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...

Russia Reaches Out to Venezuela

Alan Cullison August 1, 2006
Opposed to US foreign policy promoting democracy, leading to political unrest and conflict throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, the Kremlin has become more assertive. Russia has signed a deal with Venezuela, offering the small nation advanced fighter aircraft, helicopters and assault rifles. The Bush administration – wary of the leftist movement throughout South America, and Venezuela in...

Russia Looks Both East and West

Andrew Symon July 20, 2006
As the Group of Eight industrial countries meets in St. Petersburg, Russian oil supply to Europe and western countries was a prominent topic of conversation. Russia supplies 25 percent of the EU’s oil. Russia also looks east to China and South Korea to expand its markets for oil and natural gas. Several projects under negotiation between Moscow and Asian governments would increase the Russian...

British News Sites Seek Out Readers in the US

Eric Pfanner July 15, 2006
Americans are flocking online to read feisty articles of the British press. Online sites of the Times of London, the Guardian and the Sunday Times all have substantial circulations in the US. ''They got all these readers without even trying,'' said journalism professor Jeff Jarvis, as reported by Eric Pfanner in the New York Times. Sophisticated search engines assist readers...

Russia’s Signal to Stations Is Clear: Cut US Radio

Peter Finn July 14, 2006
The Russian government has asked more than 60 of its radio stations to stop broadcasting news reports sponsored by the US, claiming a violatoin of licensing laws. Russian Culture Ministry officials deny any prejudice toward the popular “Radio Liberty” and “Voice of America” programs. The programs are funded by the US, but produce independent reports. Since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000...

Putin’s Anti-Globalization Strategy

George Schöpflin July 11, 2006
Russia is active in the global market, but President Vladimir Putin’s governance does not embrace all aspects of globalization. While not resurrecting the Sovietisms of yesterday’s Kremlin, Putin places no faith in the western political mandates of globalization that advocate for the power of the individual consumer over the control of the state. Putin endorses a strong central state, control...

Fortress Europe?

Patrick Sabatier July 11, 2006
Europe’s working-age population is aging and falling in numbers, and the continent needs workers to do jobs that Europeans either will not or cannot do. Meanwhile, half of Africa’s ever-growing population is under 17 years of age, with many living on less than US$1.20 a day. Such potent conditions are building an immigration crisis in the European Union, the physical evidence of which can be...