WPR Articles This Week Nov. 22, 2014 - Nov. 28, 2014

Articles This Week Nov. 22, 2014 - Nov. 28, 2014

With Reforms, China’s Xi Seeks Course Correction, not Power Grab

By: Iain Mills | Briefing

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption and governance reforms are not attempts to recentralize power or even re-establish a “cult of personality.” Rather, Xi has acknowledged fundamental problems within the Chinese political economy and is taking meaningful steps to address them.

Russia-Pakistan Defense Accord Signals Shifting Regional Alignments

By: Richard Weitz | Column

On Nov. 20, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited Islamabad and signed an unprecedented Russia-Pakistan defense cooperation agreement. The new Russia-Pakistan partnership is understandable in light of changing geopolitical developments in the region, particularly regarding Afghanistan.

Adaptive Engagement: China’s Approach to Southern Africa

By: Cobus van Staden | Feature

Observers of China’s engagement with Africa often assume that Africa is passive in the relationship. A look at Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa shows that the reality is more complicated: Chinese actors often try to partially adapt to specific African systems, with varying degrees of success.

To Soothe Investors, Mexico’s Pena Nieto Must Tackle Graft

By: Nathaniel Parish Flannery | Briefing

President Enrique Pena Nieto’s crafted image of a Mexico open for business after a series of economic reforms has been sullied by scandals that could discourage the foreign investment that is so key to his agenda. Investors will watch closely to see what steps Pena Nieto takes to address corruption.

Bold or Not, Next U.N. Secretary-General Faces World of Pain

By: Richard Gowan | Column

Earlier this month a campaign was launched to overturn the “outdated and opaque” process for selecting the U.N. secretary-general. But with global divisions threatening the organization’s ability to improve international cooperation, it’s questionable how much impact the post can really have.

More Brazil’s Petrobas Scandal Forces Rousseff’s Hand on Corruption By: Sean Goforth | Briefing With a corruption investigation of state-owned oil company Petrobras, the ground is shifting for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Arrests for kickbacks on contracts underscore the close and crooked ties between Petrobras and the political coalition that has governed Brazil for the past 12 years. Mongolia Shuffles PMs to Address Self-Inflicted Economic Crisis By: The Editors | Trend Lines Last week Mongolia’s parliament appointed Chimed Saikhanbileg prime minister, two weeks after Norov Altankhuyag lost a no-confidence vote. In an email interview, Julian Dierkes, associate professor at the University of British Columbia, discussed Mongolian politics. European Commission President Likely to Survive Lux Leaks Scandal By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is in hot water over the Lux Leaks scandal—the publication of documents exposing how international firms avoided paying billions of dollars in taxes while maintaining only a token presence in Luxembourg. In South Sudan, U.N. Peacekeepers’ Biggest Challenge: Staying Neutral By: Aditi Gorur | Briefing Protecting civilians from violence in South Sudan’s civil war rests in large part on U.N. peacekeepers, who to do so must be perceived as neutral. An upcoming Security Council resolution on the peacekeeping mission’s mandate could expand its writ, but also threaten its much-needed neutrality. China, South Korea Conclude FTA as Regional Deals Stall By: The Editors | Trend Lines Earlier this month, China and South Korea reached a free trade agreement (FTA). In an email interview, Tony Nash, global vice president of Delta Economics, discussed the implications of the China-South Korea FTA. Obama Faces Nothing but Problems in Finding Hagel Replacement By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel apparently drew the short straw and emerged as the first sacrificial victim dispatched by President Barack Obama after the dismal midterms. Obama must locate a new defense secretary who can be part of his inner circle rather than being held at arm’s length.