« Selected articles, Friday 20th November
A THREE-PART FEATURE:
A significant shift in international statebuilding and peacebuilding projects is required, says Oliver Richmond. Phil Vernon, Robert Muggah and lona Szabó de Carvalho respond

Is aid working?

A reply to Phil Vernon: aid agencies feed the public a diet of overwhelmingly “good news stories” to convince them that it is working, but this diverts attention from more important questions

Ukraine: a warning

The upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine could result in more authoritarian politics, lessening Western support and increasing vulnerability to Russian coercion
Friday 20th November

Beijing implicated in US cyber espionage report

A report to the US Congress accuses Beijing of increasing online espionage, the Prime Minister of Belgium has been appointed President of the European Council, the Bangladesh Supreme Court has condemned the assassins of the country’s first Prime Minister to death. All this and more, in today’s update.

Can President Medvedev make the earth move?

President Medvedev’s announcement that he is considering reducing the number of time zones in Russia has evoked a sense of déjà vu in Samara. Previous attempts have all failed and Medvedev would do well to think hard before proceeding, warns Vladimir Zvonovsky

Is aid working? Is this the right question to be asking?

“Is it working?” is the question most commonly asked of aid. In response, aid agencies feed the public a diet of overwhelmingly “good news stories” to convince them that it is working. This diverts attention from the central question: how to reduce the major gap between what aid currently does and what it could achieve. How donors provide aid is a major cause of aid’s current ineffectiveness.

Shocking new threat to web freedom

The UK government wants to give itself dangerous new powers to protect copyright
Thursday 19th November

Reopen negotiations or face sanctions, Obama tells North Korea and Iran.

Obama demands cooperation from Iran and North Korea at South Korean summit. Karzai sworn in as president. Peshawar faces further bombing. Yemeni forces claim scalps in battle with Houthi rebels. South African mercenaries training pro-government militia in Guinea. All this and more in today's update.

Liberal peace transitions: a rethink is urgent

A significant shift is required if international statebuilding and peacebuilding projects around the world are to contribute to peace and lead to reconciliation while also engaging with international standards for democracy and human rights.

Peacebuilding in Burundi: how peace transitions can work

International Alert supports a series of small post-conflict initiatives in Burundi. And some of the values that motivate these are also dear to the liberal hearts of the international community. A reply to Oliver Richmond’s ‘Liberal Peace Transitions’.

Brazil's "southern effect" in fragile countries

Global preoccupation with fragile environments is on the rise. Can south-south and triangular co-operation help? Brazil thinks so. A reply to Oliver Richmond.

A rebellious Parliament, but not a democratic one

The current UK Parliament is one of the most rebellious in history - but this isn't a sign of democratic health.
Wednesday 18th November

Ireland's lost revolution

A new history of the Workers' Party inspires Robin Wilson to reflect on a movement that helped to change the face of modern Ireland

Grading Gordon on the Queen's Speech

The Queen's Speech offered Brown what will likely be his last chance to deliver on the new politics he has repeatedly promised.

Vice-president's veto leaves Iraqi election law in disarray

Iraqi vice-president’s veto threatens Iraqi elections. Seven out of ten Afghans blame poverty and corruption for continued instability. Israel plans to expand settlement in East Jerusalem. Six suspected Muslim separatists killed in South Thailand. Five Iranian protestors sentenced to death. All this and more in today’s security briefing.

East Germany, twenty years on

Twenty years after reunification, democracy in eastern Germany is still far from solid

Aid pessimism: myth and reality

Aid commitments should be met not despite but because of the current financial crisis, and aid allocations prioritised for the poorest, and most vulnerable countries - are among the recommendations in this reply to Phil Vernon.

Photo essay: refugees from Bhutan

In Bhutan, a Himalayan country famed for its focus on Gross National Happiness, the Nepalese minority has been forced out. Anna Husarska traveled to their refugee camps to document their plight
Tuesday 17th November

Back to the eleventh century?

In a recent article for Foreign Policy, "Take me Back to Constantinople", Edward Luttwak suggested that America should adopt a 'Byzantine' approach to modern foreign policy. Judith Herrin welcomes this change in tone towards the much-maligned medieval power, but feels that it is perhaps too late to adopt their methods of diplomacy and intrigue

How the wage squeeze fuelled the crash and threatens recovery

As part of his TUC touchstone report "Unfair to Middling: How Middle Income Britain's Shrinking Wages Fuelled the Crash and Threaten Recovery", Stewart Lansley argues that a long term wage sqeeze on lower and middle income groups has had a serious effect on the global financial crisis, and may threaten any 'green shoots' of recovery in the future

Karzai launches Afghan anti-corruption force

Afghan government reveals new unit to tackle corruption. UN inspectors warn of more hidden nuclear sites in Iran. Thirteen Iraqi villagers killed by gunmen. China and US remain divided on Iran. All this and much more, in today’s security briefing.
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