In The News

As an Immigration Tide Swells, Europe Treads Water

Lawrence Downes August 1, 2006
Spain has the most nuanced laws in Europe regarding immigrants and refugees. Still, illegal immigration remains a contentious issue in the country that has received more than 11,000 immigrants from Africa this year. At a recent conference in Morocco, attended by delegates from European and African governments, representatives pledged to move towards a fair resolution of the problem, and the...

Pascal Lamy: What Now Trade Ministers?

Pascal Lamy July 27, 2006
The stalemate in the Doha Round could yet be overcome, suggests Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization. Disputes over subsidies for agriculture and rich nations stalled the trade agreement. According to Lamy, the strongest advocates for slashing subsidies balk at opening markets and vice versa. As a result, poor nations will feel the brunt of unequal trade policies. As a...

Why Monday’s Collapse of the Doha Round Negotiations Is the Best Outcome for Developing Countries

Walden Bello July 27, 2006
Many mourn failure of the Doha Round as a setback for the citizens of the world’s most impoverished countries, yet author Walden Bello contends that the outcome may be best for the developing economies. Rather than delivering aid, Doha’s unequal provisions could strip farmers of any means to protect their products with tariffs, subjecting them to fierce competition of a global economy. Non-...

Development Vs. Free Trade

Bernard K. Gordon July 20, 2006
The meeting this week in Geneva may be the last chance to complete the Doha Development Round of talks launched by the World Trade Organization in 2001. While many observers anticipate that the round could be rescued, the stalemate highlights the structural weaknesses of a trade organization taking on a development agenda. The aim of the WTO is to lower trade barriers in the pursuit of expanding...

Even Statelessness Goes Better With Coke. Or Does It?

Marc Lacey July 19, 2006
In 2004, local investors – carefully chosen to represent the various clans of Somalia – opened a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the capital city of Mogadishu. Since then, Islamic militias have taken control of the government, and Somalia’s investment scene has changed substantially for those who want to sell an American brand of soda. The militias brought unprecedented levels of security, greatly...

Heartland Farmers Visit West Africa

Laura Rusu July 18, 2006
A group of US farmers traveled to the West African country of Mali to witness the struggles of farmers that contend with drought, poverty and unfair competition from the world’s wealthiest countries. US farmers and relief agency Oxfam America took the trip to coincide with the latest session of Doha talks – and plan to continue speaking out against unfair policies in developed nations that reward...

Africa Beyond Aid and Bono

Ferial Haffajee July 15, 2006
Africa is vast and diverse, making it meaningless to talk about an “African dilemma” or an “African solution.” The continent has had both successes and failures of governance and reform during the past year, and Mail & Guardian Editor Ferial Haffajee notes that humanitarian aid will be necessary for the foreseeable future in areas of crisis. However, African countries cannot develop stable...