World Politics Review Articles 12/01-12/07

WPR Articles 01 Dec 2012 - 07 Dec 2012

Hamas' Shifting Regional Alliances Complicate U.S. Mideast Strategy

By: Matthew Duss | Briefing

The recent Gaza conflict and the negotiations that eventually led to a cease-fire on Nov. 21 highlight some of the shifts currently taking place in the Middle East, particularly in Hamas’ relations with Qatar, Turkey and Egypt. These shifts represent a considerable challenge for the U.S. as it attempts to facilitate democratic transitions in the region while maintaining long-standing partnerships.

Missed Opportunities Threaten U.N. Human Rights Council With Irrelevance

By: M. Joel Voss | Briefing

Among the  mechanisms the U.N. gave the Human Rights Council to promote and protect human rights is the ability to call ad-hoc special sessions that, when used against states, serve to “name and shame” human rights violators. Over the past few weeks, however, the council has missed out on two critical opportunities to assert itself as the premier global institution for protecting human rights.

To Bolster Failed States, Support Freedom

By: Alan W. Dowd | Briefing

Writing in 1776, Adam Smith observed that in ancient times, rich nations had difficulty defending themselves from poorer ones, whereas by the late-18th century, the reverse was true. If Smith were alive today, he might argue that the 21st century more closely resembles ancient times than his own era: Failed and failing states now generate far more worries for the international community than powerful ones.

To Reform Mexico's Economy, Peña Nieto Must Tackle 'Culture of Monopolies'

By: Cory Siskind | Briefing

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto promised during his campaign to triple Mexico’s GDP growth rate to 5-6 percent annually. In order to even approach that lofty goal, he must confront the country’s bloated monopolies. Complicating this already monumental task is Mexico’s entrenched culture of monopolies, which will be harder to defeat than the actual monopolies themselves.

Amid Regional Rivalries, Japan Remains a Vital Partner for ASEAN

By: Jonathan Berkshire Miller | Briefing

ASEAN’s engagement with Asia and the rest of the world is determined by more than its members’ relationships with China and the U.S. While the latter two will remain the most powerful actors in the region, it would be myopic to dismiss the influence of other key players. Because of its geography and economic synergies, Japan in particular will play a critical role in helping ASEAN meet its potential.

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Childcare Controversy Highlights Germany's Regional, Historical Divides

By: Catherine Cheney | Trend Lines

The Betreuungsgeld, a policy that will provide a monthly allowance to parents who keep their toddlers out of public daycare programs, is at the center of an emotional debate on family politics in Germany.

The Continentalist: France Raises Its U.N. Profile -- for Now

By: Richard Gowan | Column

Is France the most influential nation at the United Nations today? To anybody who doesn’t follow events at the U.N. closely, this may sound silly given the power and influence of the U.S., Russia and China. However, France, often but not always working in tandem with Britain, has played a decisive role in a series of U.N. debates over the past few years, sometimes even outmaneuvering the Americans.

Global Insights: U.S. Army Has Crucial Role in Asia Pivot

By: Richard Weitz | Column

In discussions of the Asia pivot, the roles of the U.S. Navy and Air Force have been prominent, especially given the Pentagon’s development of the Air-Sea Battle concept. But the U.S. strategic rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region is a collective effort that spans all federal departments and all branches of the military. The Army, in particular, has a significant, if less understood, role to play.

Europe's Economic Leverage Over Israel Goes Untapped

By: Catherine Cheney | Trend Lines

Israel is not backing down after its announcement of a settlement expansion plan, following the United Nations vote providing Palestine with nonvoting observer-state status, prompted a loud protest from five European Union countries.

Colombia-Nicaragua ICJ Case Tests Region's Crisis Resolution Mechanisms

By: Cameron Combs | Briefing

Latin America prides itself on being a peaceful region -- and with good reason. It is surprising, then, that border disputes continually bedevil the region. Many of these tensions remain unresolved, and when they surface, as in the example of the Nov. 19 ruling by the International Court of Justice on the case between Colombia and Nicaragua, there can be huge, often unexpected, ramifications.

Strategic Horizons: U.S. Military Must Transcend Warfighting Mindset

By: Steven Metz | Column

As large-scale involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan winds down, the U.S. military seems determined to turn back the clock and revive its Cold War-era warfighting mindset. This despite the fact that, today, even the most creative minds in the Department of Defense are hard-pressed to concoct a realistic scenario where the military would have to repel a large-scale conventional attack on a friendly state.

Global Insider: Mexico's Peña Nieto Inherits an Underperforming Relationship with Canada

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In an email interview, Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, discussed Canada-Mexico relations.

World Citizen: Turkey Feels the Heat From Baghdad-Kurdish Tensions

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

There is practically no space left on the Middle East’s geopolitical plate for another conflict. Like it or not, however, the long-simmering animosity between Iraq’s central government and the country’s Kurdish minority is reaching a boiling point. Because these tensions find echoes in the political realities of neighboring countries, the potential consequences could be far-reaching.

For Kimberley Process, Next Challenge is Broadening Mandate on Conflict Diamonds

By: Roxane Horton | Briefing

Since it was created in 2003, the Kimberley Process has been remarkably successful in reducing trade in conflict diamonds. In the 1990s, conflict diamonds were estimated to represent 15 percent of international trade. That proportion is now down to 0.1 percent. As it nears its 10-year anniversary, however, the process is grappling with its narrow mandate and a system that requires unanimity in decision-making.

The Realist Prism: U.S. Must Plan Now for China's Global Presence

By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column

With defense cuts looming, there will be greater pressure on U.S. defense planners to decide which overseas military facilities are absolutely essential for U.S. national security and which ones are not worth retaining. In doing so, Washington must develop a clear strategic vision for how to respond should China eventually seek to plant its flag beyond East Asia, particularly in bases the U.S. has abandoned.

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