In The News

Tensions Between Globalization, Backwardness

Riad al-Khouri December 18, 2003
For the Middle East to move forward economically and politically, says this article in Lebanon's Daily Star, states in the region must embrace principles of efficiency and inclusivity. Rather than fight against the tide of globalization, the author suggests, the Middle East must jump on the bandwagon, work to strengthen itself internally, and fortify its position in the global economy....

Saddam in Custody Offers New Opportunity

Shada Islam December 17, 2003
When Saddam Hussein was in power and was defying the UN, the US and its European allies wrangled over how to bring him into compliance. Now with the Iraqi leader in American custody there is a new opportunity to repair transatlantic relations. But there is also a fresh new hurdle. Writing from Brussels, veteran EU watcher Shada Islam says that the Pentagon's announcement that only nations...

Deflating Bush's China balloon

William Pesek Jr. December 17, 2003
The Bush Administration is pressuring China to float its currency, the yuan, instead of pegging it to the US dollar. Administration officials argue that the yuan is currently undervalued and is thus hurting the US economy. This week, Alan Greenspan, the US Federal Reserve chairman, said that a rise in the relative value of the yuan would have little effect on US employment, as companies would...

Donors Warn of Lost Foreign Expertise

Rungrawee C Pinyorat December 12, 2003
Believing it has 'outgrown' the need for international donors' assistance, the government of Thailand has announced that it will no longer accept technical assistance from foreign countries. Once a recipient of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from countries such as Australia, Thailand has refused grants and soft loans for some time. The rejection of the third form of ODA –...

Readying for Development

Nevine Khalil December 12, 2003
President Hosni Mubarak traveled from Cairo to Geneva for the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with one message: African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American states must work together to develop their capacities as "IT-savvy" states. President Mubarak envisions a well-integrated system of cooperation, where nations can help each other's development through...

'Hasten Slowly' in Reviving the Doha Round

Ernesto Zedillo December 12, 2003
Reviving the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after the debacle in Cancun will not be possible if negotiators pretend that nothing has happened. Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico and Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, argues that further trade talks will only be useful if the participating countries recognize the lessons that should have been...

Sending the Best Away

Stefan Dietrich December 12, 2003
Germany was once at the forefront of plutonium technological development, but with the rise of the Green party, the technology was abandoned due to its environmental and health risks. Now one of Germany's unused plants is likely going to be exported to China. Commentator Stefan Dietrich warns that the trade is dangerous for two reasons. First of all, China (as a one-party state) does not...