as a precaution. In the end, no tsunami resulted and these islands remain safe, but the destruction and loss of life in Haiti […]
Martin Redrado was always an economist of great interest. In his first weeks in office I was lucky enough to see Mr. Redrado give a talk at the LSE on the many economic struggles faced by Argentina and Argentinaās central bank since 2001. A few key points were made at the beginning of his term […]
Santeria, a syncretic religion mixing Catholic and West African religious elements, is common in Cuba. Some sources estimate that nearly 80% of the population consults with practitioners of religions with West African roots, including Santeria. As is customary, a panel of Afro-Cuban Santeria priests convened on New Year’s Eve and the first day of 2010 […]
Journalists and analysts covering U.S.-Cuba developments are finding reason over the past few weeks to turn to the catchphrase, “The honeymoon is over.” AFP, CNN and Trinidad and Tobago Express (to name a few) have all published these words since January 6. Below, CNN analyzes the shift over the last year in Fidel and Raul’s […]
Every so often a story of a unique nature, crossing many different previously unrelated countries and debates arises when studying Latin America and globalisation. Colombia has now become one of the destinations for migrants who wish to go to the US, but originally coming from Africa, as opposed to from the rest of Latin America. […]
Itās hard to resist presidential decree. Yesterday, after calling for his resignation, President Cristina FernĆ”ndez de Kirchner issued a decree to remove the governor of Argentinaās Central Bank, MartĆn Redrado, from his post. The impasse has been brewing for some time, coming to a head this week. Kirchner wanted Redrado to devote $6.6 billion in […]
Dr. Julia Sweig, the Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin American Studies and Director for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, will be at a Foreign Policy Association-sponsored event on January 13, 2010 at Grupo Santander, speaking on her recently published book, Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know. We’ve referred […]
Following the botched Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Northwest Airlines flight into Detroit, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced extra screening measures on Sunday.Ā The new security measures call for inspecting baggage and patting down U.S.-bound passengers from four countries that the U.S. government considers state sponsors of terrorism, and 10 other “countries of interest.” […]
On January 5, 2000, the U.S. government decided to send 6-year-old EliĆ”n GonzĆ”lez back to his family in Cuba. After a dangerous boat trip from Cuba to Florida—which his mother did not survive and he completed in the end on an inner-tube—EliĆ”n in 1999 became a controversy between the United States and Cuba: should he […]
Cuba’s Tropicana nightclub marks 70th anniversary (Reuters) The Tropicana, Havana’s pre-revolution international celebrity haunt, celebrated its 70th anniversary on December 30, its future bright as a money-maker for the Cuban government. Under Fidel Castro, most such establishments in Cuba were closed during the 1960s. But the Tropicana, with its scantily-clad female dancers in feathers and […]
Jorge Castaneda is a policymaker and professor of great interest who writes about Mexico and Latin America as a whole. During my time working in Washington DC, it seemed like he put off many policymakers inside the Beltway during his time as Mexicoās Foreign Minister as part of the Fox Administration from 2000 to 2003. […]
After the detention in Cuba this month of a U.S. government contractor distributing cell phones and laptops, Congress has called new attention to the secretive pro-democracy program that ballooned under the George W. Bush administration and funded this contractor’s mission on the island. House Representative Howard Berman (D-California) and Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) in particular […]
The twilight of 2009 gave cause to celebrate for gay rights activists in Latin America. Same-sex marriage was legalized in Mexico City ten days ago to campaignersā chants of āyes we can.ā In a separate motion the city assembly also sanctioned adoption by gay couples. Then, in Ushuaia, Argentinaās southernmost city, Alex Freyer and JosĆ© […]
The holiday season is less of an affair in Cuba than elsewhere: only in 1990 did the regime remove references to atheism from its constitution, and it was not until 1998—after Pope John Paul II visited the island and met with Fidel—that December 25 was restored as a national holiday. Still, New Year’s Eve (tonight) […]
Following a Juanes concert in Havana this year and a more recent Kool and the Gang performance there, Carlos Varela—sometimes known as the Cuban Bob Dylan—is the latest example of the musical and cultural exchanges that have been allowed to expand under the Obama administration. At the highest levels of government, relations remain strained between […]
Above: a report on the exchange this month between the Pope and the new Cuban ambassador to the Vatican. Interesting fact: the U.S. ambassador in the Holy City is also Cuban. Miguel DĆaz, a well-respected Catholic theologian born in Cuba, was named by the Obama administration earlier this year.
As the U.S. band Kool and the Gang played in Havana this weekend, RaĆŗl Castro made his annual address to the Cuban Councils of State and Ministers. Many had looked forward to the former event as the most recent of several cultural exchanges between the United States and Cuba that indicate improving ties between the […]
Every year at about this time gadflies of the region indulge in the publication of the LatinobarĆ³metro poll. The survey chronicles opinion on a spate of questions among 18 Latin American nations. This year (the survey focus changes a bit every year) views on democracy and the free market formed the basis of pollsterās questions. […]
Even as many foreign partners have seen their funds in Cuba frozen and had great trouble this year transferring profits and funds abroad, they seem to be sticking around. In July 2008, the government said there were 246 foreign investment projects in the country; now state media reports 258 joint venture and other investment projects […]
Above, see the full Great Decisions Television episode on Cuba from this fall. Overview Cuba has had a difficult year as its economy suffered from (1) the lingering effects of three hurricanes in 2008 and (2) the strain that continuing global economic downturn has had on state coffers as exports and foreign investment declined. The […]
U.S. President Barack Obama has been the inspiration for a number of Fidel Castro’s “Reflections,” which run in Cuba’s state-run press regularly. Castro has praised Obama for his efforts to reform healthcare, questioned his commitment to improving relations with Cuba, and recently, called his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize “a cynical act.” For decades, […]
The U.S. State Department announced that a government contractor working in Cuba distributing free cell phones and laptops has been arrested by Cuban authorities.Ā The detainee was employed by a subcontractor of Development Alternatives Inc., which in 2008 won a government contract to “help the U.S. government implement activities in support of the rule of law […]
Below, follow-up footage from CBS on Cuba’s Bastion 2009, the nation-wide military preparedness exercises this month. Watch CBS News Videos Online
Two major themes in 2009 captured the headlines of Latin America over the last year. The first major issue was the debate between the leftists and the more centre-right wing governments within the region. The flare up came amongst the conflict that overtook the government of Honduras in 2009 and the approach different larger powers […]
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948: annually on this date, countries around the globe honor it, the first global iteration of human rights. In Havana today, two smallĀ peacefulĀ marches of Cubans commemorated the date, only to have their ranks broken up by an angry […]
The jailing of the so-called “Cuban Five” is considered by Cuba to be one of the most egregious offenses committed by the United States against their nation. The five men accused by the United States of being Cuban spies (and then sentenced and jailed) are heroes in Cuba, where supporters demand their release, saying that […]
CNN reports on the issue of racism in Cuba and the written exchange last week between African-American leaders and Cuban intellectuals, with words from Cubans en la calle.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, on his tour of Asia this week, stopped in Laos, Vietnam, and Japan. In the latter country he appealed to Tokyo for support in Cuba’s relations with the United States. Rodriguez told his Japanese counterpart, Kastuya Okada, that many things had changed with Obama’s rise to the U.S. presidency, and […]
A second round of migration talks, slated to take place in Havana this month, has been pushed back to February, drawing out what has already been a slow process of re-engagement between the United States and Cuba. The U.S. State Department claims that the delay was “at the Cuban government’s request.” Meanwhile, a senior Cuban […]
Andres Oppenheimer of the Miami Herald wrote an intriguing pieceĀ recently on the splash effect of the coup, or crisis, or whatever term least offends someone of Hondurasā new leadership and recent election, and how the major powers in Latin America have tried unsuccessfully to remedy the situation. Oppenheimer argues that the US, Brazil and the […]
Long thought to be a volatile, potentially destructive force in liberalizing economies, capital flows are curtailed through a variety of taxes, limits or deposit requirements. Such capital controls serve as a kink, allowing policymakers a freer hand to manage their economies. Brazil recently initiated one such measure, a 2% tax on the purchase of Brazilian […]
A group composed of African-American scholars, actors, writers and others—many of whom have typically sympathized with Cuban leadership—released a statementĀ this week calling upon the Cuban state to grant black Cubans the same rights as it does other citizens. The statement, signed by individuals such asĀ Princeton Professor Cornel West, actress Ruby Dee Davis, film director Melvin […]
Today, Nick Miroff of Global Post explored the question that has many following US-Cuba policy worried: who will benefit if the US lifts travel restrictions to Cuba—the Cuban government or ordinary Cubans? Two anecdotal pieces of evidence put him on the side of those that believe the travel ban should be lifted because it would […]
Human Rights Watch released a report recently called “New Castro, Same Cuba“—an update on the human rights situation in Cuba. Interestingly, the Cuban state does not allow Human Rights Watch representatives to visit the island, but HRW claims that it did successfully send investigators to fact-find for this report. The New York Times shares two […]
The Cuban Bishops’ Conference has just announced the launch of their own blog, www.creerencuba.org (“Believing in Cuba”), a space for Catholics to “enrich their experience of God” through the Internet. Reverend Jose Felix Perez indicated that this blog was a way for the Church in Cuba to acknowledge the advancement of digital culture and its […]
A interesting article from the Brookings Institutionās Latin America Initiative was published online today called Fiscal Policy Rules and Latin America: Lessons from the Crisis. The article makes the point that for much of Latin America, with the exception of Mexico, has fared well despite the latest global economic crisis. A region that often has […]
JosĆ© āPepeā Mujica was pronounced the victor of Uruguayās run-off election soon after polls closed on Sunday. With more than 97% of the ballots now tallied Mujica garnered more than 53% of the popular vote,Ā quite a coup for the 74-year-old former guerilla. Mujica served 14 years for his armed opposition to democratically elected governments in […]
An interesting turn of events has taken place in the last while. While the world has been facing a global recession, Latin America has been somewhat blessed with a pre-2008 oil boom that has yet to completely phase out, a super economy in the making which has fared relatively well over the last year, and […]
In a socialist state like Cuba, part of the grounding theory is that each citizen feels and responds to a moral imperative to work, to take only what he needs, and to help ensure that all are provided for (hopefully) equally. Applying this principle to the case of energy consumption then, one has the responsibility […]
Today’s post will let novelist Jose Manuel Prieto—a Cuban told by the government to leave the country in the 1980s—speak about the Cuban revolution in his own words, which are eloquent, insightful and straightforward. These passages were taken from his piece in The Nation today, “Travels by Taxi,” which itself is an adaptation of a […]
Over the past few days, an overlap between two of our Cuba blog posts has highlighted one of the most defining problems of the relationship between the United States and Cuba—a lack of communication. First, Cuba announced that it would hold military exercises nationwide in the coming week (see Wednesday’s post). Then U.S. President Barack […]
In the last few weeks, tensions in the Andean region grew as Chavez in one of his many speeches said that Venezuela should prepare for a hundred years of war, presumably referring to cold relations with its neighbour Colombia. The installation of seven future US military bases in Colombia brought much criticism as historically Latin […]
Today, YoaniĀ SĆ”nchez, the Cuban dissident blogger of world fame, posted unbelievable news. President Barack Obama had answered the seven questions she sent to him—questions that she said keep her awake at night wondering about the future of her country. That future, after all, is so closely intertwined with the choices made by the administrations in […]
The Cuban Defense Ministry announced that for November 26-28, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaria (Revolutionary Armed Forces), Interior Ministry and other national defense actors will perform nationwide military exercises. The tactical exercises will require, for example, troops movement, air flights, and explosions. Called “BastiĆ³n 2009,” the exercise is meant to ensure that Cuba is optimally prepared […]
The cover shown to the right is only the beginning of the problem that Miami-Dade County residents identified with the book Vamos a Cuba. The school board in that county decided to remove the book from schools because it contained omissions about life in Cuba under Castro. Happy Cuban children, children whoĀ “eat, work, and go […]
The press has recently alighted upon the subject of campaign funding: its origins and its direct effect on Congressional votes with respect to Cuba policy. A report released by the Washington, DC-based group called Public Campaign shows fairly straightforward timelines: lawmakers vote for easing restrictions on Cuba; those same lawmakers receive donations from a pro-embargo […]
U.S. Science Group Seeks Cooperation with Cuba (From Reuters) A group led by the head of the United States’ biggest science organization is in Cuba this week to discuss ways to rekindle scientific cooperation as U.S.-Cuba relations slowly improve under U.S. President Barack Obama.Ā Nobel Prize-winning scientist Peter Agre, president of the American Association for the […]
Anne Louise Bardach wrote a piece on “Fidel Castro’s Long Goodbye” for the Los Angeles Times today, including a note comparing the caudillo/dictator qualities of Fidel and Francisco Franco. Her interesting comment is excerpted here: Castro’s reluctant leave-taking—with its periodic near-finales—fits into a long tradition of Hispanic caudillos or dictators. Consider, for example, the life—and […]
Dr. Eduardo Torres Cuevas is a Cuban national treasure. A professor of history at the University of Havana and Director of the JosĆ© MartĆ National Library, he has received the National Literature Prize and the National Prize in Social Sciences of Cuba.Ā His work focuses on topics of Cuban independence, abolition, slavery, popular religion, freemasonry, and […]
November 10th brought much attention to Brazil as a blackout in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo shrouded Brazilians in darkness. The rest of the world on the other hand is starting to see Brazil in a new light as the BBC World Service reported the announcement of the first steps towards physically accessing massive […]
Havana held its 27th annual International Trade Fair last week (November 2-7), with 652 companies in attendance for a total of over 1,600 participants from 51 countries.Ā Spain, Canada, China, Russia and Venezuela boasted the largest delegations at the Fair, and Italy, Germany, Mexico and Brazil also had considerable presence. Meanwhile, CNN ran a piece on […]
Last week potatoes and peas were dropped from the monthly ration books that Cubans depend upon as one of their main sources of food. Not having these products in the ration books means, of course, that potatoes and peas will no longer be rationed. Islanders can buy as much of them as they want, if […]
House Representative Howard Berman (D-California) announced last week that the Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which he is chair, will hold an open hearing at 10 AM on November 18 on the topic “Is It Time to Lift the Ban on Travel to Cuba?“ The 47-member Committee includes representatives that are strongly in favor of […]
Recent visits to Havana by EU aid ministerĀ Karel de Gucht and by Spanish Foreign MinisterĀ Miguel Angel Moratinos both addressed the issue of the European Union’s “common position” on Cuba, but from different sides. Moratinos wants to be entirely rid of the policy; de Gucht reinforced that it would only come down with concrete gestures from […]
The newest bill in Congress to tear down the Cuba travel ban—the freedom to travel to Cuba act—has a greater chance of passing in this Congress than in previous years, as we’ve noted before. Several factors contribute: visiting Cuba is now being viewed as an issue of the inalienable rights of Americans to travel; the […]
Spain’s Prime Minister, Jose Luis Zapatero, visited the White House on October 13, soon before the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, paid a visit to RaĆŗl Castro in Havana on October 19. According to Spain’s El PaĆs, President Obama used this opportunity to ask Spain to deliver a message to the Cuban regime. From […]
From the Associated Press: “The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly condemned the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, an annual ritual that highlights global opposition to the policy. “This year’s vote was 187-3 in opposition to the embargo, up from 185-3 last year, with only Israel and the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau supporting […]
Cuba’s official statement on the embargo, available on the “Cuba vs. Bloqueo 2009” website (here), details what it considers the direct effects of the embargo on the Cuban population. The report argues: The economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba for the last 50 years is the most serious kind […]
The Environmental Defense Fund is sending U.S. scientists to Cuba today to discussĀ ways to eliminate overfishing, protect coral reefs, conserve coastal areas, and tap potential ocean energy. Last month, EDF secured Treasury licenses for Cuban scientists to come to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, and this is a similar exchange—in the opposite direction. Ocean waters […]
FPA Latin America blog is proud to bring you Sean Murphy from the FPA Global Film Review Blog who has posted two reviews recently about Latin American themed movies from around the world. The first filmĀ is called Romero (1989) and is a film about the real Monsignor Romero who was one of the top […]
Today, a look back at the still early U.S. relationship with post-revolutionary, Soviet-aligned Cuba. The piece from Politico below details the beginning of the Cuban missile crisis, whose anniversary is today.Ā The main enemy in this story is the Soviet Union, but the intertwining of that country so closely with the regime in Cuba made geographical […]
PREMIERE: Adrian Baschuk’s “Cuba: Waiting for a Revolution” premiered tonight at 10/9c on Current TV. Baschuk, a Vanguard correspondent, reportedly visited Cuba to see “how hard life really is there and investigate whether or not there exists any possibility of regime change.” The thesis: frustration with persistent difficulty and worsening economic prospects in Cuba might […]
Business between Cuba and four of its top five trading partners has declined sharply in 2009 in a painful reflection of the island’s economic crisis. China, Spain, Canada and the United States all reported 20 to 50 percent declines in exports to and (minus the USA) imports from Cuba. Percent change in Imports from/Exports to […]
As noted last week, telecommunications companies from the United States were in limbo on the question of doing business in Cuba: the Obama administration had given them the green light, but Cuba remained silent. Only when permission was given by both sides would they be able to forge ahead with ambitious plans for laying cables […]
For a country where only 2.1% of the population has regular access to global internet, Cuba has a surprisingly vibrant blogosphere (see the Committee to Protect Journalists’ special report here). And Cuban bloggers have recently been testing the bounds of free expression and tolerated opinions in the nation, writing vivid accounts of everyday life and […]
The most intriguing headlines of the day: Divided Cuban community meets on “Planet Facebook” Reuters reports that a number of Cubans on the island have been able to open accounts on Facebook, the social networking site with 300 million subscribers globally. For Cubans, the site acts as a forum with family and friends that have […]
Lazaro Barredo Medina, editor of the Communist Party’s Granma newspaper, wrote a full-page (signed) opinion piece on Friday telling Cubans to start preparing for life without ration books. He argued that the “libreta” had outlived its usefulness (it’s been around since 1962), and is now an inefficient expenditure by the state as Cuba tries to […]
A small Miami-based telecommunications company—TeleCuba Communications Inc.—announced today that the U.S. government (i.e. the Treasury Department) has given it permission to lay the first optical communications fiber from the United States to Cuba. They are the first so far: President Obama eased long-standing restrictions on telecommunication links to Cuba in April, but other companies have […]
From Phil Peters’ The Havana Note, this might be the most concise and apt summaryĀ I’ve seenĀ of the inconsistencies in U.S. policy toward Cuban immigrants. It is a strong argument for revision of those policies, as it directly responds to the opposition’s claims, as well: “If you believe in the embargo as an instrument of pressure, […]
In September, the Associated Press reported that Cuba had adopted a policy that would allow access to the Internet through computer facilities at post offices. Previously, Cubans could access e-mail through the island intranet at such hubs, but had little general web access. The announcement signaled a policy change (the resolution that changed the policy […]
Please excuse the downtime over the last several days on this site. FPA is working hard on resolving several issues, and we should be back up and running on all cylinders soon. Thanks to all, Melissa
Jokes between U.S. and Cuban officials? Very unusual. Humor does not usually enter the US-Cuban relationship, but this is funny: At a New America Foundation reception today, Jorge BolaƱos—the Cuban representative in Washington in lieu of a formal ambassador—related a story in which the State Department recently denied a visa to RicardoĀ AlarcĆ³n, the president of […]
Yoani Sanchez, the famous “Generation Y” blogger from Cuba, comments in today’s Huffington Post on the gap between Cuba’s projection of above-average health to the international community and the actual situation on the ground, which goes unmentioned by state-run media. The country’s practical troubles may explain why Cuba changed its tune in the course of […]
Actor Alec Baldwin ran a piece on Cuba in the Huffington Post today as a response to the recent announcement that the New York Philharmonic would no longer perform in Havana at the end of this month. The Orchestra’s decision came after the U.S. Treasury Department denied the necessary permission for travel to Cuba to […]
This upcoming week and month will bring attention from the FPA towards Latin America. In addition, Fareed Zakaria interviewed Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia last week and the interview was aired this past Sunday. Brazil and Rio de Janeiro has also won their bid to host the first Olympics for Brazil and South America as […]
Around 200,000 private farmers and their families grow and cure tobacco for cigars under contract with the Cuban state, and tens of thousands more roll the leaves intoĀ puros for export.Ā Cuba’s cigar brands, which include Cohiba, Montecristo, Trinidad and Partagas, dominate the global premium market: their sales comprise 70% of the world total (even while they […]
RaĆŗl’s promise of a new socialist model continues to evolve in practice: The Cuban state began a trial program yesterday that closed state-run lunchrooms in four government ministries and instead provided workers with a small stipend for lunch, equivalent to about 60-70 cents. The idea is to see how well it works and whetherĀ the lunchroom […]
In the video below, Ann Louise Bardach (author of the new book Without Fidel and the previous Cuba Confidential)Ā and Steve Clemons (of the Havana Note and New America) discuss current Cuba topics:Ā the recent Juanes concert, Fidel, RaĆŗl, the March cabinet shuffle, Cuba’s relations with Venezuela and China, and the case of Luis Posada Carriles.
As we discussed a few weeks ago, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Bisa Williams traveled to Cuba for the September 17 talks on reestablishing mail service between the two countries. Only today, however, did State Department officials tell the press that Williams remained in Cuba for five days following those […]
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez took the floor today at the United Nations and, to no one’s great surprise, devoted half of his speech time to a discussion of Cuba’s relationship with the United States. Through Rodriguez, Cuba again called for normalization of US-Cuba relations. The Foreign Minister affirmed the hope that Barack Obama’s election […]
Last year, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) held a series of panel discussions on “Cuba Outlook: RaĆŗl and Beyond,”Ā with Cuba experts from Canada, the United States and Europe participating. The product is a report of the same name by Peter DeShazo, just released by CSIS, which synthesizes the group’s analysis of Cuba’s […]
This past week has been filled with numerous interesting policy stories and interviews regarding issues that affect every nation in the world, focusing on those regions such as the Middle East and Latin America, which seem to be the source of much of the security tensions for the members of the UN Security Council. First […]
On October 6, 2009, Ann Louise Bardach’s new book Without Fidel: A Death Foretold in Miami, Havana and Washington will be released. The reporting contained therein is based on countless interviews with Washington officials and politicos, Cuban officials and exiles, Castro family members—including RaĆŗl—and Fidel Castro himself, and thus provides insights and information that have […]
The Cuban missile crisis in 1962 is widely regarded as the closest the world ever came to a nuclear war.Ā But in the early 1980s, the Cold War was at its chilliest. The threat of nuclear annihilation was nigh as President Ronald Reagan began a trillion-dollar arms buildup in the United States, ordering atomic detonations in […]
California Democrat Sam Farr on Americans traveling to Cuba: “If you are a potato, you can get to Cuba very easily, but if you are a person, you can’t, and that is our problem.” Representative Farr is optimistic about the success of the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which he believes will have enough […]
Last week Venezuelaās Minister of the Interior, Tareck El Aissami, publicly denounced a July 20 report released by the US Governmentās General Accounting Office (GAO) which labeled his country as āone of the major drug transit countries in the Western Hemisphereā. The struggle over public perception between Washington and Caracas continues. The US government states […]
The controversial Juanes concert in Havana yesterday blanketed Revolution Square in a sea of white, the color worn by both performers and concertgoers to symbolize peace. Different sources report various figures, but over 800,000 and possibly up to 1.15 million people attended the concert. Thousands showed up hours early to secure spots with a view, […]
I recently had the privilege of meeting with a Cuban official to exchange thoughts on U.S.-Cuban relations. I took noteĀ in particularĀ of the following points he made: —The official said he was pleased by the recent progress between Cuba and the United States, especially with respect to the bilateral migration discussions that took place in NYC […]
The UN General Assembly will soon reconvene for a new session, and Cuba has again submitted a draft resolution urging for an end to the U.S. economic and financial embargo. This will presumably be the 18th year that a majority of the international community condemns this U.S. policy, as that “majority” grew to 185 countries […]
Today, Cuban and U.S. officials met in Havana to discuss the re-establishment of direct mail service, which has been suspended since 1963 (one year after the imposition of the embargo). It was the first State Department trip to Cuba since 2002. Representatives from the U.S. Postal Service also joined the meetings. Issues related to mail […]
Thousands of Cubans use their privately-owned classic or modern cars to give black-market rides, risking steep fines or losing their cars to the state if caught. In some areas, they troll set routes where commuters wait for a lift. The existence of the illegal business is a necessity for car-less Cubans, who are for the […]
— On Friday, Cuban Vice President Juan Almeida Bosque (the communist government’s “number three”) died of cardiac arrest, at age 82. His death was mourned by tens of thousands of Cubans who lined up on Sunday at the Plaza de la Revolucion to pay their respects. The symbolism of this particular individual is twofold. First, […]
Cuban exile Armando Ruiz is awaiting a response from the Obama administration on his application for a license to run a ferry from Miami to Havana. He proposes to charter a 600-cabin cruise-ferry from a dealer in Lithuania for $23 million for the project. Now that Cuban-Americans are allowed to travel freely to visit family […]
Amnesty International released a report this week (in Spanish and English here) called “The US Embargo Against Cuba: Its Impact on Economic and Social Rights,” reiterating previous AI calls to lift the embargo but shifting focus to how the trade and financial sanctions affect human rights (not simply political rights) of Cuba. This is a […]
Despite controversy surrounding musician Juanes’ intention to perform in Havana, he will apparently go forward with the concert, which he is calling “Paz Sin Fronteras” (Peace Without Borders). Critics call the move ignorant, cynical, and naive. Some who oppose the show have even sent the singer death threats. But what is the harm in a […]
A public feud has developed after several years of hard feelings between Cuba and the Dutch company Philips. Apparently in 2006, Castro boughtĀ from Philips and Germany’s Siemens thousands of pieces of advanced medical equipment for Cuba and Venezuela. Siemens followed through on the agreement, but Philips did not deliver on time the 3,553 pieces of […]
Whatever people may think about Fidel Castro, he is likely one of the luckiest and most challenging leaders towards his opponents in the last three generations of world history. While his actions towards the surviving opposition, journalists and opposing leaders in Cuba is less than civil, and Raul Castro himself was responsible for executing much […]
Last Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department officially lifted nearly all restrictions on Cuban-American remittances and travel to Cuba—measures promised by the Obama administration nearly five months ago. The departmentĀ also relaxed regulations prohibiting U.S. telecommunications and satellite linkages between the United States and Cuba, and eased licensing requirements for visitors engaged in agricultural and medical sales. […]
The above video shows Juan Carlos GonzĆ”lezĀ Marcos, now better known as “PĆ”nfilo,” interrupting an interview on the streets of Havana. His loud comments regarding the tremendous need in Cuba for “jama”—the slang Cuban word for food—stuck with many viewers when the video reached YouTube a few months ago, and the clip spread quickly on that […]
Until last year, Cuban citizens were not allowed to enter hotels and resorts on their own island—these were reserved exclusively for foreign tourists. The defense (which usually came from members of the regime, e.g. those whose job it was to defend the policy) was that the tourism industry in Cuba had been developed over the […]
The Obama administration’s appointee for the post of Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs is Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, professor of government and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. Valenzuela’s focus in the region has previously been on Mexico and the Southern Cone, and perhaps in light of that, it is […]
*The photo above shows the counter at Coppelia, a Havana ice cream shop constantly crowded with people waiting to take advantage of one symbolic measure of the revolution: ice cream, a treat exclusively for the rich before, became accessible for all Cubans.* ______________________________________________ I recently had the privilege of reading a 40-year-old piece on Cuba […]
The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien spoofs the ever-rollercoastering health of Fidel Castro, below. Dissidents and U.S. policy-makers for years have made plans for how to approach a post-Fidel Cuba and the subsequent ushering-in of democracy in Cuba, vacillating between expecting Fidel Castro’s death and feeling stymied by his almost impossible insistence on surviving. The […]
“I think enhancing cultural and artistic and educational ties is a prelude to diplomatic and commercial ties. It always happens that way… I’m for enhanced tourism travel for Americans.” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson spoke these words to Associated Press journalists in Cuba, where he is this week, while he was on a tour of […]
Around Cuba’s capital Havana, it is quite remarkable how often you see a neatly tended plot of land right in the heart of the city. Sometimes smack bang between tower block estates or next door to the crumbling colonial houses, fresh fruit and vegetables are growing in abundance. So begins Sarah Murch’s pieceĀ in the Herald […]
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro appeared on state television Sunday for the first time since June 2008, looking far healthier than in many of the photos released since his surgery. The footage shows clips from Fidel’s three-hour meeting over the weekend with a group of Venezuelan students from the University of Carabobo. He comments on […]
Hurricane Bill was a source of great concernĀ over the last few weeksĀ for storm watchers in the Caribbean and along the southern and eastern coasts of the United States. Cooperation on tracking could not be a matter of politics, even between the Cuban and U.S. governments, because coastal communities in both countries were vulnerable. It is […]
The above clip is a debate between Phil Peters, Vice President of the Lexington Institute, and Mauricio Claver-Carone, lobbyist for the anti-Castro U.S.-Cuba Political Action Committee, on the merits of maintaining or relaxing the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The debate itself follows a typically unproductive “talk past each other” sort of progression, but it lays […]
Statistics on the telecommunications and information technology sectors in Cuba are now available on the website of the government’s Oficina Nacional de EstadĆsticas (ONE). ONE’s data reports (particularly on the economy) are widely regarded as suspect: the claims of improvements and growth often appear impossibly inflated. But this particular report shows such poor results that […]
Is the plan to reform health care in the United States a step toward socialism? Many Republicans say it is. Some of the loudest opponents to Obama’s plan at the Town Hall meetings across the country have been those arguing that the plan erodes the fabric of what defines “America” by turning toward socialism. Across […]
This week, a delegation of U.S. Catholic bishops headed to Havana to meet with church leaders, expressing their hope thatĀ the White House will soon take further steps to improve U.S.-Cuba relations. U.S. Reverend Andrew Small, Archbishop of Boston Sean Patrick O’Malley and Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida held a news conference in Havana today. […]
Robert Buddan of the University of the West Indies at Mona had a thought-provoking piece in the Jamaica GleanerĀ today, entitled “Managing crisis in Jamaica and Cuba.” Buddan highlights the difference in options available to the two countries in facing similar debt difficulties. Cuba, for example, cannot seek or receive loans from the International Monetary Fund […]
From Newsweek: Thursday was the 83rd birthday of Fidel Castro, Cuba’s comandante en jefe, who, upon “retiring” as the country’s leader last year, passed control of the government on to his brother. In that way he remains the godfather of Cuban politics. Like Castro, plenty of other leaders-despite old age, term limits, or even death-continue […]
Today is Fidel Castro’s 83rd birthday, a day he marked not with celebration (indeed, the state organized no official events for the occasion) but with an essay on the global economic crisis, climate change and immigration. He wonders in his piece whether the crisis might mean the end of imperialism or the beginning of something […]
As the Cuban economy continues to struggle to deal with the global downturn and its implications, consumers will see at least one relief. The state announced a reduction of up to 20% on the price of 24 basic goods, includingĀ food products like ground meat, chicken and canned milk, as well as soap, toothpaste, diapers and […]
PBS WIDE ANGLE correspondent Aaron Brown will host a live debate on Blog Talk Radio this Thursday at 11:00 a.m. EST. The topic: should the U.S. lift the trade embargo on Cuba? The standard positions in favor of lifting the embargo are (1) it has failed to achieve its objective of regime change, (2) the […]
Over the years of the embargo, relationships between states/cities in the United States and counterparts in Cuba have sprung up. Now, as legislation to dismantle travel restrictions and embargo regulations makes its way through the halls of Congress, a number of state and local leaders are asserting themselves in favor of a more open relationship […]
RaĆŗl Castro proclaimed last week that no one should expect Cuba to change its political and social system; Cuba will remain socialist/communist. But he and top economists doĀ foresee a great overhaul of the system. NPR reported: Rafael Hernandez, editor of the quarterly journal Temas in Havana, says Raul Castro is attempting to transform the Cuban […]
The yearly two month Cold War between Colombia and Venezuela has come this summer amidst talks between the US and Colombia to place approximately seven US bases in Colombian territory in order to aid US anti-drugs forces. A week ago as a response, Venezuela withdrew its ambassador from Colombia and is threatening to restrict trade […]
Yesterday, the state-run Cuban newspaper (Granma) charged the United States with spending hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “subversion” in Cuba and elsewhere in the Americas, especially in those countries that are members of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas. The article noted, “U.S. investments meant to facilitate annexing Cuba not only have not […]
The “War on Drugs” and the “War on Terror” over the years have both contributed to wearing out a metaphor that was already nearly useless: how can one tell when the war against an abstract concept or an undefined enemy is won or lost? For years, U.S. administrations have employed a similarly troublesome concept in […]
This Saturday will mark the launch of a puzzling (and oddly intriguing) book, El Diccionario de Pensamientos de Fidel Castro—that is, the “Dictionary of Thoughts of Fidel Castro.” How does one alphabetize thoughts? The Cuban state newspaper GranmaĀ reported that the volume alphabetizes “key criteria and concepts expressed by the Commander-in-Chief” and provides helpful detail on […]
“We are ready to talk about everything, but not to negotiate our political and social system.” On Saturday, RaĆŗl Castro spokeĀ these words at a National Assembly meeting, and further explained, “It’s true there has been a diminution of the aggression and anti-Cuban rhetoric on the part of the [Obama] administration.” President Castro had previously indicated […]
Archibald Ritter of the Canadian Foundation for the Americas speaks about Cuba-Canada relations in this video. He says that Canada’s policy toward the island has long been “correct” (presumably as opposed to U.S. policy and the policy of exclusion followed by most of the hemisphere for years). Ritter also pointed out that Canadian agricultural trade […]
RaĆŗl Castro postponed on Friday what would be the first Communist Party congress in twelve years. The meeting was to take place by the end of this year, and Castro has not yet set a new date. His reason? The Party must still make a great many preparations—includingĀ analyzing current economic conditions to see, as Castro […]
Cuba to create agency to fight corruption “cancer” Cuba’s National Assembly will set up a powerful new agency on Saturday tasked with fighting corruption, which President Raul Castro has called a “deadly cancer” plaguing the communist-ruled island’s economy. Official information on corruption in Cuba is sparse but, in 2000, Attorney General Juan Escalona, testifying before […]
Several years ago, the U.S. Interests Section in Havana—which functions as the American diplomatic mission in Cuba in the absence of formal relations—installed a “billboard” along the fifth floor of the building: an electronic news ticker running pro-democracy and anti-Castro regime messages in bright crimson letters. Fidel Castro at that time called it “a gross […]
The Cuban economy is certainly suffering, so much so that RaĆŗl Castro told citizens on Sunday to brace themselves for the tough timesĀ to get worse in the short-term, but the Cuban state is not letting such difficulties impede investment in one of its most highly-regarded assets—education. Teachers and other educational professionals will receive raises of […]
Over the years, buying and selling en la calle—in the street—has been practiced by generations of Cubans trying to make ends meet. Many of the goods sold on the vast black market come from government stores or from abroad. Now they can be sold via internet on Revolico.com, a fascinating development in a country where […]
On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro led a small group of armed rebels/revolutionaries in an attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. They were easily defeated, and so failed in their immediate goal of surprising the soldiers within and taking arms for the rebel movement. But the day itself is now widely recognized […]
Noel Brinkerhoff reports: “In another sign of improving, if not incremental change in relations between the United States and Cuba, the U.S. military formally acknowledged a joint disaster-preparedness exercise last week between American and Cuban soldiers. Troops stationed on the U.S. naval base at GuantĆ”namo Bay crossed over into Cuban territory to set up a […]
The last month of economic news has been as diverse as the last 10 months of the same forecasts. With the start of July, the drop in recent markets worldwide and predictions of further problems in large economies such as the UK and Japan set to bring the recession further attention, but by mid month […]
Today my colleague Sean Murphy posted his review of the movie Fidel: The Untold StoryĀ on the Foreign Policy Association’s Global Film Review blog. Check out his commentary on the 2001 filmĀ here.Ā Also note the blurb from the Miami HeraldĀ on the movie poster above: “Infuriating and fascinating! Required viewing.” Particularly incredible in the documentary is the […]
The Center for Democracy in the Americas recently discussed the economic embargo with former Secretary of Agriculture John Block. The Secretary pointed out that very different policies have been used with those other countries the United States opposes on similar grounds—China and Vietnam, for example—and that long-standing Cuba policy is not only inconsistent in this […]
A few graphic novels in progress have crossed my e-mail recently because of their focus on Cuba. The first is called Happy at 90 MilesĀ and is based on the real experiences of one Cuban citizen that attempted the raft-trip from Cuba to the United States, only to be caught and imprisoned. The story will be […]
Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo, speaking in Nicaragua today, demanded that the United States “stop providing military support” to the interim Honduran government, “cease its intervention” in Honduran affairs, and “remove its staff from Honduras.” Fidel Castro similarly accused the United States of backing peace talks in Costa Rica as a stalling tactic to exhaust […]
(From the Wall Street Journal) A New York man filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the U.S. government’s restrictions on spending by American citizens and permanent residents while traveling to Cuba. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, alleges Zachary Sanders was fined after he failed to respond to a March 2000 request by […]
On Wednesday at the Egypt meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Raul Castro called for the creation of a new international financial system that better takes into account developing countries’ interests, and “that relies on the participation of all countries.” It’s a goal that makes a lot of sense, frankly, even if implementation is a […]
Cuba, US to resume immigration talks at UN (From AFP):Ā Talks between Cuba and the United States on the thorny issue of immigration, suspended since 2003, will resume on Tuesday at United Nations headquarters in New York, the US State Department said. “Today, US and Cuban representatives will meet in New York to discuss implementation of […]
Pablo Pacheco is a journalist that was imprisoned in Cuba in 2003, and remains behind bars (his sentence is 20 years). Supposedly, he is able to dictate blog entries by phone to Claudia Cadelo, a friend, who posts them here. The Huffington Post gave this blog attention today. It seems unbelievable that Pacheco would be […]
Associated Press reports from Havana without explanation: two Spanish priests have been killed near Havana in the past five months. The second was found this morning in his room at the parish where he worked in the coastal town of Regla. No mention of either of the murders was made by state media, which generally […]
Today the Solomon Islands’ Solomon StarĀ proudly announced that the country plans to send 25 more medical students to Cuba for training next year. Cuba has already given free scholarships to 50 students from the Solomon Islands and sent its own doctors to the Pacific archipelago in an effort to help address the latter country’s shortage […]
Picture of the week A man holding a skeleton on fire performs during the annual Caribbean festival in Santiago de Cuba. (AP Photo / July 9, 2009) Brazil to help finance Cuba port project From Reuters: While visiting Havana this week, the Brazilian Industry and Trade Minister announced that his government had already approved $110 […]
The cartoon above, from Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, shows a Cuban citizen hoping to get a visa and leave for Miami, only to be told by a U.S. diplomat, “There are no visas, but we do have rafts.” The cartoon and a great article from Tuesday by Nick Miroff reminded me that we should take a […]
It has been said that to wait is a Cuban condition: waiting for the fruits of the revolution to manifest themselves; waiting to reunite with family; and waiting, as an exile, to someday return to the island.Ā One in six Cubans today lives outside of the island as a member of the diaspora—the migrant community that […]
We now link from this blog directly to a number of useful sources on Cuba, including blogs, university projects, newspapers and think tanks. See the “Pages” and “Links” sections in the right-hand margin. Please note that these lists are not intended to be exhaustive; they provide grist for the mill.Ā Relevant further suggestions welcome.
The United States is a mere 90 miles north of Cuba—a distance considered so short that it has been cited for over a century as the reason for the two nations’ intertwined destinies. Jamaica, as fate would have it, lies just 90 miles south of Cuba. And surprisingly enough, Jamaica’s trade relationship with Cuba is […]
A Miami Herald article from last year (January 7, 2008) reported that RaĆŗl Castro had declared a “war” on inefficient farming: food prices were excruciatingly high for the low incomes of Cuban citizens, Cuba spent $1.6 billion on annual food imports (importing 60 to 70 percent of the food consumed on the island), and still […]
Every Western Hemisphere leader had a response to this week’s crisis in Honduras (which I describeĀ here). Incredibly, from Fidel Castro and Hugo ChĆ”vez to Felipe CalderĆ³n and Barack Obama, every one of them fell on the same side, something that in a long history of hemispheric relations has happened very seldomly, if ever. Of course, […]
Dissidents Win Award, but Not Obama Audience Washington Post and other outlets reported that President Obama did not accept an invitation to meet with Bertha AntĆŗnez, the representative for this year’s Democracy Award winners—a group of five Cuban dissidents, three of whom are still in jail in Cuba. Obama did send a note of support […]
More from the BBC on the Cuban economy and the continuing austerity measures, which are apparently successfully cutting energy use without blackouts: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Meanwhile, Cuban media announced this week that a state decree will allow citizens to hold multiple government jobs for the first time. This is part of the labor overhaul that aims […]
Heads-up: non-stop flights from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to Havana opened today. Tickets are available through Cuba Travel Services Inc. for a healthy $889 per adult, plus tax. These flights were available briefly between 2000 and 2004, but were suspended indefinitely when the Bush administration tightened regulations on travel to Cuba that year. “You’ve waited […]
The freedom to access health care… this is one freedom that Cubans doĀ have that is seldomly given credit by critics in Washington. The Cuban government assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all of its citizens. Together with Havana’s medical diplomacy initiatives, this has made the country a perceived leader on health […]
Brazil’s economy is the ninth largest in the world—31 times the size of Cuba’s. Its territory makes up nearly half of the South American landmass—80 times larger than the small Caribbean island. And the value of Brazilian trade with the rest of the world is 25 times that of Cuba. So why does Cuba garner […]
At the risk of again being accused of “appealing to readers’ emotions,” I am posting the following story. It surprised me not because of the chain of events, but because the protagonist is a French student—not a journalist, not a political activist—just a graduate student writing her thesis on Cuban opposition and resistance groups. The […]
One significant topic is getting overlooked in all the excitement to open up travel and trade with Cuba: there are more than 5,900 current claims against the assets on the island that were seized (nationalized) by Fidel Castro soon after he overthrew Fulgencio Batista. The initial U.S. response to these appropriations—a large reduction in the […]
Demography updates of the day: Cuba ended 2008 with a population of 11.24 million; By 2025, the Cuban population will decline by 100,000; By 2032, it will drop below 11 million; The nation will officially have the oldest population in Latin America in only 15 years. The island’s National Statistics Office cited aging and lower […]
American car-makers have not shipped spare parts to Cuba since 1960, but an estimated 60,000 of these cars from the 40s and 50s still roam the roads of the island. Some operate as taxis and many have been carefully maintained over half a decade by individual owners. Watch an MSNBC video on this here. The […]
The BBC correspondent in Havana, Fernando Ravsberg, posted a blog entry last week titled “Pobrecitos los cubanos” (Poor Cubans). In it, he writes that the idea that Cubans live in poverty is a common misconception. Today, 50% of the population receives income beyond the oft-cited state salary of $17 per month, and some earn more […]
In the last few weeks, two prominent cases of spying for Cuba have made headlines and worried some about fresh roadblocks on the path toward increased U.S.-Cuba cooperation. First, a couple in the United States (the husband a State Department employee) was arrested and charged with passing classified information to the Cuban regime for thirty […]
Radio and TV MartĆ is a U.S. government-funded broadcaster that transmits Spanish-language programming to Cuba. Its declared mission is to break the “information embargo” imposed by the Castro regime by providing balanced news reporting on events around the globe. Supporters say the station offers Cubans essential information that the state-run media refuses to provide. Critics […]
From the Los Angeles Times: The Supreme Court will not review the ‘Cuban Five’ case The case of the Cuban Five (or the “Five Heros,” as Cuban officials call them) is one of the main stumbling blocks for the continued warming of U.S.-Cuba relations. If the Supreme Court had agreed to take the case, those […]
The present form and content of educational systems shapes the leaders of the next generation. Predictably then, the fact that Cuba is educating so many international students, particularly those from this hemisphere, makes some uneasy. From AndrĆ©s Oppenheimer’s Miami Herald piece yesterday: “While the United States remains the leading destination for students from Latin American […]
The Obama administration has acknowledged that environmental degradation and climate change are two of the most pressing issues for the contemporary global community. In response, a release from the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) argues that if sustainability is really a concern of Washington’s, then that is reason enough to consider greater levels of cooperation […]
A number of articles that paint a rosy (and touristy) picture of Cuba have cropped up in various U.S. cities in recent weeks. Because each piece makes a largely emotional and romantic presentation of the island, they likely attract a good number of U.S. readers seeking to reaffirm the Cuba of their imaginations. Cuba enchants […]
After 15 years of requests, Cuban-Argentine neurosurgeon Hilda Molina was at last granted the necessary permission to leave Cuba and visit her son, grandchildren and ailing mother, all of whom reside in Argentina. Until now, she has been repeatedly denied permission to travel on the basis that her medical knowledge was “Cuban property,”Ā such that last […]
As a great fan of films from Latin America and abroad, I would like to present to readers of the Latin America Blog one of our fellow bloggers, Sean Murphy of FPAās Global Film Review Blog. Sean seeks to give interesting and concise reviews on his impressions of films from around the globe, and has […]
There is an article here that was recommended to me recently, and although some of its observations are sound enough, some are not. The author’s general argument is that the U.S. policy of pushing for “change” and “freedom” in Cuba is really about a desire for economic change, open markets and freer capital flow, hidden […]
Big newspapers in Trinidad and in Jamaica ran stories today on Caribbean neighbor Cuba. The Jamaica ObserverĀ posted a story as a follow-up to last week’s conference on Caribbean Studies in Kingston and its presentation on “US-Cuba Relations: A Roundtable Discussion with Washington Think Tanks.” During the session, this piece reports, Daniel Erikson of the Inter-American […]
The rare independent journalism that exists in Cuba gives an important glimpse into daily happenings in the country and provides a good idea of what it means to live in a nation that identifies as Communist/socialist. I find that events in Cuba can actually succeed in surprising me every so often, which in turn reminds […]
A comment at the end of this article (about emigration from Cuba) struck me today asĀ wonderfully insightful. The editorial, called “La emigraciĆ³n: un fenĆ³meno alarmante,”Ā was published in an online magazineĀ calledĀ Vitral: La Libertad de la Luz,Ā compiled by the dioceseĀ in Pinar del RĆo (Cuba). The author recognizes that external actors, e.g. the international community and the United […]
U.S. Charges Couple With Spying for Cuba Today the U.S. Justice Department charged that a former State Department analyst and his wife (Walter K. Myers, age 72, and Gwendolyn S. Myers, 71) worked as spies for Cuba for nearly three decades, passing “secret diplomatic information” by way of a short-wave radio to Cuban handlers. The […]
Yesterday’s decision by the OAS to allow Cuba to reapply for membership in the group (see previous post) spurred quick and, for the most part, predictable responses from the relevant actors we noted—Cuban leadership,Ā certain members of U.S. Congress,Ā and Hugo ChĆ”vez and Daniel Ortega. Cuban officials, for their part, rejected the invitation to rejoin. Ricardo AlarcĆ³n,Ā President […]
This is an historic day. I’ll allow the New York Times to report: After two days of intense negotiations, the Organization of American States agreed Wednesday to lift a cold war provision that suspended Cuba from the group but also accepted a list of conditions, backed by Washington, that Havana would have to meet before […]
El Salvador’s new president, Mauricio Funes, was inaugurated yesterday in front of an audience of several prominent heads of state (including Brazilian President Lula da Silva) and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Today, Cuba and El Salvador signed an agreement to fully normalize relations—a significant and symbolic act for Funes on his first day […]
Today marked the beginning of the new economic measures meant to cut energy costs on the island. Local media and food industry sources reported the following developments: All provincial governments and most state-run offices and factories (which encompass 90 percent of Cuba’s economic activity) were ordered to reduce energy consumption by a minimum of 12 […]
The Cuban government indicated yesterday—through Cuban Interests Section head Jorge BolaƱos—that it was willing to open high level talks on migration, as proposed last week by the Obama administration. BolaƱos formally accepted the U.S. offer and also expressed interest in (eventually) resuming direct U.S. mail service to the island and initiating additional bilateral dialogue on […]
Canadians are often surprised when Canada makes news on the international stage. Many were shocked to see that one of the worldās most influential publications, The Economist took to criticizing Canadaās jewel and Olympic city, Vancouver, comparing drug violence in Canadaās west coast hub to violence which has scarred Colombia for more than three generations. […]
Walter Lippmann has provided me with the full Cuban perspective on the Sri Lanka report presented to the UN Human Rights Council. This is very useful; the text is in his comment here. Perhaps the most important points highlighted in the speech are: (1) the new Human Rights Council must embrace operational transparency and cooperative […]
As expected, Cuba’s seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council has already become an obstacle to the process of investigation and recognition of gross human rights offenses. Yesterday Cuba succeeded in blocking debate on abuses in Sri Lanka, which many countries have pushed for after the extreme violence that rocked the country earlier this […]
Despite the bit of hemispheric hubbub surrounding Cuba at the moment, Havana is dealing first with the immediate internal challenges facing the country—namely, financial problems and the slowdown of important sectors of its economy. Ariel Terrero, the country’s top economic commentator, announced on national television yesterday that depressed nickel prices and reduced tourism revenue could […]
Cuba is currently the only Western Hemisphere nation excluded from the Organization of American States (OAS), and while Latin American leaders push for its re-inclusion, Venezuela, the United States and Cuba are each adding complications to the plot. Venezuela—Hugo ChĆ”vez announced yesterday that Venezuela might withdraw from the OAS and seek Cuba’s help in creating […]
The U.S. trade embargo has not been lifted and does not look like it will be soon, but investors are apparently already taking a greater interest in the thawing relationship between the United States and Cuba. Mutual funds like the Caribbean Basin Fund fluctuate in direct response to news concerning Cuba and developments in bilateral […]
Yesterday the Obama administration proposed reinstating high level meetings between Cuban and U.S. officials to discuss migration between the countries—a channel of communication that was closed in 2004 by George W. Bush. The last such talks were in mid-2003 and had happened fairly regularly before then. Bush called off further talks when the Cuban government […]
A few U.S. readers have requested a note on travel, beyond stories of the recent policy developments that essentially affect only Cuban Americans. I’ve been asked: can I go? Will I get in trouble? In response: I’m not here to give advice on circumventing U.S. laws, but I can give you the facts. As the […]
The Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy predicted this week that Cuba’s economy would grow only slightly or shrink in 2009. Center economists predict 1% growth, but accept a possible range of -0.5 to 2.5%—much more realistic expectations, given current circumstances, than the 6% growth projected by the government. In fact, in the […]
Cubans are worried this week about the prospect of extended power outages (again) on the island. GranmaĀ ran a special piece on Monday calling on the populace to stop “wasteful” use of energy, which between January and April apparently cost the federal government $12-15 million dollars over what it had predicted to spend during that period. […]
Yoani SĆ”nchez is a well-known Cuban blogger who posts nearly every other day atĀ http://desdecuba.com/generationy/, circumventing the ever more stringent restrictions on accessing Internet from the island. Although few Cubans have the opportunity to see it (the Cuban government blocks all access to the site),Ā Desde CubaĀ has readers worldwide. And SĆ”nchez says that her posts circulate within […]
In March of this year, Cuba kicked off its “Campaign for the Respect of People’s Sexual Orientation,” led by the National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX). Center Director Mariela Castro (above) explained that the campaign aims to “contribute to the education of the entire society, with an emphasis on university youth, in respecting free and […]
Predicting trends in the Cuban economy is a particularly challenging exercise, especially from outside of the country. After all, Havana does not release complete information about the economy, business climate, or domestic financial systems. One is left almost solely with sparse data and the word of Cuban officials to go on. For instance, the Cuban […]
Since 2006 when he was “provisional” president, RaĆŗl Castro has pushed for a salary reform that would eliminate the previous egalitarian system in favor of a system familiar in most other countries: paying higher wages to individuals who work harder and yield higher production. The idea, of course, is to spur production by creating an […]
The Bush administration boycotted the United Nations Human Rights Council since its creation three years ago, criticizing the Council for ignoring abuses in a number of states in favor of increasing the attention paid to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians (an issue that merits attention, but not instead of paying mind to other states’ egregious offenses). […]
Orbitz, a large and well-known online travel booking company, and Ipsos, a survey-based market research company, released the results of a public opinion survey today, showing that a great majority of Americans favor lifting the ban on travel to Cuba. Orbitz simultaneously launched a campaign aimed at getting Congress to allow travel to Cuba by […]
This weekend, the department of sociology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada hosted a conference called “The Measure of a Revolution: Cuba 1959-2009.”Ā Today was the close of the conference, which was rare and interesting not because it sought to analyze the successes and failures of the Cuban Revolution at 50 years—indeed, this has been the […]
In a previous post, we noted that only 2% of the Cuban population, or about 200,000 individuals, have any access at all to the World Wide Web. The individuals who make up that 2% (those that are not government employees, academics or researchers) circumvented the limitations imposed by the Cuban government by using hotel Internet […]
Thirty years ago, in April 1979, Carlos MuƱiz Varela was murdered in Puerto Rico. The native-born Cuban was the 26-year-old founder of Viajes Varadero, a travel agency that booked the first flight from the United States to Cuba after over 15 years without. He was one of the group of Cuban exiles that negotiated with […]
The most recently publicized victim of Washington’s policy of stifling U.S.-Cuban exchange was Cuban musician Silvio RodrĆguez. He applied well in advance from his current residence in Paris for the visa he would need to travel to New York for last evening’s celebration of Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday, but as of the time he would […]
The last few weeks in the Latin American world has been anything but calm. Coming off meeting of the G20 and Summit of the Americas, the region has moved towards many intended transformations in policy and relations with the US and the EU. Some of these major changes are discussed below. Mexico: With a severely […]
On April 30, the U.S. State Department made public its annual list of countries that back or abet terrorism. There are only four countries included, and Cuba was left on again this year. Iran, Syria and Sudan join the Caribbean island on the list. But some point to a softening of report’s language as yet […]
Julia Sweig of the Council on Foreign Relations had an excellent piece in today’s Washington Post that detailed the contentious past, present and future of the U.S. base atĀ GuantĆ”namo Bay. She presented a controversial but necessary proposition that I’ve mentioned before: the United States should return the property to Cuba. True, the United States has […]
May Day, observed by many countries on May 1, is a holiday celebrating the achievements of the labor movement and especially commemorating the successful fight for the eight-hour work day. It is a day for celebration, but also for political protest, like the pro-immigrant and pro-worker immigration reform rally in Los Angeles I had the […]
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a collection of nations whose mission is to protect members’ sovereignty “against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics.” Associated countries account for 2/3 of the members of the United Nations and around […]
A local Cuban newspaper in Ciego de Ćvila reported this week that Cuba’s population has been declining for several years: between the end of 2005 and the end of 2008 the population shrank by about 7,100. The article ascribes the change to declining fertility coupled with the natural aging of the Cuban people. Indeed, average […]
Even without a particularly welcoming response from the highest Cuban authorities (and without any reciprocal policy moves), the State Department is quietly moving forward with the administration’s plans to gradually change policy toward Cuba, by opening channels of dialogue with Cuban diplomats in the United States and testing the waters to see what other steps […]
The recent outbreak of swine flu—so far most serious in Mexico but also in the United States and several other countries—is causing global concern, and Cuba is taking its own precautions to try to make sure the illness does not reach the island. The state is limiting flights to Mexico (there are usually 4 flights […]
The Houston Chronicle highlighted some striking figures this week that are worth repeating: Cuba has a population of 11.4 million and an average monthly income of $17; the island lost 10% of its GDP last year in the damage caused by Hurricane Ike;Ā butĀ there were only 7 fatalities on the island caused by the disaster. This […]
Foreign investors and businesses in Cuba are getting worried as the state-run banks on the island explain that they have little foreign currency for withdrawals and international transfers. Could the country be near insolvency? On top of low nickel prices, the hurricanes at the end of 2008, and the current global economic downturn, declaring insolvency […]
In a Wall Street Journal piece this week, Jorge CastaƱeda suggested an intriguing solution to the U.S.-Cuban relationship problems. The obstacle halting further progress in changes to current policy, as many see it, is one of principles: if Obama were to lift the embargo unilaterally, he would be sending a message about democracy and human […]
I attended a highly informative talk last week given by Lou PĆ©rez, a University of North Carolina Professor of History and specialist on 20th century Cuba. In a week with so much activity revolving around Cuba, the United States and the hemisphere, he managed to skirt current events and instead delve into the historic relationship […]
One of the perceived obstacles in the way of changing current U.S. policy toward Cuba is the Cuban-American community in the United States, largely localized (and certainly most vocal) in Miami-Dade County in Florida. It was only two years ago that the Miami-Dade County school board voted to ban the book Vamos a Cuba, a […]
This weekend leaders from across the Americas have made their way to Trinidad and Tobago for the fifth meeting of the Summit of the Americas to discuss the future relations between nations in North and South America, the Caribbean and between others interest groups in the region. The Summit is often the centerpiece for inter-governmental […]
At the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad today, President Obama dealt with the issue of Cuba tactfully and, I think, in a way that will please leaders of many Latin American countries. He said that the United States is on a path toward changing the nature of its relationship with Cuba. The implication was […]
This weekās New York Times published a fascinating article about a topic that many experts on Latin America should find very intriguing. The article titled Deals Help China Expand Sway in Latin America by writers Romero and Barrionuevo was an analysis of Chinaās growing influence in Latin America, with examples of how Chinese liquid investment […]
With all the hubbub in the United States and the hemisphere right now about the Washington-Havana relationship, let’s let it rest for today. The debate is hot as President Obama makes his first visit to Latin America, and John McAuliff’s note of the day provides very good grist for that mill. Instead let’s take up […]
A wealth of sources are giving feedback after the White House announcement (from several perspectives): POV 1: the Obama administration made a big mistake in making these changes. Some Republicans in Congress, including Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, are angered by the decision to lift restrictions on remittances and family travel. They oppose the […]
The Obama Administration went beyond expectations today when it announced not only the lifting of all travel and remittance restrictions for Cuban-Americans, but also an end to the telecommunications embargo that for years has kept Cuba using slow satellite connections instead of an easily accessible underwater fiber-optic cable. In a press release entitled “Reaching Out […]
If U.S. citizens gain the right to travel to Cuba, experts are saying the immediate flow of visitors from the United States to the island would be great. “If the travel ban is lifted, you’ll probably see hundreds, hundreds of American yachtsmen going to Cuba the next day,” according to Timothy Ashby, a former U.S. […]
Reuters, a leading news and financial agency, recorded short videos of individuals in cities around the globe at the end of 2008, asking for postcard-length messages to the new U.S. President. Here is the postcard from Havana, with responses to the question: What message would you give to Obama? The answers: “Obama, you are the […]
Cuba’s most important export industry, nickel production, is on the verge of being unprofitable after a persistent decline in international nickel prices. Nickel has accounted for over half of goods export earnings in recent years, and reserves remain plentiful. Indeed, the Holguin province of Cuba has around 34% of the world’s reserves. But falling prices […]
Not long ago, the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) was an incredibly conservative, hard-line exile group almost inextricably linked with the Republican party. After the EliĆ”n GonzĆ”lez controversy (2000-2001), the hard-liners split off to form the Cuban Liberty Council, leaving behind a more centrist/moderate CANF. That shift was considerable at the time, but the statement […]
Read this article by Norman Girvan: Fidel Castro Unseen Guest at Vth Summit. The number of issues facing the Americas at this moment is staggering: the upcoming Summit must address the current financial crisis and global economic downturn, energy concerns,Ā drug trafficking, migration pressures,Ā persistent poverty and inequality, organized crime and regional violence, at least. And yet, […]
I was recently told, rather unceremoniously, that Cuba’s neighbors in the Caribbean are quite content with a Castro regime in Havana. Apparently these small countries ‘dread’ a regime change, an evolution of the form of government, or an end to the embargo. This point merits special discussion. The reason for such sentiment, of course, is […]
Manuel Marrero Faz of Cuba’s Ministry of Basic Industries stated this week that Havana would welcome U.S. companies’ help in developing the island’s oil industry, should the embargo (someday) be lifted. “We’re very close to each other. We’re neighbors. Why not do business?” He said. A previous post described the possible benefit to the United […]
Representative Barbara Lee of California is head of a Congressional delegation that arrived today in Havana to discuss tourism and trade, as well as other U.S.-Cuba exchanges (health, cultural and academic). She expressed before departing: “America’s harsh approach toward our nearest Caribbean neighbor divides families, closes an important market to struggling U.S. farmers, harasses our […]
Cuban artist Tania Bruguera, a resident of Havana, set up a podium and microphone as the backdrop to her performance art show on Sunday at the 10th Havana Biennial, a prestigious international festival. Volunteers from the audience were invited to speak for no more than one minute each, and during each speech actors dressed in […]
“Acopio,” the system that organizes the purchase and distribution of about 90% of Cuba’s agricultural output, will no longer be overseen by Cuba’s agriculture ministry but by the domestic trade ministry. A brief report on state-run television explained that by reassigning this duty, the agriculture ministry will be able to focus solely on production without […]
Fareed Zakaria GPS this past Sunday brought one of the most popular leaders in Latin America to English speaking viewers with an interview with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio āLulaā da Silva. With questions of the economic crisis, oil, relations with Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia as well as Brazilās role as one of the worldās largest […]
This post can also be seen on FPAās Latin America Blog. This month marked a historic change for El Salvador and popular movements in Latin America as a whole. Central America in the late 70ās and early 1980ās was one of the warfronts of the Cold War between the US and the USSR. Countries such […]
A “new” bill that removes legal barriers to allĀ travel to Cuba (not just family-related visits)Ā will be unveiled on Tuesday in the Senate, with a host of supporters rallying behind it. The bill has been proposed for the last two years, but died each time in Committee under the threat of presidential veto. This time, both […]
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden announced today that Washington plans to maintain the embargo against Cuba—the first definitive statement on the current Administration’s stance on the issue and a serious blow to the many analysts and think tanks advising that the embargo be lifted. Biden’s statement came at the Progressive Governance Summit in Chile, convened […]
Excerpts from a letter sent from the U.S. Congress to the White House this week: March 24, 2009 The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States of America The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As Members of the Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus, who represent the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans in […]
The Fifth Summit of the Americas,Ā an initiative of the Organization of American States (OAS),Ā will meet on April 17-19, 2009 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. President Obama has recently confirmed that he will attend the Summit. Cuba, as previously noted, is the only independent country in the Western Hemisphere that is excluded from the OAS, making […]
Last Friday, U.S. federal courts sentenced Luis Perez of southern Florida to 10 years in prison.Ā As the head of a human trafficking network (which operated partially out of his garage), he is not only guilty of bringing numerous illegal Cuban migrants into the United States, but of providing dangerous and inhumane conditions for passage to […]
The EU Commissioner for External Relations confirmed today what we discussed a few days ago—that the EU wants to move toward a compromise with Cuba in relations and dialogue, which will involve reformulating the Common Position in favor of a more cooperative approach. Meanwhile, El Salvador’s newly elected President, Mauricio Funes, announced last week that […]
While Cuba’s World Baseball Classic team was in the United States this week, two Cuban journalists deserted the team and their duties in order to avoid returning to the island. Yuri Boza snuck away the first day that the team arrived in Southern California. RaĆŗl Arce, the well-known sports writer for Juventud RebeldeĀ “disappeared” just hours […]
Cuba was knocked out of the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday after losing 5-0 to Japan in San Diego’s Petco Park. The defeat was disappointing but not entirely surprising to fans, who had watched Japan rout Cuba 10-6 in the same venue during the finals of the Classic in 2006, and therefore had a sense […]
For the Ladies in White, this week is the sixth anniversary of the sentencing of their husbands, sons and fathers—Cuban dissident journalists jailed in 2003 for reportedly “receiving money from the United States with the aim of destroying the Revolution“—and they are mirroring the years with six days of demonstrations. Their protests are simple and […]
Louis Michel, the European Union Commissioner in Charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid, has made it clear that the EU is working toward revising and updating its position on political change in Cuba. Current policy is defined by the “Common Position,” elaborated in 1996, which states in its opening paragraph: The objective of the European […]
The Fifth World Water Forum kicked off yesterday in Istanbul and will continue through March 22nd. During the week, participants from around the globe take part in a number of discussions and debates that purportedly seek “to find solutions to achieve water security.” The Forum is held every three years, with the last event held […]
Three hurricanes (Ike, Gustav and Paloma) ravaged Cuba in 2008, causing over $10 billion in losses. Half a million homes were partially or fully destroyed, thousands of acres of crops wiped out, and health and communications infrastructure severely damaged in some areas. Predictably, those areas have not yet bounced back. But Brazil has been a […]
A prominent scholar on Cuban development, Arch Ritter, posits that an impasse in Cuban-US relations may be inevitable for years to come. His article in Canada’s Globe and MailĀ is worth a read, and his analysis deserves serious consideration. Ritter’s point is that although RaĆŗl is willing to open channels of dialogue with the United States, […]
For Cuban-Americans, opportunities to travel to the island have significantly multiplied this week with the passing of the omnibus bill. As previously noted, individuals with relatives on the island are now allowed to visit them annually, instead of once every three years. But the new allowances go even further, by broadening the definition of “family.” […]
This post can also be seen on FPA’s Latin America Blog. One of the greatest and diverse minds in public policy today is Fareed Zakaria. Once the host of a wonderful public policy show Foreign Exchange on PBS, Fareed Zakaria GPS is now likely CNNās best and most in depth show on American media today. […]
Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans FrontiĆØres, or RSF) officially published their annual report of theĀ “List of Internet Enemies” today. Cuba has a prominent place in the report: it is the only Western Hemisphere country in the ranks. RSF actually calls Cuba “one of the most backward Internet countries,” and reports that only 2% of the […]
Despite opposition from several prominent Republicans and two Democrats (Bill Nelson of Florida and Bob Menendez of New Jersey), this evening the Senate passed the $410 billion spending bill that included several Cuba provisions. The bill is on its way to the White House, where Obama has given every indication that he will sign it. […]
Yesterday we noted that Manuel Orozco’s new Inter-American Dialogue report called Cuban dollar exchange policies harmful to remitting Cuban families. Those policies, in conjunction with Cuba’s dual currency system, merit a more detailed examination of their historical roots and of recent developments and consequences. From 1857 until 1994, only one Cuban currency existed—the Cuban peso […]
Ā Ā On March 5, the Inter-American Dialogue in DC released an interesting and important report on Cuban migration and remittances. The statistics presented in the report are for the most part unique because of the highly politicized nature of the subject. There is not a generally accepted source for remittance data in Cuba, for example; […]
Tomorrow is the internationally-celebrated “Women’s Day” (in the midst of Women’s History Month), and many groups in Cuba have officially recognized the date. In fact, Cuba’s delegation to the World Baseball Classic has already sent word to the island that they will dedicate a win in their game on Sunday to the nation’s women. Meanwhile, […]
The state of Latin America has changed a great deal since the start of 2009. The fate of many nations in the region have been affected by recent losses in oil revenues, problems with financial liquidity and questions about the future of populism in recent economic crisis. Economics, while always an issue in the region […]
The most common argument against easing US regulations on travel to and trade with Cuba is misleadingly convincing: opponents of US policy change say that the Cuban state has done nothing to deserve a unilateral friendly move by the United States, and that there is no sign from Cuba of willingness to reciprocate. On these […]
The non-partisan Latin America Working Group will begin its two-day “Cuba Consultation 2009” tomorrow. The focus of the Group’s event is on loosening travel restrictions, which, as they point out, is a concern that unites all sectors from academics to farmers, Cuban Americans to religious organizations, and travel service providers to performing artists and curious […]
Ā Havana is currently playing host to itsĀ 11th International Meeting of Economists from March 2-6. This year’s conference is on “Globalization and Development Problems,” zeroing in on the current fiscal and economic crisis. Apparently, the event has drawn around 1,500 participants from 50+ nations. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is in attendance (and provided the opening […]
For months, RaĆŗl Castro has denounced the inefficiency of the Cuban government and pledged to streamline and improve its functioning. He began preparing himself to fulfill this promise today with a grand (and in some ways, surprising) restructuring of his cabinet. The shakeup does not introduce all new or necessarily progressive individuals to these high […]
For those who missed today’s protest in New York: Ā Credit: El Cafe Cubano blog Protestors in front of the Cuban mission to the United Nations today included Cuban exiles asking only for the right to travel freely to and from their country, and to have the right “to choose to be a normal country.” […]
Ā Credit: El Nuevo Herald Previous posts in this blog detail the attention that think tanks, Congress and other policy-makers and opinion-shapers have given to Cuba in the past several weeks, despite the current economic and financial crisis, continuing conflict in Iraq and the large number of other challenges facing the Obama administration. Most recently, […]
The Cuban Catholic Church has announced its support of US dialogue with Cuba, secondary, of course, to national dialogue in favor of change on the island. New leadership in each country—Raul Castro in Cuba and Barack Obama in the United States—will not alone erase a painful and conflictual history of relations between the two nations, […]
We are prisoners of history. Or are we? -Robert Penn Warren, Segregation The U.S.-Cuba relationship is openly characterized by distrust, contradictions and mutual recriminations, but the wounds are deep and the important issues are more complicated than simple judgments based on limited knowledge of current events. The Cuban-American community had reasons, and still has reasons, […]
The Havana Journal provides a helpful outline of the bills related to the Cuba embargo that are currently sitting in Congress, awaiting judgment. H.R. 188 and H.R. 874 are described in more detail in a previous post, but new to readers might be the Baseball Diplomacy Act and the Pursuit of International Education Act of […]
Ā Even as Cuba continues to move toward greater political and diplomatic openness during Raul’s presidency, the Communist regime’s arbitrary detentions and other human rights abuses remain a serious issue—one for which the island regularly receives criticism from the international community. Cuban officials publicly declare to have a clear conscience and deny accusations of abuse, […]
Sen. Richard Lugar Senator Dick Lugar (R-Indiana) sent one of his senior Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff members to Cuba from January 11-14, 2009, charged with the task of evaluating U.S. policy toward the island. His staff’s interviews with government officials, foreign diplomats, members of the clergy, international media, Cuban entrepreneurs and Cuban citizens were […]
Both Granma and El Nuevo HeraldĀ (but oddly, not yet Venezuela’s El Universal newspaper) have revealed that Hugo ChĆ”vez arrived last night in Havana on an “unexpected” visit. The agenda for his visit has not been announced, but he is accompanied by Venezuela’s Secretary of Oil and Energy—the President of PetrĆ³leos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), the […]
Critics of the embargo have never been hard to find, but high-level dialogue in the United States has typically been cautious. Recently, however, outright denunciations and demands for the end of the embargo have become more common, and have been embellished with attitude. Tampa port commissioner Carl Lindell publicly called the embargo “insane,” and plans […]
One of the many regulations contained within the U.S. Helms-Burton Act of 1996 is a ban preventing Cuba’s use of a fiber-optic underwater cable thatĀ connects Miami and Cancun andĀ runs only 32 kilometers from Havana. The ban thus severely limits Internet exchanges by users on the island because instead of the high-capacity cable, Cuba must use […]
Cuba Petroleos (Cupet), the island’s state-run oil company, has just announced that it will begin drilling 24 new wells in 2009 in an effort to expand Cuba’s crude oil and gas production. Cupet’s production currentlyĀ satisfies only 47% of Cuban demand,Ā leaving a production-consumption gap that has traditionally been covered by imports from Venezuela (although Cuba is […]
Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom arrived in Havana yesterday afternoon on an official visit to Cuba. Some context: Guatemala’s 70 year life expectancy ranks as one of the lowest in the Hemisphere—a full eight years below those of close neighbors Costa Rica and the United States—and there is little potential for improvement when the country’s current […]
Over the past year, Latin Americanists, think tanks and non-governmental organizations have released targeted reports providing prescriptions for how a new U.S. administration should approach the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Council on Foreign Relations put forth U.S.-Latin American Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality in May of 2008.Ā Michael Shifter […]
The Law of Historic Memory, a law enacted by the Spanish government in December, will grant citizenship to the children and grandchildren of Spaniards who fled the country during the Spanish Civil War or were exiled during the years that General Francisco Franco’s regime ruled Spain. The Spanish government estimates that one million individuals worldwide […]
Fidel Castro wrote yesterday that the fate of Cuba and of the Americas is inextricably linked to today’s referendum in Venezuela, which will decide whether President Hugo Chavez will have the right to run for President again in 2012 and beyond. Castro’s reflection (an English translation) is here. Venezuelans are crowding into voting booths at […]
Hugo Chavez is set to open another referendum on allowing himself to be elected for another term in office beyond constitutional limits, but with the last referendum vote to increase his term in office losing by a small majority and his lack of popularity abroad being adopted by many in Venezuela itself, recent history will […]
The BBC World Service this month broke from their usually news and debate programs and showed an interesting documentary series on Iranian culture and flavour, in a four part series called The Taste of Iran. The host, Sadeq Saba goes through much of the country and explores the food which makes up a great part […]
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has a unique perspective on Latin American governance, having been victim to one of its worst manifestations. During the 1970s Bachelet was tortured as a prisoner of Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship, then exiled from the country. Yet upon returning to Chile, she rose above: she worked first to become a doctor, […]
Cuba is the only independent country in the Western Hemisphere that is excluded from the Organization of American States (OAS), having been suspended from participation in 1962 under a decision that declared the Cuban Marxist-Leninist system of governance incompatible with the inter-American system. This week, for the first time, OAS Secretary General Miguel Insulza openly […]
Barack Obama has already signed the Executive Order requiring the closing of Guantanamo Bay’s detention facilities within the year. Meanwhile, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has offered the new Administration’s first official comments on Cuba, acknowledging a change underway in the Cuban-American community and assuring that the Administration isĀ “sensitive” toĀ it. Both moves indicate a certain […]
Ā Raul Castro’s visit to Russia at the end of January may have turned some heads, but it did not receive the front-page treatment once demanded by news on relations between these two countries. Reports on Raul’s week-long stay generally show that Castro and Medvedev stuck to mutual concerns that includedĀ agriculture, manufacturing, science and tourism. These […]
For the last several years, U.S. Representative Jose Serrano (D, NY-16) has brought the Cuba Reconciliation Act before the House and urged its passing without success. Its intent? āTo lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.ā This year it was slated under H.R. 188 and introduced on January 6, 2009āthe first day […]
BBC World News this past weekend held an interesting discussion on the current global financial crisis and its possible future effect on the world economy in its show The World Debate. The discussion surrounded the policies governments, CEO's, banks and international financial institutions used that brought us into crisis, and how those institutions could remedy […]
Latin America, while feeling ignored for the better part of eight years was one of President Obama's first international meetings that held the weight of his future power in his discussion with Mexican President Felipe Calderon last week. Mexico has spent the better part of 2008 fighting an intense conflict against internal drug cartels and […]
Ā This article has also been posted on FPA's Latin America Blog TVO.org out of Ontario, Canada presented a show this week concentrating on Colombia, security, human rights, trade and relations with the US and Canada. The panel consisted of 5 experts on Latin America and Colombia from FOCAL, The Latin America Working Group, The Inter-American […]
This has also been posted in FPA's Year in Review 2008… Summary: Latin America 2008 Pride has become a mainstay in many ways in Latin America this past year. Colombia especially has achieved great progress in the last year against its major issues fighting drug cartels and kidnapping by making great strides in dismantling the […]
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled their country when the Taliban was pushed out. They weathered the US invasion in Pakistani refugee camps and have been gradually returning to their home country. As the political situation stabilized, the wealthiest of these migrants returned to reclaim their land. This year, 300,000 of the most impoverished of […]
The New York Times featured this video on the psychological aspects of going through the asylum process in the United States, which I found worth sharing: Njoya Hilary Tikum has been waiting for the approval of his request for two years. He left his country because of persecution and his student activism in the English-speaking […]
This week the Queen's RepresentativeĀ in CanadaĀ must decide whether or not the Opposition's plan to overthrow the sitting Government will pass, creating a precedent in the history of Parliamentary democracy. The fall of Government has come in the midst of a global economic meltdown, and claims for the Coalition of the Opposition comes because of an […]
Elections in Venezuela's regions forced many in Chavez's government to take a hard look in the mirror in their attempt to build political support for Constitutional reforms that would extend Chavez's mandate in office eternally from the point of view of much of his opposition. In the latest round of elections, Chavez's party won much […]
With the recent anarchy in the global economic system and Macroeconomics textbooks being reedited worldwide, many experts in the field have gone silent or have admitted their inability to predict the latest collapse and inability to give a definitive answer to the problem. In the midst of this chaos, the traditional debate of American foreign […]
With the victory of Mr. Obama in the US Presidential elections a wave of celebration washed over the world media as praise for Obama took place, and in many cases rightly so. He is not only the first African-American President elect in US history, but more so a change from eight years of the Bush […]
This Blog has also been posted in FPA's Latin America Blog. Japan has always maintained a certain level of intrigue for foreigners, especially since the end of the Second World War due to its history, culture, economic progress and people. While Japan stands out as one of the most influential nations of the 20th Century, […]
As expected by migrant advocates, the rightist government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has wasted little time in cracking down on illegal migrants in the country's South and throughout industrial centers. In this video, Financial Times correspondent Guy Dinmore takes a look at growing tensions in Milan.
This Blog has also been posted in FPA's Latin America Blog. There are a few realities that have hit the world this past year and this past month, to which most of the world has been affected by to some degree. Luckily enough, the issues which affect most Americans have made the greatest impact in […]
In the last two weeks while markets tumbled, the amount of information about common issues such as poverty, the food crisis and even the economies of otherwise notable countries have also dwindled as American candidates preach of change and the rest of the world deals with economic aftershock. While Europe and the US slowly absorb […]
This Blog has also been posted in FPA's Latin America Blog. Ā Ā Since the election of the PAN in Mexico and Vicente Fox, there has been a slow movement towards Free Trade economics, policies in cooperation with the US and a cooling of relations with Cuba. In the late 1970s and early 1980s it was quite […]
This blog has also been posted in the FPA Latin America Blog. CNN made a great acquisition taking on policy expert Fareed Zakaria and giving him his own show, Fareed Zakaria GPS which allows for a diverse perspective and a balanced international approach to a network which is often known for its Washington point of […]
Today's Wall Street Journal is running an insightful piece on a relatively new development in US immigration policy: return migration. Faced with fewer economic opportunities, in part through tightening regulations and the overall economic slide, illegal immigrants are returning home. This, in turn, has a significant effect on the economies in their countries, who have […]
In 2001 the head of the Inter-American Development Bank spent much of his time fighting speculation that one of Latin America's giants, Argentina, had enough national reserves to maintain a 1:1 ratio between the Peso and the US Dollar and maintain confidence for investors that they would have their investments returned with acceptable risk. Five […]
This week Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez was lucky enough to avoid an assassination plot against him. Two unknown men were found in the State of Zulia on the border with Colombia with a number of grenades and an anti-tank weapons system that officials say was going to be used to bring down Chavez's plane in […]
Many in America do not realize that 89,000 of their neighbours living in their towns and cities were born in Iraq or have parents from that country. With so many US troops going to Iraq and serving in the conflict there, the immigrant communities living in the US have had surprisingly very little media attention. […]
In much of the popular political debate in English speaking media, issues of defense and economy often shape the question of what is considered a democracy. Defensive explanations for altering a country towards a democratic systems is most notable in Iraq and Afghanistan, where many who took the stance similar to the Bush administration that […]
Argentina has always been marked by two political trends that have been eventful enough to attract the attention of foreign investors and playwrights alike. Regarding investment, Argentina has always been a special case because of the large amount of potential in its economy that often seems to end in varying degrees of chaos as opposed […]
This post can also be read in the FPA's Latin America Blog. In 1973, the murder of elected President Salvador Allende of Chile and many left wing and party supporters became the model of how repression and dictatorship in Latin America would dominate much of the region into the mid 1980s, and for Chile, consume […]
I was pleased to watch an interest show on Brazil's infamous Cidade de Deus/City of God. In an episode of the show 4 Real, American rap artist Mos Def accompanied the 4 Real host SolĀ and met up with Brazilian rap artist MV Bill, who was holding one of Brazil's biggest hip hop and rap events […]
The last few weeks have shown some interesting stories coming from Mike Coe and Alejandro Quiroz Flores of FPA's Mexico Blog. I encourage those interested in not only South America, but Mexico as well to read of few of their posts regarding Mexico in the last few weeks. Alejandro took to task the events unfolding […]
This post can also be read in the FPA'sĀ Latin America Blog. With Olympic fever set to bring the world to China, much interest on the future of China on the world stage is seen as having its debut today, crowned by the lucky number in Chinese culture, 08/08/08, set to being at 8pm. With external […]
The definition of countries in poverty has needed to open up to a wider lexicon of terms in order to explain the various ways in which a country could be in poverty, and the stages in which it might be able to get out of it. In financial circles, the term BRIC, referring to Brazil, […]
In an IHT.com article published recently, the issue of visas being given to Iraqis by the US was discussed. US visas were finally being given by the US for Iraqis who worked with the US since 2003 in administering development after the beginning of the war. The argument by the writer was that due to […]
The global economy has recently hit a turning point, where the environment and a massive rise in oil prices sets to change the way we live, trade and do business. Not since the 1970s has such trauma in oil prices pushed policymakers into emergency mode, scurrying to satisfy the electorate which is convinced of a […]
Update: ISN writer Sam Logan publishes his piece on Mexico called Mexico infiltrated where he discusses the slow infiltration of the cartels into Mexico's government institutions and the eventual failure and disappearance of the government in the process. AĀ must read and powerful complement to these FPA posting on Mexico.Ā Fellow FPA blogger Alejandro Quiros Flores […]
Ā This blog is also posted in the FPA Latin America Blog. The European Union and Latin America have always had amicable ties, via trade, culture and administrative and legal traditions. Immigration from Latin America to the EU has often been able to avoid the conflict and debate that are common in the United States, where […]
French President and current EU figurehead, Nicolas Sarkozy claimed an earlyĀ boost to his country's presidency of the Union yesterday, with the conclusion of the much anticipated ‘EuropeanĀ Pact on Immigration and Asylum.’ Of course, it was a watered down version of the document that French immigration minister, Brice Hortefeux, was peddling to Member State governments earlier […]
Last night many Colombians at home and abroad stayed up into the late hours of the night to hear the first free words from the rescued FARC captive and former Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Ingrid was captured by the FARC seven years ago during her presidential campaign and has been used as a symbol of […]
The European Commission will soon present a Green Paper (i.e. a non-legislative document) examining the changes to the European education landscape to accomodate migrant children, the institution's press service is reporting. Also, the recent Eurobarometer survey shows that European citizens want to see the Union – not national governments – take the lead on key […]
The French EU Presidency's whistle-stop tour of European capitals in preparation for a restrictive immigration and integration policy has hit a major roadblock: Spain. As one of the EU Member States who has profited both from regular and illegal migration (the Spanish government has issued a number of amnesties for illegals over the years), Prime […]
The last year of investment speculation in the developed world could learn something from their neighbours to the south. Inflation and price fluctuations over the last ten to fifteen years in Latin America has habitually been many times worse than in North America and Europe, often suffering from huge inflows and rapid outflows of liquid […]
In a friendly chat with interviewer Charlie Rose this past Thursday, Lord Peter Levene of Lloyd's of London discussed how their company and the insurance industry advances on challenges facing the world economy and the unpredictable nature of doing business when the environment and political security are anything but certain. Rose and Levene discussed many […]
Over the last few years there has been a great deal of media coverage involving Iran, but the only issues being discussed often follow stories about nuclear deterrence or support for terrorism outside of the country. Like many stories coming out of the Middle East, the issues surrounding the people of the region is often […]
Cuba has always been a unique case study on how a country can survive in a situation where survival and foreign policy go hand in hand, immediately affecting the lives of ordinary Cubans. While many countries have deep internal struggles in order to maintain political equilibrium among their population, Cuba has always had to deal […]
In a few past events associated with the Foreign Policy Association, many organizations associated with the region brought Latin American ideas to New York and have seen the point of view of many of Latin America's most innovative leaders addressing internal and external issues via the FPA and associated institutions: Most recently Heraldo Munoz, the […]
The US War on Terror has left many great negative legacies in its wake. With troops mired in Iraq and Afghanistan and no clear idea of what constitutes victory in those conflicts, the results of the War on Terror has places US troops in constant danger, has alienated its once friendly supporting nations, and has […]
On May 14th 2008 the Americas Society/Council of theĀ AmericasĀ and theĀ National Endowment of Democracy hosted the Secretary-General of the OAS, H.E. José Miguel Insulza in their offices in New York to discuss how the OAS is helping develop democracy and democratic institutions within modern Latin America. With the current state of affairs in Latin America, democracy […]
Ā South Africa has never been a place where ethnicity and violence did not tie itself into politics and protests. A third explosive dimension to the local ethnic tensions has developed in South Africa in the last 12 days, where immigrants from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, SomaliaĀ and other African nations were attacked by local South Africans […]
In the FPA's Mexico Blog, fellow bloggers Alejandro Quiroz Flores and Mike Coe have written a few intelligent and interesting posts on Mexico's recent Drug violence and how the US and Mexico have addressed the issues in a positive and negative manner. In a May 19th posting by Mike Coe, the role of the US […]
The Mezze plate, if unknown to readers is a mix of different appetizers of various Middle Eastern foods, often combined together in a mix of powerful flavours and textures. Food in the region is often like its people, a combination of tastes that while creating a wonderful mix of culture and language also can create […]
<>The New York Times is reporting that Greek Islands are being overwhelmed by migrant arrivals – and most recently, a large part of these are unaccompanied minors. The tiny island of Leros is waiting for the declaration of a state of emergency, after 200 migrants were picked up by the coast guard over the last […]
Edgar Millan Gomez was one of the latest victim and symbol of how the anti-drug forces of the Mexican Government can be attacked whenever and wherever drug traffickers wish to bring the fight. Gomez was one of the top officials in Mexico's anti-drug war. He was considered one of the top security officials in Mexico […]
France assumes the rotating Presidency of the European Union on July 1 of this year. Immigration policy is set to be one of the main issues to which President Nicolas Sarkozy, long-time defender of a hard-line stance, wants to find a tenable solution across 27 member states. Borrowing from the successful negotiation tool-kit established by […]
Across Germany thousands of young immigrants are facing one of the most difficult decisions of their young lives. Beyond the typical teenage musings on their place in their own social sphere among family and friends, almost 4,000 of the country's teens turning 18 this year will have to make a choice on their nationality. In […]
The European Parliament is set to pass a new law in June to limit the time illegal migrants can be detained anywhere in the European Union to six months. While Socialists have argued fervently in favor of cutting this time to just three months, a majority in the parliament is set to vote in favor […]
NAFTA was always something that created tension between the US, Canada and Mexico in areas of debate that were never an issue before the concept of free trade became an ethos of foreign policy. NAFTA, originally built on from the Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), was a progression of the US-Canada Auto Pact which set […]
Since the early 1900s, hundreds of thousands of refugees in countries throughout the Middle East left or were forced to leave without a Pound or a Franc from lands where they had lived in since biblical times. What is often not addressed in English language media or worldwide as a whole, is that many of […]
*This post has also been cross-posted in the FPA's Latin America Blog. Behind oil export and above tourism, remittances from Mexicans abroad to their home country makes up a large part of the cash that builds homes and futures in many Mexican communities. With the recent economic crisis in the US, America's neighbours are starting […]
In an article releasedĀ last week by Spiegel International, evidence of FARC activities have been discovered after the killing of one of its leaders in Ecuador last month. The article goes into detail on what information was discovered. Information about the state of Ingrid Betancourt was detailed in the files. What most expected, is that she […]
*This post has also been cross-posted in the FPA's Latin America Blog. In 2004 Haiti took the attention of the world community. With the UN making a home in the poorest country in the Americas and the fall of the leader at the time, refugees from Haiti fled on boats, across the Dominican border and […]
Few people have attracted so much attention in France and in Colombia as Ingrid Betancourt. The daughter of a Colombian diplomat and a former Miss Colombia, Ingrid grew up in France studying at Sciences Po and eventually made her way to Colombia in support of a movement that supported anti-drug trafficking and anti-corruption policies. With […]
*This post has also been cross-posted in the FPA's Latin America Blog. Two countries have stood out in their respective regions as economically progressive policy successes in the last ten years. In Europe, Spain along with Ireland have seen much of the positive development and economic growth when the rest of the EU has been […]
On March 20th Steve Paiken of TVO.org's The Agenda had a discussion on Cuba After Fidel and a possible boycott of the Olympic Games. This international panel first discussed the ability and rationale of boycotting the Olympics due to accusation of Human Rights abuses against the Tibetan people and later on a full discussion on […]
After much anger, resentment and accusations by Colombian officials and Hugo Chavez, a Cold Peace has been declared between officials from Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. After an attack on FARC rebels by Colombia that took place inside Ecuador's border, a negative reaction by Ecuador's President and the movement of troops and saber rattling by Chavez […]
*This post has also been cross-posted in the FPA's Latin America Blog. Ā I was happy to read a clever article called: Linking NAFTA and Immigration by Ted Lewis of the San Diego Tribune as he discusses the campaign issues and how they are being spun to effect the campaign and America's neighbours in a […]
**The FollowingĀ BlogpostĀ is a complementĀ to the FPA'sĀ Feature on Canadian ImmigrationĀ and Economic Rights:Ā Great Decisions Analysis:Ā Economic Rights and Migration by Rich Basas. In an FT.com article published this week called Jobs for workers of the world, writer Bernard Simon discusses how the Canadian immigration system and local Canadian businesses address the vast number of foreign workers trying to […]
Hugo Brady, analyst at the Centre for European Reform, one of the leading-EU think tanks, has compiled a compedium of migration issues (PDF) that affect the European Union. The ‘A-Z’ approach offers a useful look at the issues and areas that shape migration policy now, as Justice and Home Affairs policy is in constant flux. […]
A tradition has formed in economic thought since the 1960s in comparing two regions with similar levels of poverty and inequality. Both regions have traditionally been open to economic measures to promote growth and achieve the level of development of North America and Europe. Asia and Latin America are both regions which have suffered historical […]
Dorris Lin of our own FPA's China Blog crosses the ocean with her piece on the new ties China wishes to form with Cuba as the island nation takes to change after the retirement of Fidel Castro. While China and Cuba have always had healthy trade ties ,with Castro gone and China being seen as […]
Messages of distrust between the Colombian Government and Hugo Chavez were considered no more than showboating after Hugo Chavez made headway in getting two Colombian citizens released, followed by open support for the rights of the kidnappers to be represented as a legitimate political party. Anger and frustration in Colombia which has been literally torn […]
This week's news roundup features the Bush administration's last ditch attempts at addressing the immigration issue in absence of fundamental policy reform. We also look ahead to the immigration issues at stake in the Spanish elections on March 9. Germany breathed a sigh of relief, when the deadly blaze that killed nine Turks, including two […]
No other issue seeks to dominate the next few months than the troubles in the US economy. Besides the well documented mortgage lending scandal, the roots of the fragile US economy are the movement of large amounts of manufacturing jobs to China as well as the approximately one-third to one-half of US debt that is […]
Ā With the retirement of Fidelito, an assessment of the positives and negatives of the Cuban Revolution has taken place in media all around the world. People hate Castro as much as others love him, mainly because while he has injured many and denied basic rights to activists living in Cuba, he has also earned […]
A legal dilemma often presents itself to officials who come into the presence of families who are both a mix of legal and illegal family members living in the same country. We encountered this a few times in our own legal consulting to refugees who came into contact with us in Canada. The International Herald […]
The Foreign Policy Association and The European Courier in February 2008 produced a Video Interview on Chavez's Venezuela and the future of democracy in the country in a frank discussion with former UN Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations for Venezuela Diego Arria. In the interview, Arria describes how Chavez's actions in the last few […]
Ā *This post has also been cross-postedĀ in the FPA's Latin America Blog. Mexico has always had a mixed relationship with its citizens abroad. Problems dealing with poverty in Mexico have not tarnished pride in their roots. Class divisions never quelled a strong sense of nationhood with its citizens on every social strata. While many Mexican's left […]
Today the well known leader of the island nation of Cuba, Fidel Castro has started on the first steps to the end of his legacy. He retired finally after 49 years of rule since the Cuban Revolution. He is well known as the one of the only leaders in Latin America to successfully stand up […]
Ā Mexico has always had a mixed relationship with its citizens abroad. Problems dealing with poverty in Mexico have not tarnished pride in their roots. Class divisions never quelled a strong sense of nationhood with its citizens on every social strata. While many Mexican's left the country since the 1970's, it was often for economic opportunity […]
Since the 1930s there has been a debate on how to compensate private companies when their assets they have invested from abroad gets Nationalised by local governments. These debates have always been heavy in Latin America which has been for the most part dependent on foreign investment since the colonial period and have been the […]
Among the hype of Super Tuesday, I thought a frank and brief opinion on the Republican and Democratic Candidates would be a nice relief from the overkill of information and issues coming out of mainstream media about who might be the next President. I hope my perspective, not being a US citizen and from the […]
Apologies for an extended absence, but this blog author has been applying to grad school (yet again) to pursue a degree in comparative migration policies. As such, I have been thinking about related issues for a number of weeks and thought I would share some of my recent writing. Please find one of my essays […]
I was lucky to be able to see a lecture at the LSE by the newly minted head of Argentina's national bank after the first President Kirchner came into power. This was, as many know after a series of failed Presidents in a record amount of time and a massive financial collapse of Argentina's economy. […]
No one would like to tell Hugo Chavez "Por que no te calles!(Why don't you shut up!)" more than President Uribe of Colombia, as King Juan Carlos of Spain did a few weeks ago. Today Chavez accused the very popular Colombian President of working with the United States to form an army to attack Venezuela. […]
PBS.org in the last few years has done a remarkable job at airing many great shows like our Great Decisions program, documentaries on the Second World War and the most recent documentary series The Jewish Americans. The Jewish Americans series goes through 350 years of Jewish history in the United States and does a great […]
In Mexico's "Dirty War" between 1968 and 1971, more than 600 people were "disappeared" for their political convictions. While much progress has been made with disappeared people in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay since the 1970s and the fall of military dictatorships in those countries, there has not been the same level of attention on disappeared […]
Rapid double digit economic growth in China and its newly minted membership in the WTO has greatly changed the world economy and China's position as an economic and political power. This view, while prominent within China is more importantly the dominant view among its neighbors abroad. Much of the trade between China and economic powerhouses […]
Some of the Republican party's most celebrated candidates have come from lives which mirror the stereotype of a true American hero. Presidents like George Bush the First gained early notoriety as an Aircraft Carrier bomber pilot in the Second World War, being shot down in an attack on the Japanese navy. Reagan, a model for […]
Numerous stories are crossing the wires today about the erosion of the fish population off the European and African coasts. The pace at which industrial trawlers, mostly from EU member states, where fishing – like agricultural activity – is subsidized, has put the survival of entire species at peril. In September, the European Union ordered […]
A debate on the Canadian talk show The Michael Coren Show on January 7th discussed a foreign perspective on the recent success of Democratic Candidate Barak Obama and the change in perception of children of immigrants in the larger political sphere in North America. Obama was seen not as an African-American campaigning on African-American issues, […]
The British government is committing GBP 70 million to bolster the confidence of Muslim women, in an effort to shield them from becoming targets of radicalization. Hazel Blears, Communities Secretary in the Brown government announced that the funds would go toward supporting “assertiveness” training, communication and mediation skills. The courses are part of a wider […]
The often unanalyzed result of migration 50 to 100 years after the fact often is taken as a study in Genealogy as opposed to a study in immigration, but if you had the opportunity to bring some attention to the issue, how would you go about getting people's attention? The obvious approach would be to […]
Ā How does one become President in a country with more than 20 million illegal immigrants? Well, the issue is not so simple as it isn't something that people tend to be bothered by too much. In a VOA article on the Democratic Candidates and Swing States in the US they note that only 20-25% […]
Like Canada and Australia, Britain has sought the adoption of an immigration points system in order to limit the number of unskilled workers entering the UK and promote highly skilled workers coming in to support the British Economy. While this idea is a logical one, it often leads to dozens of smaller issues which while […]
Today I came across a poster which stopped me dead in my tracks. It showed a pictorial of a woman, dressed as a cleaning lady, wearing a mortaboard and carrying a diploma. Underneath it said: Migrantjob. A second look revealed that it was the product of Migrantas, an intiative launched by three Argentinian graphic designers, […]
*This article has been posted both on FPA's Migration Blog as well as the Mexico Blog this week. Illegal immigration may be one of the hot button issues for the next Presidential election, and will favour neither party in the process. In the Democratic party debates televised widely among American networks this past weekend two […]
Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant to Canada who came to live with his mother on Oct 14th of this year was killed while police tried to detain him after arriving at Vancouver's international airport. While being kept up for more than 10 hours in the airport, Mr. Dziekanski was seen as having an angry reaction […]
First off: We are back – after a long hiatus barred behind firewalls and various projects! Ā In its October 29th issue, German news magazine, DER SPIEGELĀ (article is in English), reports on inhumane expulsion practices by Greek officials dealing with refugees along the country's shores. German refugee rights organization ProAsyl and the Greek Group of Lawyers […]
Like many Brazilians, 27-year-old Jean Charles de Menezes moved to London for a change of environment, work opportunities and to benefit from the ever overvalued British Pound Sterling. The fate of this young man was not one of a typical South American migrant, being chased down by the London police and shot point blank during […]
The European Commission has moved ahead and voted on its plans for an EU-wide Blue Card, to mirror the US Green Card. Administrators hope this new procedure will allow Europe to attract and retain highly-skilled workers from around the globe. In comparison to traditional migration countries, such as the US, Canada and Australia, Europe is […]
Thank you, Roger Cohen, thank you. We here on this humble little blog have underlined time and time again, how the Iraqi refugee issue is getting out of hand, and how the United States as leading military force in the country is failing to live up to its commitments in sharing the burden to secure […]
In a place like Toronto, Canada an interesting situation which rarely exists in many cities in the world is common place in the streets of Canada's largest city. Immigration is seen as a staple of Canadian society and economy, with over 50% of Toronto being foreign born, but at the same time the divisiveness of […]
It's official: the French Senate has voted in favor of a controversial new law that would introduce genetic testing for would-be migrants that want to be reunited with their families in France. The test would be applied only in cases where authorities were unsure of an existing blood relation. The government had introduced the proposal […]
After the painful debate in the US about immigration this past year, none of the future Presidential candidates came out as a hero for the Hispanic voter in the intense conflict between individual Democrats and Republicans as well as within the parties themselves on how to change the US Immigration fiasco for the better. While […]
For all the outrage it caused, particularly among German commentators, you would assume that EU Commission Vice-President, Franco Frattini, had proposed throwing open the doors and letting in half of the African sub-continent. Naturally, as has continually been the case since the idea of aĀ common European immigration policyĀ first emerged as a top policy priority at […]
In Canada in the large and economically significant Province of Ontario there is an election coming next month to decide who will run Canada's largest economy, yet the focus is not on recessions and profits, but on who has the right to demand funding for religious schooling in the Province of Ontario. Since the formation […]
Anyone who has passed into Britain from Europe were surprised to see one if not several border checks entering the UK from the Eurostar and numerous Ferries passing through Britain and the Continent. Much of the fuss came from the realization that many of the UK's migrants came from other developed countries in Europe, most […]
Many in Africa and Eastern countries know Athens and Greece as the unofficial gateway to Europe. Many of the migrants coming from the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe often make their way to Greece to gain funds and documentation to start a life in Europe through making their living in the crowded and […]
Since 1954, there has been a decline in the vision of America as a liberator of nations and people as they were known for in the Second World War and the Korean Conflict and their anti-colonial position after 1945. Ā Since 1954, the realization that US Foreign Policy could do more harm than good was defined […]
In the 1990's the pattern was clear. A business deal to produce a product like toys was made in the US, the manufacturing was done in Mexico, the characters and branding for the toys were Japanese and the people who maintained the office were from Mexico, albeit living in the United States and the product […]
To many, the State of Israel and the territory beforehand has always been a place which has taken in more foreign nationals, pilgrims, refugees, colonial citizens and even Crusaders, Greeks and Roman Legions in its long and turbulent history than any other place in the world. Before 1948, the territory called Palestine was taken by […]
The BBC World Service did a series called India-Pakistan 07' this past week on radio and television programming detailing issues and conflicts and positive developments since the independence of India and Pakistan 60 years ago this past August 14th 1947. While independence from the British Empire and division of the colony into the free states […]
Marina Nemat has just published her book The Prisoner of Tehran on her time as a political prisoner in Iran in the 1980s. In her time there she was arrested for having negative views of the Revolution of 1979 and was put in prison for many years. Her perspective is an interesting one, as one […]
Middle Class Baghdadi Amira ended up in Jordan after losing her husband, losing her family assets and losing her security in the city she grew up in. Despite having a privileged destiny in Iraq, she now sells food on the streets of Amman, Jordan. More than 2 million Iraqis have fled to Syria and Jordan […]
This week there has finally been some positive media about Iraq and its people. Iraqis cheered the Iraqi national team all around the world this past week when they beat defending champions Saudi Arabia in the Asia Cup of Football with a score of 1-0. Characteristic of the current situation according to unconfirmed sources, all […]
In the August 1st telecast of the BBC World Service the BBC did an investigative report on a new trend in London where Polish women were taking payments for marrying non-EU citizens so they could remain and gain legal status in London. The report went into great detail to present the problem, going as far […]
If you are a Palestinian refugee and have family ties to the West Bank, you may be in luck. In an apparent move to bolster the government of Mahmoud Abbas, which has been losing its footing in the Palestinian territories, the Israeli government is allowing “a number” of Palestinian refugees to settle in the West […]
Oxfam has joined the chorus of international relief agencies calling for immediate action against the looming humanitarian crisis in Iraq. According to its latest findings, every third Iraqi is in need of some kind of aid, be it because of food scarcity, insufficient water supplies or proper sanitation. In a report issued today, Oxfam notes […]
In an novel experiment, BBC reporter Jose Baig and his Spanish-speaking camera man are heading off on a tour of the Southern US States to see how far they will get speaking espaÑol. With their little test they hope to offer a living picture of how immigration has influenced the linguistic and cultural melting pot […]
Human Rights Watch is accusing the Spanish government of abusing unaccompanied migrant children in its detention facilities on the Canary Islands. In its report (“Spain's Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands”) issued on July 26, the organization heavily criticizes the treatment of these minors while in camps on […]
With so many Chileans migrating to Canada in the 70s and 80's, it was considered a home field advantage for Chile's U-20 team last night in Toronto, Canada during the semi-finals of the Under 20 FIFA World Cup of Soccer/Futbol. In the end the Chilean team received 2 Red Cards, ejecting 2 players from the […]
When migrants leave their families behind in search of a better economic future, they sometimes send more back than weekly remittance payments. An article in the New York Times highlights the correlation of migration and the spread of HIV/AIDS in rural Mexico, an area ill-equipped to handle a possible epidemic. While Mexico provides antiretroviral drugs […]
As Canada's most famous Ex-Canadian, Mr. Conrad Black was found guilty on some of the charges today in a Chicago court for some of the counts of fraud and taking millions of dollars from shareholders and most notably obstruction of justice. While most of the offences Mr. Black was accused of were quashed and Mr. […]
With the failure of the Immigration Reform Bill there has been a refocusing on the issues regarding the current state of affairs surrounding illegal immigration. This year there has already been 275 bodies found between US-Mexico border and it is expected that that number is going to rise to a record of over 500 bodies […]
For the second time, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has invited migrant, refugee and minority group representatives to an integration summit. The meeting is making headlines across Europe and particularly in Turkey as the country's main Turkish organizations will be boycotting tomorrow's talk shop. Interestingly, their protest is less aimed at the government's integration plans, which […]
Ā In a few underreported incidents, last Thursday a migrant boat with 20 aboard disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily on its way to Europe. Last Wednesday, 23 migrants were also picked up by Italian coastguards found clinging to a tuna cage near Sicily. Numerous other migrants were picked up as well last week from […]
The failure of Immigration reform in the US marked a special occasion in recent US political history where both parties have come to complete consensus over an issue, and have decided that NO ONE can agree on anything when it comes to reforming the unworkable immigration laws in the United States. The plan was finally […]
German news magazine, Der Spiegel, features the story of a 15-year unplanned migration of a different type. Navigating the treacherous waters of the Pacific in 1992, a container ship from Hong Kong bound for Tacoma, WA. lost some of its precious cargo: 29,000 rubber ducks, frogs and plastic turtles were dumped into the ocean. These […]
With the fate of many African migrants often being one of death from the failure of rickety boats used to move them towards the European coast, nervous smugglers ejecting their "clients" during the journey, or just a lack of action from receiving countries to save stranded migrants from drowning, there has been some recent progressive […]
On Tuesday, another attempt to bring the Senate Immigration Reform Bill into the crosshairs of American policymakers and bring the reform bill back to the Senate floor was created by President Bush and supporters of immigration reform in the United States. The general impression is that the bill will likely fail to be passed again, […]
The New York Times is reporting a wonderful story about a satirical column by Gustavo Arellano, which runs in the alternative Orange County, CA. newspaper. The friendly advice column Ask a Mexican! has dedicated itself to openly addressing stereotypes that often plague the relationship between the large Mexican immigrant population and the rest of the […]
Today marks the sixth annual World Refugee Day. Back in 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in solidarity with Africa, which hosted the greatest number of internally displaced people in the world. The Assembly decided that the first World Refugee Day should coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Convention relating to the […]
Tomorrow is World Refugee Day and we will cover events commemorating the plight of refugees, the anguish, suffering and isolation they feel in abandoning their homelands, along with the efforts of the international community to ease their situations and raise awareness over the course of the day tomorrow. Our fellow FPA blogger, Cassandra Clifford, has […]
The predicted landslide didn't quite happen, but Nicolas Sarkozy is a happy man nonetheless. Despite his party's losses in the second round of the parliamentary elections in France, Sarkozy has enough backing to push through his presidential agenda and quickly at that. The International Herald Tribune provided an update on just how quickly Monsieur Le […]
German industrial associations are reporting a marked shortage of blue collar workers in certain sectors to keep up with rising demand. On June 8, Ludwig Gerhard Braun, President of the country's Chambers of Industry and Commerce, went on the record to demand the economy open itself to qualified migrants as a part of a comprehensive […]
In my personal experience as a legal advisor to refugee claimants in Canada there was a duty to follow the laws, respect the country I was living in and do the best for my clients. While many cases were falsified, and others were very legitimate, there was always one problem in the system that stood […]
The UK's immigration policy has always been viewed as one of the most open in Europe and possibly worldwide. Since 1997, the Labour government has adopted a relaxed immigration policy, swelling the immigrant population in the UK by 1.5 million people since the Labour government came into power in 97'. While the UK was praised […]
The focus of President Bush's weekly radio address often takes to speaking about how support for the war in Iraq is necessary and how his immigration policy must be supported. While unfortunately there is no end to the War in Iraq in sight, the President's Immigration Reform might have had met it's final end this […]
Last week was the 40th Anniversary of the Six Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors in 1967. The attention on the Anniversary however was not given a glorious Battle of Britain style remembrance by much of the international media. Unlike many states who often take pride in remembering their victories in times of […]
German news magazine, Der Spiegel, has an in-depth look at the illegal immigrants that are the backbone of much of Europe's farming sector, ensuring that even Norway has the tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries throughout the winter. Most of the workers on the plantations are illegal immigrants, those that have risked life and limb travelling to […]
In a report by the CBC.ca, a discussion of the wage gap between Canadian Immigrants since the 1960s and American Immigrants since the same period shows that there is a significant difference between the two groups of immigrants. The report states that in Canada there seems to be less of a wage gap, as 4 […]
In her column on May 25th, Eleanor Clift of Newsweek discusses the benefits President Bush is gaining in the debate on new immigration policy. Her overview of the complex political views of Democrats who will most likely support Bush's initiative under the guidance of Ted Kennedy is an interesting dynamic since most Democrats have tried […]
With current immigration reforms in the United States focusing on skilled immigrants and highly educated candidates in the new Senate Bill on Immigration, a comparison between another North American immigration system that deals with skilled labour and educated immigration candidates may shed some light on possible issues with future US immigration policy. In the neighbouring […]
Spain has always held a unique position regarding immigration in Europe due to its proximity to Africa via the Straits of Gibraltar, its colonial possessions in North Africa, and the existence of the Canary Islands off the African coast. These Spanish Islands off the coast of Africa have made them a magnet for refugees from […]
Ā In a continuation of last week's weekly update on the deal reached in the US Senate on Immigration Reform, approval and criticism of the bill has been voiced by both sides of the political right and political left. While perspectives on the right of the debate will likely claim the bill to be somewhat […]
The first test to the fragile Senate compromise on immigration reform came in aĀ vote on Tuesday. Scrapping the guest worker provision would have rocked the boat too far and could have brought the fragile compromise to a collapse. Tuesday's vote, however, doesn't rule out the possibility to curtail the guest worker program to 200,000 […]
At the end of last week, senators announced their bipartisan compromise on immigration reform that combines border enforcement, a guest worker program, a path to legalization for illegal immigrants, tougher employer sanctions, and an education/skills-based point system for future immigrants. Rich Basas will comment on their proposal in the coming days. <>Already, the policy proposal […]
The Migration Policy Group, a Brussels-based NGO and independent advisor to the European Union, has published the second edition of its ‘Handbook on Integration for Policy Makers and Practitioners.’ The handbook is the result of in-depth workshops with the National Contact Points on integration, which are a key element in the European Union's Hague Program. […]
Conservative UK daily, the Telegraph, is reporting that official government immigration statistics are flawed and that UK councils are complaining: “The leaders of Slough, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham say a new method of calculating immigration, introduced last month, does not “remotely” represent the true picture. The new figures suggest London is […]
The UK's Daily Mail is picking up on a comment made earlier this week by London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, regarding the treatment of foreign business travelers by UK immigration staff, in its enlightening article “Welcome to America … from Mickey the immigration officer”Ā . London's Mayor had accused immigration staff at Heathrow Airport of being racist […]
In what seems like a farce, the Utah Daily Herald published an article on the recent convention of the Utah County Republicans, who closed their recent meeting with a debate on Satan's influence on illegal immigrants. I kid you not. Read on: Don Larsen, chairman of legislative District 65 for the Utah County Republican Party, […]
On May Day, thousands of immigrants across the world took to the streets to demonstrate. While in Germany immigrant and Muslim rights groups were voices among many in the traditional May Day (Labor Day across Europe)Ā marches, migrant organizations in the USĀ seized the moment to remind Congress that the promised, comprehensive immigration policy reform is still […]
The Washington Post is reporting that remittance payments from US resident immigrants to Latin American countries has slowed down over the past two months. While remittances are subject to cyclical economics, much like any other payments, analysts are speculating whether this could signal a more profound shift: “Many remittance-rich nations would fall into a recession […]
Even high-profile migrants have got to fit the bill. Australia's immigration services have banned rapper Snoop Dogg from entering the country after he failed a character test. The BBC quotes Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews, who notes: “He doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want in this country.” The star, whose real name is Calvin […]
In their often desperate plea to find work in the U.S., more and more illegal immigrants are turning to counterfeit organizations to provide them with social security number or new identities. The scope of the problem became evident following a number of raids at meatpacking plants in the Midwest.Ā On April 25 federal authorities charged […]
On April 21st 2007 Egyptian born Canadian Mohammed El-Attar was ultimately convicted as a spy in an Egyptian court this past weekend. He was accused of spying for Israel and recruiting Arabs in Canada to assist him in his activities. While the court claims to have obtained a confession of his activities, it is said […]
As many analysts had predicted: it's 'sego’ vs. 'sarko’ in the run-off election for the French Presidency on May 6. The race is now on to win the 18% of the electorate that gave their vote to centrist candidate François Bayrou. Given that Bayrou advocated a moderate take on immigration control, largely favoring the EU […]
The elections in 2002 were remarkable for a number of reasons: first, immigration became a major issue of contention after it had been largely ignored for years, and second, the right-wing Front National was able to use it successfully toĀ its advantage. In a vote that shocked the nation, former Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin was shut […]
French presidential hopeful, Nicolas Sarkozy, is coming under fire from those nipping at his heals ahead of Sunday's election. It seems as though the hard-line stance he has been advocating throughout the months of campaigning is now beginning to haunt him. Reuters rounds up the criticism Sarkozy's opponents have been lobbing at him over the […]
In 2006 the UNHCR reported that nearly 26,000 Somalis made the journey from Somalia to Yemen that year, and approximately 330 died while 300 were declared missing and reported dead. With the ongoing conflict in the East African nation of Somalia, the urge to leave for many grows as the conflict continues. The risk of […]
On April 17th 2007 the BBC World Service broadcast a story which until recently has received little attention in the media. With the tensions and deaths of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and the UN focus on Iran and missing sailors, the consequences of conflict in the region has only recently focused on the resulting […]
Verifying the identity of illegal migrants and cracking down on companies that employ migrants without legal documentation is the subject of a number of articles and commentaries this week. In their often desperate quest for work in the United States, illegal migrants have resorted to what the New York Times calls “a growing trade in […]
Over on her very interesting blog, our fellow FPA analyst Bonnie Boyd provides insights into the new policies of Tajik President Rakhmon, which have an impact on Tajik migrants and their remittance payments. Ā …Though President Rakhmon has not yet descended into full Ā Tajikistanibashi mode, this ruling will have several short-term and medium-term effects on its […]
French voters will take to the polls for the first round of presidential elections on April 22nd. Immigration and national identity have emerged as key topics in the debate between the four leading candidates: Nicolas Sarkozy of the conservative UMP, Ségolene Royal from the Socialist Party (PS), centrist candidate François Bayrou and Jean-Marie Le Pen, […]
The fate of boat people who seek a better life by taking to a voyage at sea to reach the shores of more prosperous countries are random at best. Three stories illustrate the conditions and result of such attempts to escape poverty around the world. In Senegal, with the results of poverty and recent civil […]
President Bush will take a ride near the US-Mexico Border today near Yuma, Arizona in a further attempt to create support for his "comprehensive immigration reform". With the upcoming presidential primaries, Bush is seeking support from the anti-immigration right of the Republican Party in order to produce one of his last significant policy initiatives before […]
Canadians Abroad Part 3: Mohammed Al-Attar, a Canadian citizen and immigrant to Canada from Egypt was in court again on March 28th 2007. He was accused in addition with another three Israeli men for being intelligence officers for Israel who gave El-Attar orders to use money and sex to recruit Christian Egyptian-Canadians. The three others […]
On April 4th 2007, the continuing tensions surrounding US immigration reform and its effect on American industry was highlighted on a raid on the Cargill pork plant in Illinois. In the raid, 62 illegal immigrants were arrested and taken into custody. While they are part of an independent sanitation crew, the Cargill raid and make […]
The OECD is set to release a comprehensive report on migration today, showing that Australia, Canada and New Zealand – all countries which have skilled migrant schemes in place – have seen the fastest population growth over recent years. But the US and the UK remained the biggest destination countries, receiving nearly one million and […]
Spring has sprung all across Europe. With the warming of the waters off the Spanish and Italian coasts, thousands of African migrants will again try to make their way to the promised land: Europe. Many, desperate for a better life, will become victims of human traffickers , will risk life and limb on open waters, […]
Canadians Abroad Part 2:Ā The question of the rights of Canadian citizens abroad has recently come to light in the case of Mohamed El-Attar. El-Attar was put to trial on Feb 24th 2007 in Egypt for allegedly being a spy for the Israeli Mossad in Canada. He was picked up on January 1st on a […]
Canadians Abroad Part 1:Ā The question of how immigrants should be treated, or considered equally among all social and cultural groups in a country was put to its greatest test in Canada in the summer of 2006. During the conflict between Israel and Lebanon last summer there was a flood of protests and criticisms against […]
Berlin played host to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaties of Rome, the cornerstone of the modern European Union over the weekend. Germany's presidency of the Council is a fortuitous coincidence, imbuing these celebrations with a particularly symbolic air. As one of the founding nations, a country divided until […]
Nearly 180,000 undocumented migrants in Germany will soon be able to live in the country legally – providing they have a job by 2009. This is one of the core provisions etched into the compromise solution hammered out between the members of the ruling coalition, the Social Democratic and Christian Democratic Parties last week. The […]
With approximately 12 million illegal immigrants from Mexico currently living in the United States, the focus of the last leg of Bush's Latin America TourĀ in Mexico was dominated by immigration issues. In the article “Mexico presses Bush over Immigration on Tour“, writer Steve Holland suggests that President Felipe Calderon of Mexico surprised many by placing […]
Elihu Root, a leading American International Lawyer argued in 1910 for the rights of Foreign Nationals. In states in which they were not citizens, there was an obligation under Customary International Law that national law must treat aliens as equal to that of their own citizens, as well, that there is an International Minimum Standard […]
TIME Magazine featured an interesting cover story a few weeks ago. In it, author Jumana Farouky highlights five steps toward a true muticultural society in Europe. She suggests that the debate on headscarves take on a more rational approach accross Europe, as a sign of a true acceptance of Islam into the multi-facetted spectrum of […]
Central America: Part 1: In communities all over North America since the 1980s there has been an ever-growing community of Central Americans among American, Canadian and Mexican cities. The destruction of many communities due to the Central American wars in the 1980s have left permanent scars among not only the economic, social and political structures […]
The protection of fundamental rights for all residing in the EU is the goal of the European Fundamental Rights Agency (EFRA) launched today in Vienna, Austria. EFRA previously functioned as the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). The agency's core competence will remain the same: data and information collection on the abuse of […]
