Northern Mali stands poised to provide the working definition of a quagmire.
Mali, France, and Chickens
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Democracy & Governance
Tunisia Two Years On: The Crisis Deepens
The country’s post-Ben Ali economic program is no different than the last two decades of the dictator’s rule.
Where Bulgaria Went Wrong
Bulgarian politicians and economists mouthed all the right phrases, but preserved much of the previous order.
Militarizing Latin America: Four More Years
For 150 years, the history of this region was largely determined by Washington, but now the U.S. — not its opponents — is currently being marginalized in the region.
Taming the Wild East: Bulgaria
Even during the communist era, Bulgaria was a center for organized crime.
Nuclear Weapons Are Not Only a Threat to Our Survival, But to Democracy Itself
Understanding the implications of nuclear weapons may be too much for us mere mortals.
History — Not to Mention Reality — Aren’t on Assad’s Side
Syrian President Assad is also losing the public relations war.
The Pentagon as a Global NRA
In the U.S., the National Rifle Association (NRA), an ultra-powerful lobbying group closely allied with weapons-making companies, has a strong grip on Congress — it gives 288 members of that body its top “A-rating” — and is in a combative relationship with the White House. Abroad, it’s so much simpler and less contested. Beyond U.S. borders, the reality is: the Pentagon, with the White House in tow, is the functional equivalent of the NRA, and like that organization, it has been working tirelessly in recent years in close alliance with major weapons-makers to ensure that there are ever less controls on the ever more powerful weaponry it wants to see sold abroad.
On Brink of Admission to EU, Some Croatians Still Euro-skeptic
Daniel Bucan characterizes Croatia as a state desperate for attention and respect.
The MONUSCO Contradiction
Elevating the military role of UN peacekeeping forces would do little to address the root causes of instability and violence in the Congo. MONUSCO needs to be a force for stability in a diverse field of international actors, and it needs to help provide for a more durable system of civilian protection—one that resonates far beyond the battlefield.