22.05.2014
The International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyses events in the Middle East and the Balkans. It has analysed Egyptian Presidential Election (26-27 May 2014). The most interesting sections from the analysis entitled “Egypt - A Cairo Letter: Egyptian Presidential Election to Yield No Surprises” are published below.
09.05.2014
Today, it is not only politicians who have run out of arguments for sticking with the “one-size-fits-all” euro, but most economists too. With the eurozone getting stuck in recession, and the total number of Europe’s unemployed reaching a new record of almost 19m people, there are hardly any economic arguments left in favour of the euro.
09.05.2014
Erdogan and Gulen, the "student" and the "mentor" respectively, have become enemies. Gulen who lives in self-imposed exile in the US has created an international movement, the Hizmet. It means “the service” and promotes a tolerant form of Islam, by emphasizing in the education and the hard work. Hizmet attracts millions of followers in international level and its members have infiltrated in the Turkish bureaucracy, the Police, the Justice and the ruling Islamic Party AKP.
09.05.2014
What happens to a country which suddenly is free to govern its own territory and people? What is the biggest fear?Is it the inability to satisfy its population or a threat from the former conqueror?Should a country opt for the ‘shock therapy’ or experience gradual changes? How to deal with the privatization of state-owned institutions? The following lines objectively question how the well-being of the East-European nation has changed in 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and on the...
09.05.2014
Ironically Australia is cutting its foreign aid budget by AUD 4.5 Billion over the next 4 years, while at the same time increasing its intelligence budget. This is not a good message to be sending out to the region if sincere and open engagement is truly sort by the Abbott Government. Asia is judging Australia by its actions, not rhetoric, and there appears to be a massive failure which the Abbott Government must quickly react to, if Australia's interests are to be safeguarded.
09.05.2014
As has been discussed, the macro-economy of Vietnam is currently displaying a number of worrying issues and symptoms. The crisis has struck in the wake of Vietnam's rapidly changing economy and exposed a number of key weaknesses in the country's macro-economy such as inflation, state budget deficit and the inefficient use of SOEs as spearhead for the economy, to name a few.
09.05.2014
There is a far too little ’s compromise achieved between politicians or their economic advisers on how to stimulate debt-ridden economies. However, former OECD Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston argues that a satisfactory middle ground could be discussed and agreed upon lastingly.
09.05.2014
Popular nationalism an inter-governmental brinkmanship still threaten the EU’s future, says former Irish Prime Minister John Bruton. And although its existential crisis is abating, it could yet be severely damaged if the British “re-negotiation” goes wrong.
09.05.2014
A significant problem that hammers the revival of the peace talks is the lack of domestic unity of the two sides, Israel and Palestinians. The political system of Israel favors the participation many political parties in Knesset. The winner party of the elections is extremely difficult to win the majority of the parliament. The governmental coalition is hostage to the political interests of the parties that participate in the government.
09.05.2014
Such early election will be of great importance not only for local development and improvement of the life of Kosovo citizens, but will at the same time trigger a fight to take over local communities by the competent young people who are willing to make their best efforts for the benefit of their fellow citizens, or by certain individuals whose primary goals have been, for many years, to satisfy their own personal interests and needs.
09.05.2014
Following the Belgrade-Pristina model of negotiations the EU is ready to mediate also in the negotiations on the name dispute between Skopje and Athens should the agreements be respected by both sides – notably by Prime Minister Gruevski who has so far had solo performances and failed to respect the reached agreements.
09.05.2014
To sum it up: it seems impossible to think outside the binary dichotomy of "us" against "them" as we perceive ourselves as members of a particular community. Only if we see the planet as the ultimate border will we be capable (though not necessarily willing to do so) of seeing ourselves as members of the very abstract concept, the community of human beings. I understand very well that collective identities in the past 200 years have been based on nations.
