WPR Articles Dec. 22 — Dec. 28

Trump’s Supply-Side Economics Have Little Chance of Working in 2017

By: Robert Looney | Briefing

President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises and tax cut plans show him partial to Reagan-era supply-side economics—a commitment confirmed by his early Cabinet appointments and proposed increases in defense spending. Is there any reason to believe these economic policies would be effective today?

With Attacks in Turkey, PKK Sends a Message to Erdogan—and to Trump

By: Hannes Cerny | Briefing

Two recent bombings in Turkey suspected to be carried out by an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were a grim reminder that the PKK is far from broken. In fact, it appears that the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has made a bad situation even worse for the PKK.

Why Abe’s Attempts to Woo Russia Haven’t Paid Off For Japan

By: J. Berkshire Miller | Briefing

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had hoped that his dogged approach to engage with Russia might help reach a long elusive deal on the disputed Southern Kurile Islands. Abe’s optimism seemed misplaced, as Russian President Vladimir Putin poured cold water on the idea of a breakthrough at their recent summit.

A ‘Clash Of Civilizations’ Strategy Could Isolate the U.S. and Strengthen Extremists

By: Steven Metz | Column

This week brought further evidence that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is open to the clash of civilizations idea, even if not fully committed to it. If Trump does embrace the approach, the results would lead to the most far-reaching transformation of U.S. strategy since the outset of the Cold War.

Will Social Mobility Be a Casualty of Brazil’s Higher Education Cuts?

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s editor-in-chief, Judah Grunstein, and senior editor, Frederick Deknatel, discuss Turkey’s agenda in the Syrian civil war. For the Report, Ciara Long talks with Peter Dörrie about the impact of austerity on higher education and social mobility in Brazil.

Does Any Party in South Sudan Have the Will to Prevent Genocide?

By: Andrew Green | Briefing

The third anniversary last week of the start of South Sudan’s ongoing civil war only reinforced how intractable that conflict has become. A peace deal is in tatters, along with the country’s economy. With the combatants preparing for another round of fighting, the U.N. is now warning of possible genocide.

Is the EU’s United Front on Russia Finally Starting to Crack?

By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines

The European Union voted Monday to renew its economic sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea for an additional six months. While the renewal of sanctions has been routine up to this point, there are signs that Europe’s united front against Russia is beginning to crack.

Russia and Turkey Move Closer, but Can Erdogan Survive Putin’s Embrace?

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

All signs suggest that the assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey will bring the two countries closer together, at least in the short term. And yet, a set of ideological and domestic realities could spell trouble for the painstakingly constructed new relationship between the two countries.

Why a Crisis Over Cameroon’s Marginalized Anglophone Regions Could Deepen

By: Robbie Corey-Boulet | Briefing Protests in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions against the use of French in courts and schools and the marginalization of the minority Anglophone population have revived a decades-old source of tension. But President Paul Biya’s government has responded with symbolic half-measures and a deadly crackdown.