Eli Lake, Bloom. View
Here is an irony to savor. One of Iraq's most notorious demagogues might now be saving the democratic experiment he nearly extinguished more than a decade ago.
Fabio Rafael Fiallo, RCWorld
Brazil's President, Dilma Rousseff, is responsible in three ways for her country's predicament. She is responsible for her erratic economic policies, characterized by lavish public spending and mismanagement of public funds, which, along with an adverse world economic climate, have contributed to Brazil's dismal performance in recent years. She is responsible, too, for her reckless oversight of the state-run Petrobras oil firm when she was Energy Minister and chair of the Petrobras board. Читать дальше...
Ed Smith, New States.
Dignity isn’t so dated after all. Claudio Ranieri, champion; Jos Mourinho, unemployed. Dignity, it turns out, earns you second chances. It’s the Machiavels who run out of time.
Merriden Varrall, Lowy Institute
It is of course unarguably true that China has, among other things, been undertaking some fast-paced building activities in the region, has declared an ADIZ in the East China Sea and has said that an ADIZ in the South China Sea is not out of the question. It seems to be just clear common sense that what this adds up to is China's desire for regional pre-eminence. What else, when you look at the facts, could it mean?
Simon Jenkins, Guardian
Local election results reflect distinctive paths being taken in devolved Scotland and Wales, but England is diversifying too.
Marya Hannun & Sophie Spaan, Foreign Policy
It’s an odd scene to imagine in today’s Germany, where the right-wing Alternative for Germany party has called for a ban on burqas and minarets, and more than half of Germans say they view Islam as a threat. But in the interwar period, Berlin boasted a thriving Muslim intelligentsia comprising not only immigrants and students from South Asia and the Middle East but German converts from all walks of life. Islam, at the time, represented a countercultural... Читать дальше...
Kelsey Fraser, Ramen IR
While many Americans presently express little or no concern about the UK’s place in the European Union, it is rare to see the media, politicians and the public remain uncharacteristically quiet regarding an important, fast approaching referendum. Even Senator Bob Corker (R. TN), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has stated that despite the longstanding ties with the United Kingdom, “Congress isn’t really paying much attention” to the impending referendum. Читать дальше...
John McLaughlin, Ozy
There’s a sliver of good news about the Islamic State. That may come as a surprise, given its recent killing sprees in Brussels and Paris, and its claimed attacks in California. Yet, the anti-IS coalition has finally begun to dent the group’s capabilities, including its territory, resources and recruits.
Fraser Nelson, Telegraph
Those who think that a break-the-furniture candidate like Trump would never prosper in a common-sense country like Britain should look at the Scottish election results this morning. There will be a stunning victory for a party whose “Scotland first” message is as vacuous as Trump’s “America First”. They should look at Ukip’s rise in Wales and wonder what might happen if “Remain” scores a narrow win in the referendum. Might Ukip might enjoy the post-defeat resurgence now enjoyed by Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP? Читать дальше...
C. Winneker & M. Karnitschnig, Pol. EU
Recep Tayyip Erdoan pulled yet another block out of the already precarious Jenga tower that is the EU-Turkey agreement on migration, moving to oust the politician who has been Brussels’ most trusted partner in Ankara.
David Sanger, NYT
WASHINGTON — Alarmed by Donald J. Trump’s grip on the Republican presidential nomination, world leaders are wrestling with the possibility that, even if he loses the general election, his ascent reflects a strain of American public opinion that could profoundly reshape the way the United States addresses security alliances and trade.
Uri Friedman, The Atlantic
In this case, Aleppo lost a final, stoic defender of children—many no older than the Syrian Civil War—whose lives are just beginning. When that last line of defense falls, what’s left? When a doctor dies, how many other lives are destroyed or stunted as a result?
Chung-Min Lee, The Cipher Brief
Being perennially sandwiched between the world’s most powerful states has resulted in wars, invasions, colonization, and proxy conflicts. But it also spurred South Korea into becoming the world’s 12th largest economy with formidable military strength and diplomatic acumen. Without such residual capabilities, it would always be at the mercy of the great powers’ machinations. However, Seoul’s abilities will be tested as never before since it has to ensure unification under its auspices... Читать дальше...
Dan Drezner, Washington Post
The recipe for this is pretty simple. Good foreign policy doctrines consist of a fancy adjective preceding an important noun. So, here’s your three-step process for coining a vacuous but serious-sounding foreign policy doctrine.
Winstanley-Chesters, Conversation
North Korea has been anticipating the Seventh Workers Party of Korea Congress for months now. Following the announcement of the Congress the energy of North Korea’s media organisations was unleashed rhetorically. All manner of bureaucracies have been harnessed to underpin the congress’s importance. There was even a"70 Day Campaign of Loyalty,“ a campaign similar to past Chinese efforts such as Dazhai Speed under Mao or Soviet Stakhanovism.
Kevin Lees, Suffragio
Known domestically as the ‘punisher,’ Duterte is not a man to cross. He brags about killing criminals, especially drug dealers, with his own gun, taking extrajudicial justice into his own hands where he sees fit. He openly admitted last November to killing three rapists and kidnappers in Davao City, and he said last week that he would kill his own kids if he found out they were using drugs. Duterte has trekked across the country delivering a fiery nationalist stump speech... Читать дальше...
