Viewpoint by Jonathan Power “Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere” is the first of 17 Goals of the United Nations. The latest data indicate that it would cost only $78 billion a year – less than 0.1% of Global GDP – to abolish extreme poverty. Indeed, there is an argument for giving the abolition […]
Fukuyama Expects People to Still Mark 1989 in 100 Years
Deutsche Welle Interview BERLIN (IDN-INPS) – “I think democracy has got a lot of strengths that may not be evident in the short run, but will play out over the longer run because the ability to change your leaders, ability to hold them accountable is really important,” American political scientist and writer Francis Fukuyama, author […]
Four Reasons the World Bank Should Engage More with Civil Society
Viewpoint by Patricia Moreira Patricia Moreira is Managing Director of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation at the forefront of the fight against corruption. This viewpoint originally appeared on the World Bank blog. BERLIN (IDN) – In recent years, we have witnessed a significant shift in approach of both the World Bank and International […]
Holocaust Is Not Long Ago and Not Far Away
Viewpoint by António Guterres Following are extensive extracts from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ speech on 7 November 2019 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York which was marking the 81st anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom carried out by the Nazi regime. Underlining his continued fight to stamp out antisemitism, racism and other forms […]
Japan Between Cosmopolitanism and Ritualised Tradition
Viewpoint by Siegfried Knittel The writer studied German literature and political science. He now works as a freelance journalist and, since 2011, lives in Japan. This article first appeared on the website of International Politics and Society on 5 November 2019. TOKYO (IDN-INPS) – In Japan, harmony lies at the heart of everything, from politics […]
Amexit Failed in 1776 – Brexit Will Fail Today
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – Before there was Brexit there was Amexit when the Americans in 1776 decided to revolt against Britain’s King George and unilaterally secede to establish their own independent republic. In retrospect it was a strangely negative thing to do and one that took a long time to put […]
Upholding International Humanitarian Law in Times of Armed Violence
Viewpoint by Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens GENEVA (IDN) – The entry of Turkish troops into what they call a “safe zone” on the frontier of Turkey and northeast Syria and especially the actions of Turkish-backed Syrian militias has raised in a dramatic way the issue of respect of international humanitarian law. Regular […]
UN Chief Lauds ‘Quantum Leap’ on Multiple Issues in ASEAN-UN Relations
Secretary-General António Guterres’ Press Encounter Following are extensive extracts from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press encounter on 3 November 2019 following the ASEAN-UN Summit. BANGKOK (IDN-INPS) – I am extremely happy with the UN ASEAN summit. Two years ago, I asked for a quantum leap in relations between ASEAN and the UN and we can, […]
Do Everything Possible to Avert ‘Great Fracture’
Viewpoint by António Guterres Following are extensive extracts from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks for the 10th ASEAN-UN summit in Bangkok on 3 November 2019. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Thailand is […]
Opportunity Beckons as Asia Reemerges as the World’s Dominant Economic Power
Viewpoint by Dr Palitha Kohona The writer is former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and former Foreign Secretary. It has been said that in the 19th century, the world was Europeanized. In the 20th century, it was Americanized. Now, it is being Asianized. Sri Lanka has another opportunity, through […]