The World Today Middle East: Fighters to the Last The leadership of the Palestinian people has been made a central issue in the latest Middle East crisis. Yasser Arafat has a unique standing with his people and could deliver on a peace deal. But can he survive a twin attack from Israel and his own house divided?
The World Today Globalisation, The Middle East and Terrorism: Space for Dissent Islam and the mosque have provided the last refuge for those disadvantaged by the Middle Eastern states. In times of economic hardship and repression, religion has produced space for dissent. The ‘war’ against terrorism should now deal with the real roots of resentment.
The World Today Defence Spending: Atlantic Drift The transatlantic divide is growing. America is spending big on defence. Europe can’t match this and thinks that development matters too. Will their mutual defence arrangements drift into irrelevance?
The World Today Iran: Peril and Opportunity President George Bush’s address on the dangers of an ‘axis of evil’ included North Korea, Iraq and Iran. Iran’s position is more complex than this implies, but there are certainly very real risks ahead, as well as substantial opportunities.
The World Today Prisoners of War: Vulnerable The photograph of prisoners with alleged Taliban and Al Qaeda links in orange overalls crouching before Marine Corps guards is destined to become a symbol of US counter strategy in the ‘war’ on terrorism.
The World Today Funding a War on Poverty: Tax and Spend This month world leaders have their best opportunity for a generation to do something about deprivation and poverty. Tax and spend is part of a new formula to deal with an old problem. The question is whether the political will is there.
The World Today Renewable Energy: Powering Development The ‘war’ on terrorism has highlighted extreme levels of poverty and the gaps between the haves and the have-nots within and between countries.
The World Today British Foreign Policy: Pivotal Power Since September 11, British, or more accurately, Tony Blair’s foreign policy has been very much in the news. Prime Minister Blair immediately moved to the forefront of the international scene, providing strong political support for the US and, perhaps more importantly, playing a leading role both at home and abroad in explaining and justifying the war internationally. In the face of sceptical and potentially hostile opinion in the Islamic world, the Prime Minister often articulated the goals of the war – to quote the New York Times – more eloquently than President George Bush. He has also given major foreign policy speeches at the Labour Party conference in October and during his visit to South Asia in January.
