WPR Articles Monday, Sept. 21, 2015 - Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 Ukraine’s Other Domestic Threat: Far Right and Ultranationalists By: Josh Cohen | Briefing While Ukraine continues to fight Russian-backed separatists, it is also facing an internal challenge equally threatening to its sovereignty: a small but powerful right-wing nationalist movement prepared to use violence to achieve its goals. The far right could destroy Ukraine’s nascent democracy. How Latin America Can Tackle Climate Change and Economic Growth By: Jed Bailey | Briefing Latin America accounts for only 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet many countries in the region are leading climate change mitigation efforts. Ahead of U.N. climate talks in Paris later this year, ambitious plans face two major obstacles: slowing economic growth and low oil prices. North Africa’s Ties to Europe Leave Little Room for Iran By: The Editors | Trend Lines Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Tunisia and Algeria to discuss strategic ties. In an interview, Geoff Porter, an assistant professor at West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center, discussed Iran’s outreach to North Africa. With Declining Oil Prices, Mexico’s Economy Is Down but Not Out By: The Editors | Trend Lines Earlier this month, the Mexican government submitted a budget to cut spending in 2016, including investment in the state oil company Pemex, amid a drop in global oil prices. In an interview, Amb. Antonio Garza, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, discussed Mexico’s economy and the impact of the oil shock. It’s Time to Abandon the Myths Behind America’s Syria Strategy By: Steven Metz | Column The effort to contain the Syrian conflict has failed. Yet there is no movement toward a resolution that reflects U.S. interests. From the U.S. perspective, the core problem is that U.S. strategy has been based on three myths. Abandoning them is the only chance of forestalling greater disaster. More Can Military Talks Bridge U.S.-Russia Diplomatic Divide on Syria? By: Richard Gowan | Column Moscow’s decision to send aircraft, air-defense systems and significant amounts of other military equipment to Syria could make the war there even more dangerous. Yet some diplomatic observers believe that Russia’s engagement is, counterintuitively, a peace initiative disguised as an act of war. What to Expect From the U.N. General Assembly By: The Editors | Trend Lines In the latest Global Dispatches podcast, host Mark Goldberg talks with World Politics Review columnist Richard Gowan about Pope Francis’ address and the other topics likely to dominate the 70th U.N. General Assembly: Syria, the refugee crisis and U.N. peacekeeping. Above and Beyond: Humanitarian Uses of Drones By: Faine Greenwood | Feature Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are often thought of as military machines, but they’ve also become a development tool for post-disaster mapping, documenting environmental abuses and more. While the use of development drones remains novel, they are likely to become more common in the near future. Pope’s Visit Underscores Religion’s Prominence in Global Affairs By: Ellen Laipson | Column The head of the Catholic Church has long been seen as a world leader, but Pope Francis’ U.S. visit seems to represent a step beyond former pontiffs’ travels. His ability to address major issues like poverty and inequality has made for a more explicit link between religious principles and public policy. Rather Than Reform, Bahrain Launched ‘Program of Mass Incarceration’ By: Frederick Deknatel | Trend Lines Last week, 33 countries signed a letter to the U.N. Human Rights Council criticizing Bahrain’s human rights record, but also commending some of the government’s “positive steps” toward reform. But reform has meant little in practice in Bahrain, where jails are overflowing with political prisoners. Pentagon Hypes Russia Threat in Effort to Boost Defense Spending By: Michael A. Cohen | Column The Pentagon is busy trying to convince Americans that Russia is an existential threat to the U.S. But the no-holds-barred effort to turn Russia into America’s next bogeyman is a transparent attempt by the military to make the case for its budgetary relevance in a post-Iraq, post-Afghanistan world. Xi’s Visit Exposes Mismatch in U.S and Chinese Expectations By: Timothy R. Heath | Briefing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. this week, including a state dinner at the White House Friday, appears to face serious headwinds. Chinese media and officials are striking a more hopeful tone, but contrasting U.S. and Chinese priorities will likely lead to disappointment on both sides. Anti-Refugee Backlash Will Benefit Europe’s Far-Right Parties By: Frida Ghitis | Column There is still much that is unknown about how the refugee crisis in Europe will unfold and the impact it will have. But one thing is certain: The massive wave of immigration onto European shores will usher in a powerful backlash that will benefit right-wing anti-immigrant parties. Despite Opposition Unity, Tanzania’s CCM Likely to Keep Grip on Power By: Michael Jennings | Briefing Shuffling among the ruling CCM party and the opposition has raised questions about their strengths and prospects ahead of what looks to be a closely contested election in October. The CCM still has a clear edge, but expect the opposition to make inroads against the CCM’s decades of political dominance. Managing Expectations Could Be Toughest Challenge for Nigeria’s Buhari By: Alex Thurston | Briefing Demands within Nigeria for immediate change confront President Muhammadu Buhari with an imperative to demonstrate progress on his anti-corruption drive and the fight against Boko Haram. But his early pledges face the reality of a still-troubled economy and tough political choices ahead. Confronting the Islamic State—and the Limits of American Power By: David Gioe | Briefing The Obama administration’s strategy against the Islamic State has given rise to accusations of mission creep and weakness, with many GOP presidential candidates vowing to expand U.S. military operations. But there are good reasons to be wary of an expanded American intervention in Iraq and Syria.