The World Today

April 2004: April 2004

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.

Articles

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 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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

Also in this issue

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.

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.