WPR Articles Sept. 30 — Oct. 7
Can the U.S. Afford the Cost of Inaction in Aleppo?
By: Judah Grunstein | Column
Should
the United States use military means to try to stop Syrian and Russian
forces from massacring the civilian population of Aleppo? If the answer
to that question is no, then what level of atrocity is the U.S., and the
world, willing to tolerate in Syria—and elsewhere—before intervening?
Attack on Aid Workers in South Sudan Was an Attack on Humanitarianism Itself
By: Nanjala Nyabola | Briefing
In
August, reports emerged that South Sudanese soldiers had attacked
foreign aid workers during a July rampage in Juba, raping several women.
The attack reflected the systemic failure to safeguard foreign aid
workers who seem to have followed every single security protocol, yet
were left unprotected.
Enhanced EU Defense Ties Could Bolster NATO, but Still Face Familiar Skepticism
By: Karina Piser | Trend Lines
In
the aftermath of the Brexit vote, European leaders have stressed the
need for greater EU defense cooperation, which could reduce
inefficiencies and improve defense coordination. But critics of the plan
accuse the EU of competing with NATO and say the bloc is trying to
become a “superstate.”
What Does the Future Hold for Brazil’s Embattled Workers’ Party?
By: João Augusto de Castro Neves | Briefing
Brazil’s
left-wing Workers’ Party was confronted with a new political reality
when it was soundly defeated in local elections earlier this week. While
local politics are not always a bellwether for national politics in
Brazil, the vote still highlighted two new trends from a shift in voter
behavior.
Why the Next U.N. Secretary-General May End Up Regretting Winning the Job
By: Richard Gowan | Column
The
race to be the new U.N. secretary-general is almost over. The eventual
winner may end up envying the losers, and find that success tastes very
bitter: The selection process to succeed Ban Ki-moon is culminating
during the worst institutional crisis the Security Council has seen
since the Iraq war.
Deal to End Guinea-Bissau’s Deadlock Instead Stokes Risk of Another Coup
By: Charles Pembroke | Briefing
Earlier
this month, Guinea-Bissau’s political factions agreed to a six-point
roadmap to form a consensus government and end more than a year of
deadlock. But the ambitious deal is unlikely to overcome the deep
divisions within Guinea-Bissau’s parliament or address the fundamental
drivers of instability.
How Innovation and Youth Can Transform African Economies
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In
this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s editor-in-chief, Judah Grunstein,
and host Peter Dörrie discuss discrimination against women, politics in
Guinea-Bissau, and Syrian refugees’ right to work. For the Report,
Ernest Nti Acheampong joins us to talk about young entrepreneurs in
Africa.
The Annihilation of Aleppo
By: Frederick Deknatel | Trend Lines
Since
the collapse last week of a short-lived cease-fire that was brokered by
the United States and Russia, the forces of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, backed by Russian jets, have attempted to retake the
rebel-controlled eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo with unusually brutal
force, even for this war.
Threat of Rising Sea Levels Drives the Netherland’s Climate Policy
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
The
Dutch parliament voted last week to cut the Netherlands’ greenhouse gas
emissions by 55 percent by 2030, a move that requires closing the
country’s five remaining coal-fired power plants. In an email interview,
Pier Vellinga discusses the Netherland’s climate change policy.
To Prevail Against Violent Extremism, the U.S. Needs Universal National Service
By: Steven Metz | Column
America’s
conflict with violent Islamic extremism will require a
multigenerational effort. One initiative could help steel national will
for that fight, reinforce a sense of shared national purpose, and shrink
the pool of young Americans willing to become terrorists: universal
national service.
Don’t Underestimate the Implications of Quantum Technology
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
Last
month, China launched the world’s first quantum satellite, which is
designed to establish “hack-proof” communications between space and the
ground, with major implications for security and defense policy. In an
email interview, Taylor Owen and Robert Gorwa discuss quantum
technology.
Why IMF-Driven Economic Reforms Paid Off for Jamaica This Time
By: Robert Looney | Briefing
Good
economic news out of the Caribbean has been few and far-between in the
aftermath of the global financial crisis. Yet now Jamaica is
unexpectedly transitioning into a pattern of solid, sustainable growth,
thanks to deeper reforms imposed by the International Monetary Fund,
rather than foreign aid.
After the FARC Peace Referendum Failed, What’s Next for Colombia?
By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines
On Sunday,
Colombians narrowly rejected in a referendum a peace deal with leftist
FARC rebels, raising questions about what the future holds for a country
that has been fighting the guerrilla movement for 52 years. Both sides’
ongoing commitment to peace is a good sign, but the next steps are
unknown.
For Morocco, Manipulating Elections to Contain Islamists May Backfire
By: Mohammed Masbah | Briefing
Morocco
is the only Arab country with regular, competitive elections and where
the success of an Islamist party, the PJD, has not stoked instability.
But the monarchy’s commitment to political reform, on display in
Friday’s parliamentary elections, is balanced by fears of the PJD’s
rising power.
Germany’s Asylum-Seekers Are Caught Between Isolation and Integration
By: Josie Le Blond | Feature
Germany
continues to face challenges as it copes with a massive influx of
refugees. Asylum-seekers, often living in temporary housing or poor
conditions, are at the mercy of overwhelmed authorities. As they
languish in limbo, some have become nostalgic for the war zone they
fled. Germany can do better.
When Doing Less to Stabilize Fragile States Is the Least Bad Option
By: Ellen Laipson | Column
A
“less is more” approach seems to be emerging over how to improve the
outcomes of international interventions. It reflects the disappointing
track record of past efforts. But it’s also an expression of the crisis
of confidence in Western countries about their ability to make the world
a better place.
Nepal Must Go Beyond ‘Raising Awareness’ to Tackle Root Causes of Gender Inequality
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
A
recent report by Human Rights Watch criticized Nepal’s record on child
marriage. Thirty-seven percent of girls marry before age 18, and while
the government has pledged to end child marriage, it has taken few steps
to achieve this goal. In an email interview, Claire Naylor discusses
women’s right in Nepal.
Western Partner or Smuggler’s Paradise? Montenegro Is a Little of Both
By: Andrew MacDowall | Briefing
Montenegro goes to the polls Oct. 16,
when Milo Djukanovic will almost certainly be re-elected for a seventh
term as prime minister. The country is expected to join NATO next year
and is in pole position to become the EU’s next member. But are both
blocs ignoring Montenegro’s domestic problems?
After Election Shake-Up, the Seychelles Enters Uncharted Political Waters
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
Last
month, the Seychelles’ president, James Michel, resigned after his
political party, Parti Lepep, lost parliamentary elections. Vice
President Danny Faure will be sworn in later this month to complete the
remainder of Michel’s five-year term. In an email interview, Yolanda
Sadie discussed politics in the Seychelles.
Despite Failed Referendum, Don’t Rule Out Colombia’s Chances for Peace Just Yet
By: Frida Ghitis | Column
The
international community celebrated the peace agreement between Colombia
and the FARC insurgency before it was a done deal. It is now making the
same mistake again, grieving the death of peace after Sunday’s failed referendum. In fact, the chances for a peace deal in Colombia still look promising.
Ban’s U.N. Legacy and the Challenges Facing Guterres
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In
this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s senior editor, Frederick
Deknatel, and host Peter Dörrie discuss the cost of U.S. inaction in
Aleppo, the attack on aid workers in South Sudan, and Germany’s struggle
to integrate refugees. For the Report, Richard Gowan talks about the
challenges facing the U.N.
Does Every U.S. Soldier Really Need to Know How to Fight the Enemy?
By: Steven Metz | Column
One
of the mantras of the U.S. Marine Corps is that every Marine is first
and foremost a rifleman, regardless of their actual occupational
specialty. This idea “warrior mindset” has become so deeply ingrained in
the American military that it is seldom discussed or analyzed. But it
should be.
How Much Damage Can Duterte Do to the U.S.-Philippine Relationship?
By: Joshua Kurlantzick | Briefing
Since
Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines earlier this
year, he has staked out a drastically different approach to Manila’s
relations with the U.S.—or at least, he appears to have, based on his
bombastic rhetoric. But from courting China to buying Russian arms, what
does he really plan to do?
Post-Nuclear Deal, Iran Tries to Jump Start Ties With Southeast Asia
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani was in Vietnam this week as part of a
three-nation tour of Southeast Asia. Rouhani and Vietnamese President
Tran Dai Quang agreed to work toward the goal of boosting trade to $2
billion. In an email interview, John Calabrese discusses Iran’s outreach
to Southeast Asia.
What Can Turkey’s Intervention Into Northern Syria Really Achieve?
By: Aaron Stein, Rao Komar | Briefing
In
late August, Turkey launched Euphrates Shield, a cross-border military
operation into northern Syria, which so far has achieved its initial
goals, including pushing ISIS away from the Turkish border. But
questions remain about Turkey’s longer-term exit strategy and plans for
territory taken from ISIS.
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