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The recent elections in Sweden and Italy, which went towards extremist parties campaigning against immigrants, and the Brazil election where they were narrowly knocked back, are a warning for democracy. Lee Duffield sets about finding psychological causes for what he calls the crop of “off-balance” players, “demagogues” on the right wing. … Read More »
The European Union’s move to get CORVID-19 investigated through the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been made difficult by Chinese-American squabbling –and Australia trying to get into the fight.
The EU focus has been to try and discover more about the virus and its origins, and draw lessons about managing both the particular disease and others that may follow.
But first they have had to manage, coax and bring into the process, unreasoning parties on two sides: on one hand American and Australian governments picking a fight with the Chinese, on the other, Chinese communists indulging their accustomed habits of coercion and abuse. It’s a picture of maturity from Brussels and something much less from these other partners. … Read More »
An emergency European summit this week, 23.4.15 at Brussels, agreed to step up sea patrols and move on other measures in response to the immigration crisis in the Mediterranean.
The European Union Heads of Government had been jolted into action by the latest, severe tragedy, the capsize of an overloaded boat last Sunday leading to some 800 deaths. … Read More »
Urgent international gatherings this week in Geneva and Paris took on, respectively, the Ebola crisis in West Africa and threats posed by the ‘Islamic state’ movement in Syria and Iraq. … Read More »
Faced with an overseas crisis like the conflict in Ukraine, governments, notably inexperienced ones that might hope to settle every dogfight and desert war, think about a military solution.
The armed forces will comply, but may not be given a clear or realistic task.
This post carries a letter held to be the view of a seasoned soldier, talking among colleagues and friends. … Read More »
rom Lee Duffield – in the Pacific islands.
The mood in New Caledonia, the racially and ethnically divided French territory of the South-west Pacific, is there for the outsider to easily sample.
It has great promise, with a studied accord on getting to some form, or other, of independence; and in other ways it does not feel good. (Picture – Noumea harbour) … Read More »
Keeping together is the theme for the Europeans and United States, faced with Russia’s seizure of Crimea, and the ongoing ructions in South-eastern Europe.
President Barack Obama’s visit to Brussels to see heads of NATO and the European Union (27.3.14), not going to national capitals first-up, drew attention to the idea of Europe as a whole.
Most other political leaders and high officials were saying the same, keep together; while action was controlled and incremental, its main thrust to isolate the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. … Read More »