WPR Articles Sept. 29, 2014 - Oct. 3, 2014

EU Must Develop Clear Strategy to Address Migration Surge

By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines

With over 3,000 people having drowned trying to enter Europe so far this year, there have been many calls for European nations and the European Union to do more to address the issues of migration and asylum. But the burden of dealing with asylum seekers is not shared equally across the EU.

U.S. Sidelines Russia at U.N., but Real-World Gains Remain Elusive

By: Richard Gowan | Column

Last week’s U.N. General Assembly showed that the U.S. can still dominate the U.N. when it wants to, and that a majority of other countries are relieved to follow an American lead. But it also showed that the U.N. is only really relevant in two regions: Africa and the Middle East.

France Joins Fight Against Islamic State Group to Revive Ties to Iraq

By: Myriam Benraad | Briefing

By participating in U.S.-led air strikes against the Islamic State group, France is making a remarkable comeback in Iraq after distancing itself from Baghdad a decade earlier. Paris is regaining a seemingly long-term foothold in Iraq and opening a new era in French-Iraqi relations.

Political Jockeying Puts Cote d’Ivoire’s Reconciliation in Jeopardy

By: Alex Vines | Briefing

Earlier this month, Cote d’Ivoire’s opposition FPI rejected the ruling coalition's nominee to run the election commission. The move reflects the FPI's ambivalence about working with President Alassane Ouattara, and that political jockeying for the 2015 presidential election has already begun.

U.S. Must Anticipate Game Changers in Fight Against Islamic State

By: Steven Metz | Column

President Barack Obama has set his strategy to fight the so-called Islamic State, but over time the situation will undergo major shifts. To exploit opportunities and avoid risks, U.S. leaders must anticipate what the big “game changers” in the conflict may be and what they may mean.

More Defying Predictions, China Manages Slowdown to Avoid Social Shocks By: Iain Mills | Briefing Since coming to power, the current Chinese government has steadily managed down expectations of future growth in the world’s second-largest economy. Strikingly, however, despite what might be described as an industrial hard landing, job creation and income growth remain remarkably robust. After Ebola: Preparing Western Health Care Systems for the Next Epidemic By: Jeremy Youde | Feature The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa has prompted a wider discussion about the ability of the U.S. and other Western countries to respond to an epidemic. The likelihood of Ebola overwhelming Western health systems is low, but we cannot be sanguine about their ability to tackle other threats. Low-Key Caspian Sea Summit Has Far-Reaching Implications By: Richard Weitz | Column The leaders of all five littoral states attended the fourth Caspian Sea summit in the Russian city of Astrakhan yesterday, where they reached important agreements on some issues. Yet, others continue to divide them, with implications that reach far beyond the Caspian. Once Foes, Uganda and DRC Cooperate, but Friendly Ties Far Off By: The Editors | Trend Lines Last month, senior diplomats from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo met to discuss bilateral relations. In an email interview, Gaaki Kigambo, a journalist in Uganda, discussed current efforts to improve relations between between the two countries. Obama’s Muddled Messaging Encourages U.S. Allies to Free Ride By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column The Obama administration has still not found the appropriate balance in its foreign policy rhetoric between making the case for continued U.S. leadership of the international system and encouraging other countries to help lighten America’s load by taking up more of the burden. Poland’s Government Reshuffle Could Soften Russia Policy By: David Klion | Trend Lines Last month, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski left the position he had held since 2007. His departure comes at a time of great turmoil, and he had become well-known as one of the more experienced foreign ministers in Europe and one of the toughest critics of Russia. As Election Tightens, Brazil Seeks a President—but Also Its Way By: Eric Farnsworth | Briefing In the midst of an unexpectedly close presidential race, there appears to be no national consensus yet on what sort of nation Brazil aspires to be. Yet the country faces difficult choices on the economy and foreign policy, with implications for Brazilians, Latin America and the United States. Japan Pins Foreign Policy Goals on Stronger Latin America Ties By: The Editors | Trend Lines This summer, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe went on a five-nation tour of Latin America. In an email interview, Melba Falck Reyes, professor in the Pacific studies department at the University of Guadalajara, discussed Japan’s ties with Latin America. With Hong Kong Protests, China Confronts Fateful Choice By: Frida Ghitis | Column The unexpected outbreak of massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong has presented authorities in Beijing with a pivotal challenge. Chinese President Xi Jinping has three choices: He can compromise; he can crack down; or he can watch and wait, hoping the protests will die down. Turkey Declares New War on Drugs, Ignoring Pitfalls and Global Trends By: Benoît Gomis | Briefing Last month, likening drug dealers to terrorists, the Turkish government declared a new war on drugs, with the objective of eradicating drug use in Turkey by 2023. With growing international momentum toward more humane and realistic drug policies, Turkey is heading in the opposite direction.