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Saturday, October 8, 2016

WPR Articles Sept. 30 — Oct. 7


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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