This past week, the UN Human Rights Council heard the report of Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Jahangir provided several findings about world-wide discrimination based on religion or belief and its impact on the enjoyment of rights. While looking at the adverse impact of religious discrimination, “it was noted […]
Kenneth Vogel writes in Politico about conspiracy theorists convinced that the “highest levels of the Obama administration are infested with members of a shadowy, elitist cabal intent on installing a one-world government that subverts the will of the American people.” The conspiracy theorists point to President Obama’s selections for top posts – it turns out […]
The Strategic forecasting and consulting firm Stratfor, based in Houston, Texas, released an interesting analysis today comparing Russia and Turkey in their capacities as rising powers (You might not be able to read it in case you’re not a subscriber). Stratfor breaks down the possible areas of conflict and cooperation between the two nations. The […]
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, speaking before top generals on Tuesday, announced the country’s intention to modernize and rearm the military and nuclear forces in 2011. Moscow perceives remaining threats to Russia’s national security, particularly NATO’s encroachment on its borders. And despite a swift victory, last year’s war in Georgia exposed Russia’s tired arsenal. “An analysis […]
Recent headlines underline China’s burgeoning military power. Last week, both China and the United States sought to reduce tensions over a sea dispute and increase future talks to limit military confrontation. This month, Beijing announced that the country’s defense budget will rise by 15 percent in 2009. Is China the next military superpower? Every year, […]
Last week, we discussed soft power in Asia. The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently published a report on China’s soft power and the implications for the United States. The authors highlight China’s projection of soft power – through investment, humanitarian aid, exchange programs, diplomacy and participation in multilateral institutions – in Africa, the […]
With this post, I launch a discussion of two issues in American foreign policy relevant to the Rising Powers blog. The first issue deals with two extremes that have driven foreign policy formulation since the early 20th century – Wilsonian idealism and assertive interventionism. In today’s post, I open this topic by suggesting an approach […]
Two “under-the-radar” stories for rising powers took place this weekend. 1.) (this one is more prominent) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the White House on Saturday. The visit was amicable and jovial at times and is a good omen for positive US-Brazil relations. 2.) (not in the headlines) China and Iran signed […]
The Center for New American Security released a report on the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the United States. Despite Asia-Pacific’s growing political and economic weight, China’s rise, the fear of nuclear proliferation and the need for multilateral cooperation to solve the world’s ills, the US has “often been focused elsewhere” over the past […]
In moves characterizing the country’s resurgence, Russia continues to regain and assert influence over its neighbors and in America’s backyard. First in Russia’s “near abroad,” both Central Asia and the Caucasus are considered by Moscow to be within its sphere of influence. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev decided to close the United States air base in […]
This week, an unusual opinion piece appeared on the Wall Street Journal online. Tawfik Hamid wrote, “Islam Should Prove It’s a Religion of Peace.” Looking back over the past few months, I have noticed that a common theme in articles about religion is “proof.” Specifically, the question is: Who is responsible for proving facts about […]
Today Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his worry about the security of Chinese investments in American debt. The US has taken hard hits from the global financial crisis and Beijing is naturally worried. Wen said: “To be honest, I am a little bit worried and I would like to … call on the United States […]
Gaffes by the United States in dealing with the world’s rising powers seem to be happening frequently. Joshua Keating writes an entertaining post in Foreign Policy Passport about rescheduling Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s meeting at the White House, misspelling his name and giving DVDs as a gift to British Prime Minister Gordon […]
Over 40 years after Charles de Gaulle tossed NATO and United States forces out of France and withdrew from NATO’s military command, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced France’s intentions to become a full member of the alliance. In a speech on Wednesday, Sarkozy remarked that times have changed since de Gaulle’s decision and it was now […]
How long are they? His coattails, that is. He’s at 84% approval, largely due to the perception that Brazil is doing better than most in this global financial crisis, and it is. His pick for his successor is his chief of staff, Dilma Rousseff, a stalwart in the PT (Lula’s leftist Workers Party), who […]