The World Today Terrorism in Europe: Fact, Fiction and Franchised Terror With the Madrid bomb of March 11 the global ‘war’ on terror has become a political fact – which means that it is surrounded by popular fiction.
The World Today European Leadership and America: Time For a Threesome Much to the displeasure of Europe’s smaller countries, trilateral meetings of the European Union’s ‘Big Three’ – Britain, France and Germany – occur with increasing frequency. In fact, an informal triple leadership has emerged. The collapse of the European constitution project at the November Rome summit and the imminent admission of ten new members has focused minds in Paris and Berlin.
The World Today EU Enlargement: The Big Idea The enlargement of the European Union on May 1 concludes a process that began over a decade ago. Although the increase in membership from fifteen to twenty-five will not be the final expansion, the arrival of so many new recruits at any one time in future is highly unlikely. This is not to underestimate the challenges that further enlargement will present – the decision on opening negotiations with Turkey will dominate discussion towards the end of the year – but future growth will follow a tested and refined accession process. So what will be the new big idea? It could just be enlargement!
The World Today EU Expansion and Ukraine: Borderland European Union expansion on May 1 brings new neighbours as well as new members. The arrival of Ukraine on its borders may be just as challenging as welcoming Poland, Hungary and the Baltic states. The Union’s new ‘near abroad’ offers a host of opportunities for all.
The World Today Russia and the West: What You See Is What You Get Russia has completed its electoral cycle, installing Vladimir Putin as president for another four years. The process has been revealing, leaving westerners with a different impression of how the country is evolving. Russia’s foreign policy is changing too, shrinking to its area of immediate concern.
The World Today Rwanda: Genocide Goes On A decade ago the international community failed Rwanda. Its subsequent attempts to bring justice for the genocide have been slow and costly. Now a second ‘genocide’ threatens with a lack of funds to help those infected with HIV and AIDS through the bloodshed. Is the world once again looking in the wrong direction, spending money on justice when health matters?
The World Today Sierra Leone: Justice and Hope During the brutal years of civil war, many Sierra Leonians fled to make new lives in London. Now British charities and senior legal figures are helping the country rebuild. Representing many of the exiles as their member of parliament, Harriet Harman travelled to Freetown to see for herself.
The World Today India and the United States: Deal To Be Done The world’s most populous democracy is about to vote. The setting is remarkable: the economy is strong and continued growth may help India’s longer term aim of becoming Asia’s dominant power and a global player. Peace moves with Pakistan look generally positive and India’s cricketers have played there for the first time since 1989. All this makes a recent American offer of a new strategic relationship much more interesting. But to reap the rewards Delhi must comply with strict export controls on sensitive military items.
The World Today Indonesia: Saving Democracy Indonesia’s elections will be a test for democratic progress. They are crucial in determining whether the transition began in 1999 after the overthrow of President Suharto can be saved. Parliamentary polling takes place this month and for the first time voters will directly elect their president and vice-president in July. But it is unclear whether this will produce capable national leaders to guide the country.
