All Commentaries
Postcard from…Libya
Sixty years after the conclusion of World War II in North Africa, destroyed European weaponry once again litters Libya’s coastal roads as the civil conflict there enters its second month. But Europeans are not fighting on the ground in the former Italian colony. Rather, their arms are. In Libyan hands, European-made arms are part of a proxy battle that demonstrates the unintended consequences of the international arms trade.
Robert Kaplan Continues to Flog His Tribal Ruler Meme With Gaddafi, Gbagbo and Saleh
You might think that the poor critical reception he received for his book about tribal politics would make Robert Kaplan think twice before resurrecting the “warrior” leitmotif in relation to Gaddafi, Gbagbo, and Saleh.
The No-Doctrine President
Zoologists get pretty excited when they discover an unusual animal. They happily devote many hours to the task of classifying the beast and, if it qualifies as a new species, giving it a name. A great deal of money and prestige rides on these scientific endeavors. The same applies to the political sphere, where new and unusual creatures frequently turn up. When it comes to Barack Obama, however, political zoologists remain undecided whether he is a new kind of political animal and if his foreign policy represents a unique departure from the same old, same old.
Impact of Fukushima Continues to Inch up to Chernobyl Levels
Like Chernobyl, the economic effects of Fukushima will ricochet around the world.
How Did the Candidates With the Highest Negative Ratings Advance in the Peru Presidential Elections?
At least one of the candidates in Peru’s presidential race, Ollanta Humala, offers an alternative to the existing economic model, which has been of little benefit to most of Peru.
Confronting the Urge to Urge on the Libyan Intervention
Humanitarian intervention, as in Libya, will never work until a time of — gasp! — world government.
The UN and Saudi Women
As revolutions and reforms sweep the Arab world, Saudi women continue to push for their rights. Inspired by their sisters in Egypt and Tunisia, a national women’s movement called Saudi Women Revolution has coalesced with clear and wide-ranging demands. Chief among them is the ability to participate in the political process, including voting and running for election.
Review: The Russian Quest for Peace and Democracy
Canadian sociologist Metta Spencer’s career in Soviet-Western peace activism takes book form in her account of decades of democratic struggle in Russia, The Russian Quest for Peace and Democracy. Drawing on a broad spectrum of activist and reformist perspectives from both sides of the Iron Curtain, Spencer dispels three false beliefs in her colorful, informative account of how the Cold War really ended.
Humala and Fujimori Likely to Compete in Second-Round Vote for Peruvian Presidency
The results thus far reflect the fragmentation of the right and center-right of the Peruvian political system.
Libya War Is No Pentagon Lifeline
The United States is fighting another war–of unknown scope and length–in Libya. At a time of budget-cutting fever on Capitol Hill, the war represents a potential lifeline for the Pentagon. If you believe the Libya operation justifies current U.S. military spending levels–or even an increase–think again.