The World Today US Terror Attacks: Weapon of Mass Destruction If men armed only with knives can cause such mass destruction, the world must review its assessment of threats. Terror has become an end in itself, western society the target.
The World Today Middle East: Sad and Sorry Picture If there is to be a war against terrorism it has to start with hearts and minds.
The World Today Terrorism: New Century, New War As America prepares for military action in the war against terrorism there are more questions than answers. Who is the enemy? What is the new terrorism? How will the world respond to the first war of the twenty-first century?
The World Today US and Terrorism: Targeting Terrorism The end of the Cold War in the 1980s left the United States as the only military superpower. Then the economic boom in the ‘90s established it as the primary beneficiary of globalisation.
The World Today Sri Lanka: On the Brink On the eighteenth anniversary of the start of Sri Lanka’s civil war, a daring attack by the Tamil Tigers destroyed a quarter of the country’s air force and a third of the civilian aircraft. At a stroke the conflict took a serious new turn, forcing the government into alliance with a Marxist party which had itself earlier come close to tearing the nation apart. Peace is on hold, Sri Lankans are holding their breath.
The World Today Zimbabwe: Privilege, Patronage, Pillage Five years ago, Zimbabwe was not doing exceptionally well, but on the surface it was stable and progressive. After a century of colonial and settler rule ending in an eight-year civil war in the ‘80s, its emergence as a moderate, democratic country was no mean feat
The World Today The Commonwealth and Democracy: Hazards of Harare Commonwealth leaders are once again gathering with one of their number caught in damaging disputes over democracy and the rule of law. In 1995 it was Nigeria in trouble, this year it is Zimbabwe
The World Today Australia: Tampa to the Rescue Commonwealth leaders meeting in Australia may detect a touch of bitterness in the country’s normal friendly welcome. The fate of some four hundred asylum-seekers has sparked deep anxiety about ‘foreign hoards’. The issue is now at the heart of the election campaign, which is likely to begin in earnest as soon as the visiting heads of government have left.
The World Today China and the World Trade Organization: Join the club The world traders are finally about to welcome China into their ranks. After fifteen years of talks, there’s change ahead for all. Jobs will be lost and others created, even the political system may not be immune. And a firm new voice will be heard in the corridors of trading power. China and the World Trade Organization will never be the same again.