The World Today: January 2005: January 2005

The story sounds familiar: a state in the Middle East is suspected of wanting to develop nuclear weapons. There are problems over inspections, and talk, especially in Washington, of the need for military action. But once again, the question is, would it be legal?

All eyes have been on the elections in Iraq scheduled for this month. Can they be held, and with reasonable freedom and safety? But the real task starts after the polls close.

The new era for Palestinians has been mainly seen through the eyes of those living in the Occupied Territories. But a significant number are exiled in the Lebanon where the contradictions about their future are all too clear.

How do we assess the horrors of the events in Darfur? The United States State Department has called it genocide, but the UN has held back and, in November, sent in its own team of investigators. Clearly genocide is an emotive term that might get a global response and some degree of action. However, it is the varying definitions of genocide that cause the problem.

Ten years ago Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe were believed to be stable and economically successful. Since then both countries have seen a dramatic decline in prosperity, hallmarked by poor governance, bad leadership, racism, xenophobia and clumsy efforts at land reform. This year both will hold elections. Côte d’Ivoire is the most immediately worrying, its crisis could blow up into a bloody all–out civil war that would have serious implications for West Africa.

Until recently, low-wage manufacturing competition from China was seen as the main threat to western economies. Buoyed by heavy foreign direct investment - seventy percent of the country’s exports come from foreign-owned plants - China has been moving fast up the manufacturing value chain.