Hailemariam Desalegn was sworn in as Ethiopia’s new prime minister last week. He has some big shoes to fill.
A cult of personality surrounds his predecessor, Meles Zenawi, who died last month..
Zenawi was a regional leader, fighting terrorism in Somalia and mediating the Sudan-South Sudan conflict. At …
Whether it is lack of political will or capacity, the Nigerian government has failed to address the threat that the Islamist insurgency Boko Haram poses to its country’s security.
The past week has been a particularly bloody one for Nigeria. Simultaneous attacks against This Day newspaper offices in Abuja …
The Government of Bahrain and opposition movement are at a stalemate. Last November, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), comprising of individuals selected for their human rights expertise released a damning report outlining the many abuses committed by Bahrain’s government during the February 2011 crisis. …
Months after South Sudan emerged as the world’s newest country, celebrations have died down and the government in Juba must address the numerous challenges that face the fledgling nation. Apart from addressing unresolved issues with the north and …
If a country’s government is democratic and classically liberal, men and women are generally treated as equals. However, if men and women are treated equally, does this mean a government is democratic? No. Example: Tunisia.
Under Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, women were, broadly speaking, given equal treatment. They …
It is still too early to determine which Arab Spring countries will eventually become successes in their government reforms and transitions and which stagnate or descend into chaos.
Tunisia. With a homogeneous and well-educated citizenry, distaste for Islamist extremism, and recent free and fair elections, Tunisia stands the most to gain …
Operation Unified Protector, NATO’s mission in Libya, is winding down. Claiming victory, the Obama administration is chiding those who opposed U.S. involvement. While NATO has succeeded in preventing Muammar Qadhafi from further targeting civilians, the mission has exposed a significant alliance weakness: the unfair sharing …
When Nazi troops occupied Prague in March 1939, they destroyed the city’s tribute to former United States President Woodrow Wilson. Erected in 1928, the statue commemorated U.S. support and President Wilson’s leadership in shaping the first free Czechoslovakia. After WWII, a plaque served as a placeholder in the statue’s former …
Earlier this week, NATO’s Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, warned that European countries’ cuts in defense budgets risk the “gradual decline” of Europe. NATO’s engagement in Libya has exposed weaknesses in the alliance, particularly regarding who contributes to operations and how much. As Europe …
You’ll recall the “House of European History,” an EU creation dedicated to truncating Europe’s past. Despite receiving substantial criticism for this narcissistic edifice, the EU has decided to erect yet another monument to its vanity: The “Europa” building. This egg-shaped complex will house the European Council and future EU summits.
Since its independence, Pakistan has been a crucial ally to the United States — though when it comes to fighting the war in Afghanistan, it is proving a reluctant one these days. Pakistan has sacrificed blood and treasure in fighting terrorism in its tribal regions, but its government has failed to end both extremist support and influence within its borders.
The United States is winning no popularity contests in Pakistan. Only 17 percent of Pakistanis view the U.S. in a favorable light. Obviously, the U.S. State Department has a long way to go on the public diplomacy front. One of the most promising ways State is trying to engage foreign publics with unfavorable perceptions of the U.S. is through citizen diplomacy.
When given the choice, most Europeans identify themselves according to their national heritage rather than as Europeans. According to the European Union’s polling data, only 33 percent of Europeans believe their voices count in Brussels compared to 52 percent who believe their voices count in their national governments. The EU is determined to change this.
Earlier this month, thousands took to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara demanding the release of journalists arrested for suspected ties to the Ergenekon conspiracy. Charges have yet to be pressed, leading many to surmise it was not conspiracy but criticism—of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP)—that prompted the arrests.
