Viewpoint by Teshome Toga Chanaka This is the first of a two-part article by Teshome Toga Chanaka, currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to China. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the government and IDN, the flagship of non-profit International Press Syndicate. […]
COVID-19 : An Unprecedented Crisis and Also an Exceptional Opportunity
Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona The writer is former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and former Foreign Secretary. Henry Kissinger, in one of his infrequent statements said, “When the COVID-19 pandemic is over, many countries’ institutions will be perceived as having failed. Whether this judgment is objectively fair is […]
Coronavirus Shows World Not Prepared for Security Threat of Climate Change
Viewpoint by Kate Guy* OXFORD (IDN) – How might a single threat, even one deemed unlikely, spiral into an evolving global crisis which challenges the foundations of global security, economic stability and democratic governance, all in the matter of a few weeks? My research on threats to national security, governance and geopolitics has focused on […]
COVID-19 and European Union – For Whom The Bell Tolls
Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Jainendra Karn * NEW DELHI (IDN) – While reading observations of Douglas Webber, Professor of Political Science at INSEAD in his article “Why Brexit Has Not and Will Not Trigger EU Disintegration,” made one speculate on whether if one had applied the principle of Co-evolution to the EU, the […]
Coronavirus Puts Class Dimension of Mobility into Sharp Focus
Viewpoint by Robin Cohen* OXFORD (IDN) – The coronavirus pandemic demonstrates the salience of class to the spread, containment and impact of infectious diseases. The virus hitches a ride on us, the humans who act simultaneously as its hosts and victims. Human mobility and immobility – who can and can’t move and why – is […]
Sustainable Water Governance Is Critical for Achieving Peace in Horn of Africa
By Anniek Barnhoorn, Florian Krampe, Luc van de Goor, Elizabeth Smith & Dan Smith* STOCKHOLM (IDN) – As the global climate changes, climate-related security risks are making the existing political, social, and economic challenges even more complicated. The 230 million people who live in the Horn of Africa are highly vulnerable to the impacts of […]
Biden’s Foreign Policy Leaves Enough Room for Revamping
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Joseph Biden for president! His main rival for the Democratic Party’s nomination, Bernie Sanders, endorsed him on April 13. If the world could vote, the overwhelming majority would vote for Biden, despite some misgivings. My reservations would be on his foreign policy. Like President Barack Obama he […]
Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and Remittances – Insights from Egypt
Viewpoint by Clemens Breisinger, Abla Abdel Latif, Mariam Raouf and Manfred Wiebelt WASHINGTON, DC (IDN) – The economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis are increasingly hitting low- and middle-income countries and the poor. International travel restrictions and the full or partial closure of businesses and industries in Asia, Europe, and North America have led to […]
COVID-19: Are the World’s “Leaders” up to the Challenge?
Viewpoint by Roberto Savio* CASAPROTA, Rieti, Italy (IDN) – The letter of 7 April 2020 calling for immediate international action to address issues arising from the COVID-19 crisis sent to the G20 by more than 200 former world leaders, leading economists and global health experts, makes sad reading. The letter, sent by a group that […]
An Unexpected Chance for the Success of Postponed NPT Review Conference
Viewpoint by Sergio Duarte The writer is Former UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and current President of Pugwash. NEW YORK (IDN) – It took patience from the President-designate of the 2020 NPT Review Conference, a sober assessment of the situation by a number of states, particularly from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and help from […]