In The News

Global Obama Versus Nationalist Europe

Daniel Williams April 25, 2016
US President Barack Obama is urging Europeans to stay united to better manage he increasing tally of cross-border challenges what author Daniel Williams calls “unbridled globalization.” Writing for TheWorldPost, he explains, “The fight is between the globalizers, of which Obama has emerged as a key spokesman, and nationalists, represented by a host of right-wing parties and populist politicians...

Refugees and the “Globalization of Indifference”

Uri Friedman April 20, 2016
In 2013, Pope Francis met with immigrants in Lampedusa and warned about a “globalization of indifference.” Three years later, steady flows of refugees continue. “Francis has made the plight of migrants and refugees a core component of his pastoral work… by saying Christians should build bridges, not walls,” writes Uri Friedman for the Atlantic. “He’s argued that the wanderings of the dispossessed...

As Routes to Europe Close, Refugees Consider a Deadly Crossing

Mirren Gidda April 13, 2016
As nations like Macedonia, Turkey, Hungary and Greece block refugees from crossing their borders, a wave of people fleeing conflict, terrorism and retribution in Syria and elsewhere has shifted direction to a more treacherous route. UN refugee officials estimate that the number of refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in 2016 has nearly doubled from the same period in 2015....

With Belgian Terrorist Attacks, Strains on a Battered Europe Grow

Griff Witte March 25, 2016
After World War II ended, the nations of Europe were determined to cooperate on making their continent a model of peace and civilization. Terrorist attacks waged by its own citizens as well as millions of refugees from the Middle East, an economy struggling with debt threaten, worries about trade and jobs threaten that model. “A union that has for decades been seen around the world as a beacon...

Closure of Balkan Route Divides Europe

March 11, 2016
Decisions by Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia to close borders to refugees fleeing war in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East are dividing the European Union, suggests an article from Deutsche Welle. Closing borders does not resolve the problem, contends German Chancellor Angela Merkel who favors organized and united management of the refugee crisis and suggests a divided response...

Whisper It Softly: Muslims Are Part of Europe's Future

Shada Islam March 10, 2016
Violent conflict in the Middle East is driving hundreds of thousands of refugees toward Europe – a crisis that is straining resources, explains Shada Islam, policy director of Friends of Europe based in Brussels. The continent is divided over welcoming the refugees and settling them in different countries, with some politicians stoking fear and warning about a clash of cultures. “Muslims, also,...

UN, Rights Groups Say EU-Turkey Migrant Deal May Be Illegal

Stephanie Nebehay and Gabriela Baczynska March 9, 2016
European nations are trying to stop the flow of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East with tight border controls, and some leaders hope to return migrants who arrive by boats. A Turkish proposal to accept the return of some migrants in exchange for funding and visa-free travel for Turks could be illegal, warns the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. International law would require...