The World Today

In one of the paradoxes of Russian politics, Boris Yeltsin had to end his war in Chechnya to return as President in 1996. This time, Vladimir Putin has vigorously pursued conflict with the same enemy, apparently enhancing his chance of presidential office. In Yeltsin’s case, media coverage of the battles influenced public opinion, while the current conflict has become part of a worrying information war that has enveloped Russian political life.

The Media at War by Susan L. Carruthers Published by Macmillan, 1999

Expectations are high that this year will see the conclusion of a series of deals between Israel and the Arabs which will finally produce a comprehensive peace. This could be the make or break moment for several reasons, mostly to do with the urgency felt by key personalities.

Military ethics have become a central issue for policy-makers. The ethical dimensions of military interventions have recently moved further into the political spotlight with the conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya. But what are ‘military ethics’? When, if at all, are ethnic cleansing or genocide legitimate military options? Can external military intervention intensify a crisis? Did the apparent success of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo encourage Russia to seek to re-establish total control of the Chechen republic?

As it took over the presidency of the United Nations Security Council, the United States declared January the month of Africa. The Council prepared to hear about the problems of Burundi from a large gathering of African presidents. It’s not the first time that new initiatives have been announced for a continent that some describe as forgotten. But will it make a difference, or increase understanding?

At the start of the twenty-first century, children in north Korea continue to face death from severe malnutrition. Women do not have rice to feed their babies because the world would rather donate surplus American wheat. US assistance has helped tens of thousands who would otherwise have starved. But food aid now needs to be fine-tuned, more targeted and directed less by the Department of Agriculture – whose priority is the interests of American farmers – and more by USAID.