In The News

A Grim Report on Future Grabs Europe's Attention

Graham Bowley November 12, 2004
The economies of the European Union have been struggling, and according to a former Dutch Prime Minister, the situation will only get worse. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, over the past 10 years, US growth has averaged about 3.3 percent a year, compared to only 2.1 percent for the EU. To make matters worse, Europe simultaneously faces rising life expectancies and...

UK Allies Among Worst Abusers of Human Rights

Richard Norton-Taylor November 11, 2004
A UK government report issues a sharp reprimand to current foreign policy makers within the country. Many of Britain's allies and weapons trade partners are guilty of violating human rights. These criticisms were corroborated by human rights organizations: The thinktank Saferworld stated that the British government fails to uphold its own professed human rights criteria when licensing arms...

From Boom to Bloom

November 10, 2004
The lifting of millions of Chinese out of poverty constitutes one of the world’s greatest success stories in economic development. Yet behind the bold headlines touting this miracle remain problems that could undermine China’s success. The central government recently raised interest rates in order to prevent economic growth from overextending the country’s resources. And it has also committed...

US Election and the World – Part II

Rami G. Khouri November 10, 2004
In the aftermath of the greatly anticipated US elections, observers worldwide are assessing the consequences of George W. Bush's re-election. In a multi-part series, YaleGlobal checks in with different regions, gauging the reaction to the landmark political event. Rami Khouri, executive editor of Lebanon's Daily Star, writes that the immediate reaction in the Middle East has been one of...

French Attack Sparks Riots in Ivory Coast

Rory Carroll November 8, 2004
Even after attaining independence from French colonial control, many West African states maintain strong and sometimes dependent relationships with their former imperial rulers. The Ivory Coast is no exception. Since the 2002 outbreak of civil war, the French military has policed a delicate ceasefire between the two sides. Last week, Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo broke the ceasefire by bombing...

US Election and the World – Part I

Patrice de Beer November 8, 2004
What happens in the United States inevitably affects all areas of the globe; nowhere is this clearer than in the selection of the leader of the world's only superpower. In the aftermath of the greatly anticipated US elections, observers worldwide are assessing the consequences of George W. Bush's re-election. In a multi-part series, YaleGlobal checks in with different regions, gauging...

Full Steam Ahead for America's Empire

Peter Hartcher November 6, 2004
In his pre-election campaign, John Kerry pledged that the United States under his administration would exercise restraint and follow a multilateral strategy alien to the last four years of US foreign policy. With the presidency of George W. Bush reconfirmed, many observers anticipate an even more brazen US international agenda. Officials close to the president reveal that the hurdles and pitfalls...