WPR Articles Dec. 23 — Dec. 30

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

By: Robbie Corey-Boulet | BriefingProtests 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.
 

Oil Auction Brings Some Good News to Mexico, and China Is Eager to Capitalize

By: Jerónimo Mohar | Briefing

On Dec. 5, Mexico held its first-ever auction for deepwater oil blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, which brought some much-needed economic relief. Mexico faces the most severe crisis originating in the United States since the 2008 financial meltdown, in the form of Donald Trump’s presidency.

2016 in Review

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s editor-in-chief, Judah Grunstein, senior editor, Frederick Deknatel, and associate editors, Maria Savel and Karina Piser, discuss the biggest events of 2016, including the rise of populism, China’s growing assertiveness, and the election of Donald Trump.

Demystifying Trump’s Confounding Statements About Nuclear Weapons

By: Andrew Futter | Briefing

While often inchoate and contradictory, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s recent comments about nuclear weapons have caused great concern among observers, not to mention many within the U.S. government. It is worth demystifying some of what Trump has said and putting this nuclear debate in context.