WPR Articles Feb. 2, 2015 - Feb. 6, 2015

With Signs of Ebola Waning, WHO Must Adapt for the Next Outbreak

By: Jeremy Youde | Briefing

Despite some very cautious optimism that the Ebola outbreak may be winding down, the World Health Organization cannot really take a victory lap. After coming under significant criticism for its slow response to the outbreak, the WHO and the international community must prepare for the next epidemic.

Syriza Shockwaves: Greek Leftists Challenge Austerity—and Status Quo

By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines

As the first anti-austerity party in Europe to take office since the European debt crisis began in 2010, Syriza’s election in Greece has sent shockwaves across the continent. If a great leftist experiment is indeed underway, the results will have lasting effects not only on Greece, but on the EU as a whole.

Amid Political Turmoil, Yemen’s Economy Poses Bigger Threat

By: Peter Salisbury | Briefing

As political infighting rumbles on in Yemen, where Houthi rebels forced the resignation of the government at gunpoint last month, the country’s economy is in increasingly dire shape. If nothing is done to shore up government finances, a long-predicted economic collapse is more or less certain.

Territorial Control and Iranian Proxies Prolong Syria’s Stalemate

By: Frederick Deknatel | Trend Lines

Syria’s de facto political map is vital to understanding why the conflict is a stalemate. But the war also remains intractable given the lifeline President Bashar al-Assad has to outside arms through Iran. A new report on foreign Shiite fighters provides revealing details on the nature of Iran’s support.

The Case for a Punitive Expedition Against the Islamic State

By: Steven Metz | Column

From the moment the U.S. took on the so-called Islamic State (IS), whether or not to use ground forces has been one of the most contentious issues. A modern-day version of historical punitive expeditions might alter the behavior of IS even if airstrikes and local forces cannot do the job alone.

More After Late Start, Japan Attempts to Join Global Defense Market By: The Editors | Trend Lines Last month, Japan and the United Kingdom agreed to jointly research new air-to-air missile technology. In an email interview, Yuzo Murayama, professor at the Graduate School of Business at Doshisha University, discussed Japan’s entry into the global defense market. Despite Syriza’s Defiance, Germany Still Key to EU’s Russia Policy By: Richard Gowan | Column When Greece came close to a sovereign default in 2010, the eurozone and EU seemed at risk of fragmentation. Instead, both forged mechanisms to handle the crisis, tilting the balance of power on EU fiscal policy toward Germany. This pattern could now be repeated with regard to Europe’s Russia policy. Germany’s Deceptive Calm: The Hidden Rifts in Merkel’s Consensus By: Paul Hockenos | Feature On the surface, Germany under Chancellor Angela Merkel appears a model of harmony and consensus. But while Merkel has been an energetic modernizer of German conservatism, her success has overshadowed a number of deep divisions that threaten the stability she has built. U.S. Can’t Solve Central America’s Problems With Money Alone By: Michael Allison | Briefing The White House’s plan to spend $1 billion on development, security and governance initiatives in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador is a welcome announcement. But a great deal will have to fall into place for the new U.S. commitment to Central America to deliver much-needed results on the ground. Without High-Tech Sector, Russia Doomed to China Trade Imbalance By: Richard Weitz | Column China’s economic importance to Russia has increased as Moscow’s commercial relations with the West stagnate. Yet their trade relationship is destined to remain imbalanced, with Russia exporting natural resources and importing Chinese consumer goods, unless it expands to high-value economic sectors. Chinese Investment Key to Improving Infrastructure in Africa By: The Editors | Trend Lines Last week, China and the African Union (AU) agreed on a deal to develop transportation infrastructure across Africa. In an email interview, Ross Anthony, interim director of the Centre for Chinese Studies in Cape Town, discussed Chinese investment in Africa. Fresh Off Obama’s India Trip, China’s Xi Courts Modi By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column China has wasted no time in mounting its own charm offensive to woo India in the aftermath of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Chinese President Xi Jinping is determined to chart a new course in relations between “the dragon and the elephant.” China’s New Latin America Ties Are Strategic, Not Just Economic By: Frida Ghitis | Column Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to double trade with Latin America to half a trillion dollars and raise direct investment to $250 billion within 10 years. Beijing has moved with intensity and determination, highlighting Washington’s tendency to become distracted from its own hemisphere. Mali’s Veneer of Progress Giving Way to Violence, Divisions By: Peter Dörrie | Briefing Mali’s recent political progress could be but a thin veneer, barely covering the deep rifts that shape the country’s political landscape. The peace process is deeply flawed, while President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has lost so much political standing that his resignation is openly discussed in Bamako. Georgia Misses Chance on Russia Overreach in Abkhazia, South Ossetia By: Michael Cecire | Briefing Last month, Russia ratified what it called a “Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership” with the separatist Georgian region of Abkhazia, and a more comprehensive deal with nearby South Ossetia looks to be on the way. With the treaties, Moscow’s “recognition” of the breakaway territories has come full circle.