Halliburton made no effort to hide its displeasure at being fleeced by private security companies — beaten at its own game, in other words.
WikiLeaks XXV: Security Firms in Iraq Making a Killing (Figuratively in This Case)
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financial flows
60-Second Expert: Ireland
By embracing the wave of globalization sweeping the world in the 1990s, Ireland was able to nurture the fastest growing economy in Europe, dropping unemployment to 5% and raising per capita GDP to one of the highest in the world. But, as the recent collapse of the Irish economy demonstrates, this was not sustainable growth.
The Celtic Tiger Follows the Asian Tigers to Extinction
The financial collapse of Ireland, coming as the latest in a string of disasters, hardly shocks global public opinion. For people engaged in the development debate, however, it is resonant with meaning.
60-Second Expert: Fighting Finance
Many economic justice activists felt intimidated by the complexity of the Third World debt crisis in the 1980s and overwhelmed by the intricacies of the World Trade Organization in the 1990s. Now people are facing a confounding global financial catastrophe, and though we certainly need more activist education on the workings of financial markets, it’s remarkable to see how much progress civil society has made since the 2008 crash.
60 Second Expert: What Nestor Kirchner Accomplished
The unexpected death of Nestor Kirchner provides us with a moment to look back on the trials and successes of one of Argentina’s most remarkable and controversial leaders. Kirchner was one of the few global south leaders to successfully challenge international financial institutions, and get away with it.
Fighting Finance from Below
At the onset of the Third World debt crisis in the 1980s, many economic justice activists were afraid to engage on the issue because they felt it was just too complicated. Then, in the 1990s, the hot issue was trade. And again, many people thought, “I’ll never understand the World Trade Organization.” But eventually, in both of these cases, large numbers of people bit the bullet and learned enough to have a voice in these debates. And they built strong movements for debt and trade justice that continue today.
Obama’s Trip to India: Don’t Rush into a Bilateral Investment Treaty
The U.S. and India should not sign a treaty that will only serve the short-term interests of large corporations, and undermine the authority of governments to protect their people from financial crisis.
Defy the Creditors and Get Away with It
The unexpected death a few days ago of Nestor Kirchner deprived not only Argentina of a remarkable, albeit controversial leader. It also took away an exemplary figure in the Global South when it came to dealing with international financial institutions.
Kirchner defied the creditors. More importantly, he got away with it.
Brazil: Toward the Continuation of Lulismo
Dilma Rousseff came very close to winning in the first round of voting in Brazil, she ended up on the threshold of the government currently led by Lula de Silva. Lula, the most popular president Brazil has ever had, is stepping down after eight years that changed the face of the country and transformed its place in the world.
60 Second Expert: Obama’s Failures
The progressive dilemma at this time of political crisis is not one of vision. We have identified the key fundamental values needed to construct an alternative to the abundantly discredited neoliberal world older. But on a tactical level we have failed to translate these values into a political program compelling to those most affected by the global financial crisis.