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China: What the CCP Could Learn from Latin America
By Mariano Turzi 19 Mar 2010World Politics Review
The Chinese Communist Party has identified "inner-party democracy" as the key to curbing corruption and preventing concentration of power at the local levels of government. But the political forces and interest groups that benefit from the central government's patronage will not give up their privileges easily. In this sense, Latin America's experience offers useful insights into the party's chances for success.
Asia's Food Crisis Driving Broader Trade Shifts
By Saurav Jha 18 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review Food prices in Asia continue to be above what they were prior to the 2007-2008 surge. Worse, there are signs that they may increase once again owing to the existence of similar conditions. Presently, the region's major economies are reorienting their food management policies -- a step that is likely to be the harbinger of a tougher stance on the Doha Round of trade talks as well as on climate change issues.India Looks to Deepen Its Afghan Presence
By Priyanka Bhardwaj 18 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review NEW DELHI -- The Indian-Pakistani rivalry has spilled over into Afghanistan, with both countries treating the war-torn country as an extension of their institutional, strategic and market interests. Now a series of attacks on its nationals, combined with the July 2011 timeline for a drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, confronts New Delhi with the need to make resolute choices.Ukraine's Election Clouds EU's Energy Future
By Andrea Bonzanni 17 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review There is little doubt that as president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych will decisively shift the country's geopolitical posture, with Kiev once again moving closer to Moscow after its pro-Western and pro-EU turn of 2005. The potential consequences on the EU's energy future are serious, as 80 percent of Russian natural gas exports to Europe transit through Ukrainian territory.Sudan's Elections: Historic, but Futile?
By Lauren Gelfand 17 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review NAIROBI, Kenya -- The upcoming elections in Sudan will be the country's first multiparty ballot in 24 years, but for many in South Sudan, their outcome is a forgone conclusion and their fairness is already in question. Flawed though they are, however, the national elections also represent a historic chance for suffrage, with many in the North and South using the campaign to openly voice independent opinions.Iraq Elections: Maliki's Path to Re-election
By Kirk Sowell 16 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review Most coverage of the outcome of Iraq's March 7 elections has portrayed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's re-election as seriously in doubt, with former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a secular Shiite, contending for the position. However, a close reading of available region-by-region vote counts suggests that not only is another term for Maliki likely, his only real obstacle is securing Kurdish support.Trans-Pacific Partnership: A U.S. Entry to Asian Integration
By Sean Goforth 15 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review The United States is entering negotiations this week to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a relatively unknown trade agreement that includes Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore. The pact is humble in its origins and the group's share of global GDP is minute. But the TPP has quietly gained momentum over recent years and represents a promising point of entry for the U.S. into Asia's gathering integration.Thailand's Showdown Goes into Overtime
By Craig Guthrie 15 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review BANGKOK -- It was billed by local media as the last stand of former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra's red-shirted rural supporters against a bureaucratic elite that they claim rules Thailand as an "Orwellian state." But despite heightened fears of a "final battle," Sunday's mass protest has so far only set the stage for more political instability in the coming days and weeks.
Earthquake Recovery Tops Piñera's Agenda in Chile
By David Dudenhoefer
12 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
SANTIAGO, Chile -- As conservative billionaire Sebastian Piñera was
sworn in as Chile's 38th president on March 11, the Chilean congressional building swayed due to aftershocks from the
earthquake that struck two
weeks ago. The tremors were a reminder that Piñera's success as
president will depend on his
ability to lead an efficient recovery from the country's worst natural
disaster in 50 years.
Britain: Foreign Policy Implications of a Conservative Victory
By Henry Kippin
12 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
The outcome of the U.K.'s upcoming general election is no longer a
foregone conclusion, with the opposition Conservative Party's steady
lead in opinion polls recently narrowing. All the same, given Prime Minister Gordon Brown's
political difficulties, a Conservative win is certainly plausible. So what would
be the implications of a Conservative victory on foreign and development
policy?
The Road Ahead for Colombia-Venezuela Relations
By Eliot Brockner
11 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
In announcing on March 8 that Venezuela is interested in restoring
diplomatic ties with Colombia, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas
Maduro noted that any improvement will not take place while current
Colombian President Álvaro Uribe remains in office. The jab was just one
of many traded over the past eight years, but the conciliatory rhetoric suggests that the two
countries may be turning a corner in bilateral relations.
Long Odds for South Korea's 'Swap Regime' Proposal
By Daniel McDowell
10 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
As current president of the G-20, South Korea has been busy promoting an apparently
novel solution
to the global trade imbalances that helped pave the way for the recent international financial crisis: an international currency swap regime. But how
would such an arrangement work, and could it actually help correct
current imbalances? As important, is there any chance this idea will
get off the ground?
Iraq's Elections Show Democracy's Growing Strength
By Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati
09 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
The run up to this weekend's Iraqi election -- the second general election held since the fall of Saddam's regime
-- was marked by
speculation, anticipation and no shortage of controversy. Although the elections saw some violence, there is little doubt that
they were a marked improvement from 2005 and a testament that democracy
is taking root in Iraq.
Choosing Stability Over Democracy in Ethiopia
By Lauren Gelfand
09 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
On the surface, Ethiopia is a stable, prospering nation, cultivating
strong relationships with the international donors who have for more
than a generation funded food, health and infrastructure projects for
the country's 85 million people. But according to some groups, beneath the surface is a regime that wields power with
impunity, repressing dissent, opposition and difference of opinion.
'Win-Win' Not Enough for China and Indonesia
By Prashanth Parameswaran
08 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
China has designated 2010 "The Year of China-Indonesia Friendship" to
mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with the
world's fourth-largest country. But while both countries are poised to
reap major benefits from their improved bilateral ties, Beijing and
Jakarta must manage their asymmetric relationship skillfully to
mitigate potential tensions in the future.
Likely Scenarios for Iraq's Elections
By Kirk Sowell
05 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
Iraq's parliamentary elections this Sunday, March 7, will close
the first full chapter in the country's transformation to a
democratically elected, majority-rule system of government. The nation's
corruption, fragile peace and lack of national reconciliation have left
many -- including American officials -- looking for change, in either Iraq's leadership or its government. They will likely be disappointed.
Bailout Talks Raise Tensions between Greece and Germany
By Nicolas Nagle
04 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
Public opposition to an EU bailout of debt-strapped Greece is mounting, particularly in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel is already politically vulnerable. As a result, despite the dangers a Greek meltdown would pose to the eurozone, Germany has adopted a hard-line position on how the EU should respond to the crisis, causing relations between the two countries to become increasingly strained.
Wrong Time for Armenian Genocide Bill
By Matt Stone
03 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
Demonstrating a predictable lack of strategic foresight, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold its
mark-up session for the Armenian Genocide resolution tomorrow. While there is little doubt outside of Turkey that genocide was
perpetrated against the Armenians in the 1910s, the resolution threatens
to undermine U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and South Caucasus
at exactly the wrong time.
Bombs Away: Removing Tactical Nukes from Europe
By Johan Bergenäs
02 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
With the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference around
the corner, President Barack Obama is in dire need of a credible arms
control and disarmament achievement worthy of the lofty agenda he
articulated almost a year ago in Prague. Ridding Europe of U.S. nuclear weapons is one possible goal. But to do so, he will have to
reject flawed and outdated arguments that stand in the way.
Death and Taxes in Marjah, Afghanistan
By Joshua Foust
01 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
The success of Operation Moshtarak, NATO's military offensive to seize
the Taliban-controlled town of Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province,
will be determined by how well coalition forces establish a functioning
government now that the bulk of the actual fighting is over. NATO's plan, which it calls "government-in-a-box," should include a stable tax regime as an essential foundation for governance.
Al-Qaida is Defeated, but Our Work Has Just Begun
By Jon B. Alterman
26 Feb 2010 |
World Politics Review
As much as a military effort, the war against al-Qaida has been a battle
for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. Immediately after
the events of Sept. 11, 2001, it was not always clear how that battle
for Muslim hearts and minds would end up. But with the passage
of time, we now have a good idea. Al-Qaida has lost. And as a result, in
an important way, al-Qaida itself has been defeated.
