Viewpoint by Jan Servaes * BRUSSELS (IDN) — Military coups d’état posed the greatest threat to democracies during the Cold War, until about 1990, and were responsible for nearly three out of every four democratic collapses. Democracies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay all […]
African Troops Heading for Guinea Bissau After Failed Coup Linked to Narcos
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — ECOWAS, a West African trade union, has voted to send troops to the coastal nation of Guinea Bissau after unidentified coup plotters brazenly threatened the lives of government leaders. While the identity of the coup plotters is still unknown, the nation’s president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, […]
As Threats of War Loom Over Ukraine, the Illegality of NATO Is Laid Bare
Viewpoint by John Scales Avery* COPENHAGEN (IDN) — Russia understandably fears the eastward expansion of NATO. Recently NATO countries, led by the United States, have supplied arms to Ukraine. There is a threat that the tensions building up in the region will lead to war. Such a development would be catastrophic for the entire world. […]
China’s Olympic Battle for Legitimacy: The Prehistory of Beijing 2022
Viewpoint by Charles Xu This article was first published on Qiao Collective and was adapted in partnership with Globetrotter. Charles Xu is a member of the Qiao Collective and of the No Cold War collective. Source: Globetrotter NEW YORK (IDN) — Much has been made of the “diplomatic boycott” by the United States and its […]
A Push to Further Bolster the Global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, has launched an initiative to convince more countries to join the majority of states in giving Agency inspectors wider access to locations and information as part of a push to further bolster the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. […]
Growing Crises at Borders and Key Elections Signal EU Migration Pivot in 2022
By Jaya Ramachandran VIENNA (IDN) — 2022 will be another challenging year for EU migration. The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Outlook lists key issues that will be high on the agenda of decision-makers and analysts alike. Founded in 1993, ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with more than 240 partners including […]
The Greater Maghreb Is One of The Most Volatile Geopolitical Frontiers
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* Interviews Middle East Expert Dr. Chatou Mohamed MOSCOW | RABAT (IDN) — For several decades, the Maghreb region has been a multifaceted conflict region. It is also a gateway to Europe and to sub-Saharan Africa. Historically, the states of the region have different deep-seated political differences but are tightly bonded by […]
World’s Major Nuclear Powers Pledge to Avoid Wars—Even as they Continue to Upgrade their Arsenals
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When the world’s five major nuclear powers—the US, UK, China, France and Russia—pledged to prevent nuclear wars and abandon the pursuit of more weapons, their joint statement released January 3 explicitly left out several of the demands from anti-nuclear activists, including an end to the upgrading and enhancing […]
Is China Pursuing ‘Debt-Trap Diplomacy’ in Africa?
Viewpoint by Allison Lau and Lauren Gonitzke * This article was produced by Local Peace Economy, a project of the Independent Media Institute. NEW YORK (IDN) — In mid-December 2021, South African comedian Trevor Noah used “The Daily Show” to target China when he aired a segment titled “Why China Is in Africa”. While this […]
Pressing the Reset Button on the Africa-Europe Relationship
Viewpoint by Inge Kaul * This blog is part of a series by Center for Global Development (CGD) ahead of the EU-Africa Summit on February 17-18, 2022. This series presents proposals for priorities, and commentary on whether a meaningful reconstruction of the relationship between the two continents is likely. BERLIN (IDN) — When the European […]