In The News

China Blocks World Meeting on Workers' Rights

Joseph Kahn December 9, 2004
With its low cost environment, especially cheap labor, China has become the world's largest producer of manufactured goods. However, not only NGOs but increasingly foreign governments and business leaders have urged China to do more to protect workers' rights. China only allows government-controlled labor union. Recently Beijing appeared to be listening when Prime Minister Wen Jiabao...

If UN Fails, We All Do

Fareed Zakaria December 9, 2004
The military or humanitarian “failures” of the United Nations over the years must be recognized as collective failures of member countries, argues Newsweek Editor Fareed Zakaria. The Rwandan genocide a decade ago is a case in point: Decisions made among the most powerful U.N. member nations, including the US, the UK, and France, led to completely botched peacekeeping operations. Now on the brink...

The EU Loses its Rag

December 8, 2004
Ten years ago, trade negotiators set a deadline to end global quotas on textile exports. But with less than a month before the agreed-upon expiration date, the EU is growing increasingly worried about China's likely dominance of the international textile trade. Yet considering the EU's hopes to install its former trade commissioner as head of the World Trade Organization, efforts to...

Business is Blooming

Peter Willems December 8, 2004
A recent United Nations report shows that Afghanistan's poppy production is reaching worrisome new heights. As newly-inaugurated president Hamid Karzai steps into the spotlight, the problems of opium growth continue to increase. The effort to stop the drug trade has been hampered by local infighting, governmental corruption, and an unsuccessful attempt to wean farmers off the profitable, but...

Europe's China-Play

François Godement December 6, 2004
One of the most controversial issues to be discussed at the 7th annual EU-China Summit will be a 15-year-old arms embargo. The European Union instated the embargo in response to the Tiananmen Massacre of 1989. As China continues its ascent as a world economic power, however, European nations find it harder and harder to maintain a policy based solely on human rights. The financial rewards for...

Re-Popularizing Peace

December 3, 2004
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss recent developments in Palestine and Syria – a sign that Egypt is determined once again to play an important role in facilitating Middle East peace. While Syria has reportedly expressed a desire to re-open peace talks, Israel may not want to negotiate at a time when Syria faces strong...

Peacekeeping Forces Power Agenda

Ian Black December 2, 2004
As NATO relinquishes its peacekeeping duties in Bosnia this week, the EU will step into the role, launching the most ambitious peacekeeping mission yet undertaken by the body. In Bosnia, the EU will attempt to crack down on organized crime while dangling the prospect of future Union membership as an incentive for internal reform. With a major effort underway to amp up its defense capabilities,...