The World Today

As the debate intensifies over appropriate economic policies for Iraq, calls to avoid past mistakes often refer to apparently negative experiences in eastern Europe and particularly Russia. Such warnings are based on a caricature of harsh ‘shock therapy’ programmes imposed by ideologically driven advisers financed by western governments. These caused long recessions while making no provision for social safety nets or the institution building necessary for a successful market economy. Russia’s economic experience since the collapse of central planning in 1991 holds some important lessons for today’s policy-makers in Iraq.

The intensity and extent of Iraqi opposition to the invasion and occupation has been a surprise. Sami Ramadani, who was able to return after more than thirty years in exile, says that the United States is too closely associated with the painful past to be welcomed as a liberator, let alone the agent of democracy.

The first World Summit on the Information Society to be held in Geneva this month is likely to affirm the need for open access to information. But there are real worries that with technological progress, television reporting especially is seen as a threat to the conduct of conflict.

When is a ceasefire more than a ceasefire? When it builds agreement amongst contesting groups and has the potential to transform into a real political process.

The decision not to invite President Robert Mugabe to the Commonwealth summit in Nigeria is a final body blow to a regime now nearing the end of its life. The lessons learned from the Zimbabwe crisis are that good governance and democracy are not accessories to progress and stability, they are its very foundations. Few would deny that Mugabe has run out of options.

The failure of the Doha round of trade negotiations threatens to encourage separate deals between countries or defensive regional arrangements. As ministers meet to map a way forward, they may reflect on the damage this could cause in Europe and America and how the Asia-Pacific could provide a way out.