Conflict in Libya reveals flaws in the European Union’s coordination capacity. In the chorus of countries and international organizations calling for immediate action and an end to the violence in Libya, one of the strongest voices has been notably absent – that of the European Union. While individual countries within the union have independently condemned Muammar el-Qaddafi’s … Read more
Just like most of the world, Germany has had a fixed eye on the political developments in the Arab World. Embarrassing plagiarism controversies aside, the German media has been following the revolts with almost universal support for the protesters, regardless of political affiliation. This may not seem surprising; after all it’s hard to justify the … Read more
Many things made possible the recent Egyptian Reformation—Facebook, the spread of information, plain courage—and many have been rightly celebrated. But one has remained more or less a parenthesis: the Egyptian Army’s clemency. When he enlisted, each member of the army, from private to general, swore fealty to his government. The protestors’ aim was to dissolve … Read more
After thirty years of autocratic rule in Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak has yielded to the dictates of a democratic revolution. In living up to the political ideal held most sacred by Americans, the Egyptian people deserve our congratulations and well-wishes. But with Egypt’s fate unresolved, it is too early to discount bleaker possibilities: a military … Read more
For democracy to prevail in Egypt, deposing Murbarak will not be enough. What is needed is an overhaul of state-military relations. For supporters of democracy around the world, there was something inspiring about the sight of protestors gathered around Tahrir Square at Cairo. In his 1994 book, The End of History, Francis Fukuyama posited that … Read more
Why President Lukashenko’s cooperation in Belarus could be more deadly than his refusal. With smoke and whispers of a domino-effect rising in the Middle East, it is difficult to tear attention away from Twitter updates from Egypt and Tunisia to focus on a quieter, as of yet unsuccessful, opposition movement. Indeed, a no less spectacular … Read more
A word of advice, Mr. Friedman: Let Singapore be Singapore, and America be America. Last month, Thomas Friedman wrote a glowing account of governance in Singapore. This, I believe, isn’t the first time Friedman has written positively of the nanny state; given the sorry state of U.S. government nowadays, the prospect of Singaporean-style authoritarianism does appear … Read more
Why an average case of Chinese corruption has become a national, internet-driven frenzy. With the recent conclusion of President Hu’s official state visit to the United States, it is a good time to assess what was actually accomplished during this meeting. Call me a cynic, but I never expected much from this summit in terms … Read more
When I visited Estonia four weeks ago, I witnessed the bittersweet, albeit largely temperate, passing of the kroon, Estonia’s national currency since 1992. As I, and indeed most of the country, rushed to dump my krooni before Jan. 1st and the euro arrived, I nevertheless held on to a two-krooni note—a relic, no doubt, of a … Read more
Upon coming to from a nitrous oxide-induced coma this Monday, my dental surgeon told me that I’d been babbling endlessly about Lebanon as my wisdom teeth met their end. Such is the life of a Middle East political columnist. Any other week, this anecdote would have been fruitless. I don’t pontificate about Lebanon all that … Read more