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A careful selection and summary of editorials, commentaries, and analyses from the world’s leading newspapers and magazines to help you stay on top of the latest debates and developments in the transatlantic agenda. See list of monitoring sources.
Readers can also see how the perspectives and priorities diverge in different regions.

A New Phase of Russian Politics is Underway

Conventional wisdom which treated President Medvedev as a mere continuation of Putin is oversimplified. ++ We are witnessing one of the most promising periods in Russian history. ++ The new Russian government with two centers of power may mark the beginning of an evolution toward a form of checks and balances. ++ Geopolitical realities with respect to nuclear weapons and Iran require Russian-US cooperation. ++ US can affect more by patience and historical understanding than by offended disengagement and public exhortations.

Global Challenges Require Urgent Actions

Climate change and economic “stagflation” threaten the very future of our planet. ++ The only way to solve these challenges is to act globally. ++ Essentially, to resolve the food crisis, export restrictions need to be lifted and a second “green revolution,” - what once transformed Southeast Asia - needs to take place. ++ Climate change can be stopped if new limits are set for greenhouse gases and consumption patterns are adapted in the developed world. ++ If we are serious about promoting change, goals need to be set for as soon as 2020, not 2050.

The Last Chance for the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama seems to be more interested in fanning up international pressure on China than in talking seriously with the central government. ++ However, after the Olympics, his influence in the West will probably fade. ++ His concept of "high-level" or "maximum" autonomy cannot possibly be accommodated within the Chinese Constitution as it would mean the restoration of theocracy. ++ It is time for Dalai Lama to focus on the future of Tibet and respond to the central government’s attempts to negotiate.

Bush's Legacy is Ideological, not Physical

Few will mourn the end of the Bush Administration, yet many fail to realize that his legacy has long-term implications. ++ Beside operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, Bush has managed to shift the path of America’s foreign policy. ++ Defining an “age of terror” with a “global war” as a response, promulgating preemptive war, and making power projection a matter of defense are only a few examples. ++ Bush critics are now debating how both presidential candidates may promote or reshape this new, rather malignant alignment.

Iraqis are Thankful for American Military Presence

Despite the West’s fear and loathing of America’s perceived overdrawn and poorly executed military initiatives in Iraq, the nation’s expats across the Middle East are singing a different, more optimistic tune. ++ Artists and businessmen alike are looking forward to the day they can return to their homes in hopes of a peaceful era. ++ However, according to many of them, this is contingent on the Americans remaining in Iraq as a stabilizing factor until it is ascertained by who and how the country should be governed.

EU Constitution for a "Protective Europe"

Besides a Europe of markets, trade, and economic liberalization the French President Nicolas Sarkozy calls for a "protective Europe." ++ With this, he intends to assuage the discontent of people who feel abandonned by the EU in the face of globalization. ++ Sarkozy's policy style forces the EU to wake up from its political lethargy. ++ Yet, his strategy can only be successful, if he manages to find a solution to the "EU constitution" crisis since this is the document that would provide the necessary instruments for a protective Europe.

"Sanctions Are a Coward's War"

Since the first use of sanctions against Italy in 1935, suspending trade with corrupt regimes has proven to make the poor poorer and the evil richer. ++ Even with supposed success, sanctions were either accompanied by other internal problems (South Africa) or imposed upon a cooperative government (England). ++ In contrast, sanctions against regimes such as Mugabe’s are only levied to boost the reputation of Western companies and politicians, while in actual fact, they destroy one of Zimbabwe’s internal means of resistance: its mercantile class.

The Future of Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

July 1 marked the 40th anniversary of the NPT which provided an opportunity to reexamine its current and future role. ++ Nuclear nonproliferation movement is at a crossroads. ++ It is crucial that the next US president calls for deep cuts in nuclear weapons around the world at the start of his administration in January 2009. ++ He should also appoint a nonproliferation "czar" to help him shape his policy. ++ US should establish a serious dialogue with China on nuclear weapons issues and propose steps for U.S.-Russian cooperation in this matter.

The Rise of Private Equity in Africa

Though Africa still accounts for only a fraction of the global private equity market, the spread of stable democracy and rapid economic evolution make it increasingly attractive for US and European investors. ++ Private capital flow into sub-Saharan Africa increased fourfold since 2000, a trend reflected by Kingdom Zephyr’s recent decision to put $325m into a pan-African buy-out fund. ++ Companies realize consumer patterns in Africa are changing: rising middle class, spread of entertainment and internet make it a more noteworthy area.

China Doesn't Care What We Think of the Olympics

Despite China’s plummeting international rapport, its leaders have already declared the Olympics a victory. ++ Fearing domestic turmoil, Chinese political leaders have turned the event into a consumerable good, with which they may prove their “mandate of heaven.” ++ Movies, pop-music, and even school cirricula have been heavily censored and geared to portray the Beijing Olympics as a modern nationalist triumph over nations that have humiliated China in the past. ++ At this point, it seems as though medals are irrelevant.