News

Latest Attack Unifies Mexico Against Drug Violence

By Marcelo Ballvé 09 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review Mexico's drug violence reached a peak on Sept. 15, when an Independence Day grenade attack on civilians bloodied a historic plaza in Morelia, capital of Michoacan province. But the very ferocity of the attack has managed to unite Mexican society against organized crime to an unprecedented degree. Coming on top of the roughly 3,800 murders attributed to drug violence just this year, the attack triggered a public outcry and a rare moment of national consensus.

Argentine Farmers Resume Protests with Six-Day Strike

By Roque Planas 08 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentina's four principle agricultural organizations declared a six-day strike on Friday, Oct. 3. Facing the worst drought in a century and fearful of the potential for contagion from the American financial crisis, agricultural producers are demanding relief from the government, principally in the form of a reduction in export taxes. President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, though, shows no signs of bowing to pressure from the countryside.

New Arrests Dim Hopes Raised by Burmese Prisoner Release

By Brian McCartan 07 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The arrest last week of Ohn Kyaing, a member of the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), suggests that recent hopes concerning the Burmese military regime's willingness to cooperate with the international community were premature. Kyaing's arrest comes after the junta announced the release of more than 9,000 prisoners as a goodwill gesture, perhaps targeting world opinion in anticipation of nationwide elections in 2010.

Rights & Wrongs: Internet Snooping, Nobel Speculation, Unlawful Detentions, and More

By Juliette Terzieff 06 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review In this edition of Rights & Wrongs: Speculation about the Nobel Peace Prize winner centers on a China-related activist; the U.N.'s High Commissioner on Human Rights condemns illegal detentions of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers; an Internet spying scandal erupts over China's monitoring of Skype communications; and Amnesty International releases a children's book. Juliette Terzieff's roundup of human rights news now appears every two weeks in WPR.

No Quick Solutions to Somali Pirate Crisis

By David Axe 06 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review When Somali pirates hijacked the Ukrainian cargo ship Faina, they made a surprise discovery: the vessel contained 33 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks, plus small arms, rockets and ammunition. Despite the hijacking of an average of one ship per week, with ransoms of roughly $1 million per ship, it took the capture of the Faina and its arms for the world's media and leaders to finally pay attention to the growing security threat that piracy represents. But the current crisis is merely a preview of a problem that could persist for years.

Recovered Emails Detail the FARC's International Support

By Mike Ceaser 03 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review BOGOTÁ, Colombia -- Email messages linking the Colombian Marxist guerilla insurgency to politicians, union activists and left-wing parties overseas have revealed a network of supporters spanning several continents, and have kept tensions high between Colombia and some of its neighbors. While some Colombia observers note that despite being on the defensive at home, the rebels are advancing on the "international front," others point to the highly political nature of the leaks.

Gulf States' Aid for Cambodia's Cham Muslims Raises U.S. Concerns

By Geoffrey Cain 01 Oct 2008 | World Politics Review PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- U.S. policymakers have warned Gulf states to "be careful" that $700 million in recently promised development aid to Cambodia doesn't fund radical Islamic charities and militant groups the U.S. claims are vying for influence over the country's Cham Muslims. Delegates from Kuwait and Qatar say the aid is economic, not cultural. But with $5 million of it earmarked to build Muslim institutions, cultural aid -- and the security concerns that go along with it -- is certainly part of the package.

Pornography Bill Stirs Controversy in Indonesia

By Dorian Merina 29 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Earlier this month, the government of Indonesia announced that it was close to passing anti-pornography legislation that would monitor not only media, but also behavior -- even conversation -- that is seen to violate "the normative values of society." But as the month draws to a close, the bill remains stalled. Critics have demanded more deliberation and called the bill a political stunt. But as part of a wider effort to promote a more conservative version of Islam, the bill has also stirred memories of religious and ethnic violence.

Corridors of Power: Crisis is in the Eye of the Beholder, EU Translators and More

By Roland Flamini 26 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive In this edition of Corridors of Power: The world press is having a field day with the U.S. financial crisis; America's crisis looked different from the Polish mountain spa of Krynica, where leading Eastern and Central European politicians and economists gathered this week; German-born Pope Benedict XVI defended his predecessor Pius XII against allegations that the wartime pontiff failed to condemn Nazi persecution of the Jewish people; and the EU shows off the prowess of its translators.

Rights & Wrongs: Relgious Freedom, Arms Control, Venezuela, and More

By Juliette Terzieff 26 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive In this edition of Rights & Wrongs: The U.S. State Department's annual report on religious freedom singles out North Korea, Eritrea and Iran; human rights advocates come out in support of a small arms trade treaty; the case of a girl raped in a Brazilian jail has yet to produce reform; and Venezuela expels two human rights advocates in the wake of a report that criticized the rights record of Hugo Chávez's government. Beginning Oct. 6, Rights & Wrongs will appear every other Monday.

Next U.S. President Likely Will Have More Use for the U.N.

By Seth McLaughlin 25 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive UNITED NATIONS -- In his farewell speech to the United Nations this week, U.S. President George W. Bush assessed the utility of the world body in a way that represents a significant departure from his administration's earlier policy. Bush told members of the U.N. General Assembly, "a clear lesson has emerged: The United Nations and other multilateral organizations are needed more urgently than ever." His Sept. 23 speech also fueled speculation here about the next U.S. president's policy toward the body.

Abstinence-Based HIV Programs in Africa May Put Married Women at Risk

By Erica Hagen 24 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review KAMPALA, Uganda -- Uganda has been touted as as a success story in reducing HIV infection rates, both by its government, which is eager to gain international approval, and by the Bush administration, which funds the controversial abstinence-based "ABC" campaign that now dominates HIV prevention in much of Africa. But abstinence advice is irrelevant for married women, and experts now consider them among the most at-risk Ugandans for contracting HIV, a factor that could be contributing to Uganda's failure to curb new infections.

In Wake of New Delhi Attacks, India Reassesses Security

By Jason Motlagh 23 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive NEW DELHI -- The series of deadly bomb blasts that shook India's capital on Sept. 13 has prompted some of the usual finger pointing at Pakistan, but most evidence suggests the attacks were perpetrated by homegrown Islamist militants, and there is growing recognition here that the increasing activity of such groups poses a huge challenge to India's anti-terror capabilities. A shadowy Muslim group, the Indian Mujahedeen, claimed responsibility for the five attacks that left 24 dead and at least 100 injured.

Turkey, Armenia Engage in 'Football Diplomacy'

By Eric Palomaa 21 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review In what has been heralded by Armenian and Turkish diplomats as "football diplomacy," Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan joined their Armenian counterparts to watch the two nations' teams play a World Cup qualifying match in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. The face-to-face meeting, the first ever since Armenia became an independent nation in 1991, removed "a key psychological barrier" between the two nations and was a clear first step forward in the process of reconciliation.

U.S.-Nicaraguan Relations Chill as Ortega Faces Domestic Tests

By Blake Schmidt 19 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- U.S. relations with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, a former Cold War foe, have become icier after the former Sandinista rebel leader recognized the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions. The chill comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to convince Ortega to destroy more than 1,000 Soviet-era anti-aircraft missiles and illustrates how after nearly two years in office, Ortega still tip-toes the line between the United States and his hard-left Latin American allies with difficulty.

Counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan: An Interview with John Nagl

By Urs Gehriger 18 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review John A. Nagl is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, and was one of the writers of the Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual. He is also the author of "Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife," a 2005 book comparing counterinsurgency strategy in the Malayan Emergency and Vietnam. Urs Gehriger spoke with Nagl about counterinsurgency tactics in Iraq, and what needs to be done to successfully implement them in Afghanistan. 

Lula Steps In: Brazil Fills Vacuum Left by American Disengagement

By Marcelo Ballvé 18 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review A deft diplomatic intervention to shore up Bolivia's beleaguered government demonstrated Brazil's newfound willingness to exert strong political leadership in South America, filling the vacuum created by America's disengagement with the region's leftist presidents. Bolivia's domestic turmoil led South American leaders to convene a heads-of-state summit for members of the Union of South American Nations, a body created only four months before. The Sept. 15 summit was by all accounts a Brazilian show.

Rights & Wrongs: Poland, Climate Change, Srebrenica, and More

By Juliette Terzieff 18 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive In this week's Rights & Wrongs: In Poland, a trial of former Communist officials involved in the country's 1981 declaration of martial law begins; human rights groups continue to push for framing climate change as a human rights issue; evidence indicates progress toward eradicating female circumcision in Africa; and a Dutch court rules against two plaintiffs who claimed dutch troops played a part in the massacre of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica. Rights & Wrongs regularly covers the world's major human rights news.

'The Rumors about Zardari are Absurd': An Interview with PPP Official Matloob Warraich

By Urs Gehriger 17 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive In the last 12 months, events in Pakistan have developed at a frenetic pace. Earlier this month, the widower of Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, was sworn in as Pakistan's new president. Zardari is one of the most controversial figures in Pakistan. Matloob Warraich was for many years an adviser to Benazir Bhutto and is part of Zardari's inner circle. He spoke with the Swiss weekly Die Weltwoche about Pakistan's new strongman and the accusations against him.

Corridors of Power: U.S. Troops in Georgia, Covering Rachita Dati, and More

By Roland Flamini 16 Sep 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive In this week's Corridors of Power: U.S. troops had a ringside seat for last month's fighting between Russia and Georgia; the French press struggles to find a way to cover the out-of-wedlock pregnancy of French Justice Minister Rachita Dati; President Bush plans to celebrate his Freedom Agenda at a New York lunch featuring retired heads of state from around the world; and the Pope stirs up controversy in France by touting Europe's Christian roots. Corridors of Power appears every week in World Politics Review.