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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.

Far-Right Bucking (but Not Wrecking) the System

Right-wing victory in Austria is not a revival of Nazism but a reinforcement of democracy. ++ Unchecked fears of nationalism and overly sensitive cultural policies prevented Europeans from properly dealing with the cultural overhaul of recent decades, resulting in a backlash of resentment. ++ Austrian populists do not condone violence and want to bring “fresh air” to their stagnant, elitist coalitions. ++ They have shown their faith in the democratic system and their legitimate, if distasteful, concerns should be taken seriously.

How to Solve the Financial Crisis

With the financial crisis still in full progress, political leaders are ready to cooperate. ++ As politicians negotiate next week, they have to realize that the economy is still too unstable to carry out extensive reforms. ++ Discussions are needed to evaluate the roots of the crisis, followed by talks about "substantive reforms." ++ An “international high level group of non governmental experts” should assess the causes of the crisis. ++ On the basis of these results another group of experts should then "lay out a list of potential policy changes."

Business Interests Trumping Environmental Concerns

The biggest loser from the global recession will be the environment. ++ In the interest of business, Gordon Brown and his Labour Party look set to revive talks over an expansion of Heathrow and Standsted airports. ++ Although carbon emissions from air travel in the UK only account for 6.3% of current total output, that number is set to skyrocket to as high as 16% by 2020. ++ It seems as if Labour “ministers who know they have lost the next election are cozying up to the business interests that may help them out in the private sector afterwards.”

Shangri-La or Bust

Now in the eighth round of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, China's expectations are clear: Tibet must follow the Shangri-La model. ++ Shangri-La, part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is strictly controlled by Beijing, maintaining civil order at all costs. ++ With 30% of the population Tibetan, the area has maintained 20% economic growth over the last six years and is a popular tourist destination. ++ The Dalai Lama will host an emergency meeting in India in two weeks to discuss his Middle Way plan for an autonomous Tibet. 

No Deal in Sight Between the EU and Syria

Last week, the EU held talks with Syria, but refused to set a date for signing a partnership agreement. ++ After multiple attempts to please the EU, Syria is vexed by what it saw as European inflexibility; however, Syria has made little improvements on its human rights record, a requirement for the deal. ++ In result, it has turned to Asia and Latin America in search of friends, but trade with the EU is still important. ++ Bilateral agreements have yet to bring any results, and the process will take a lot more time before success is reached.

All Is Not Lost in US Foreign Affairs

While it is true that G.W. Bush has ruined his country's finances, alienated many of its friends and botched the risky occupation of Iraq, not everything was a disaster. ++ Coaxing China into a rules-based economic system and seeking closer ties with India are two major steps. ++ Dashed hopes in Russia and the Middle East are not his fault and the “mad-dog” president wisely kept cool about Chavez and let the EU work with Iran. ++ The next president gets a foreign affairs fixer-upper but the repairs should not be as hard as some say.

Safety First, Pocketbook Second

America might think Wall St. and Main St. are now more important than Haifa St.; They are wrong. ++ From WWII to 9/11, history has shown that economic crises and America’s resulting inward attention are the seeds of global conflict. ++ Threats, such as the situations in Pakistan and Iran, could escalate at any time. ++ Al Qaeda and Iranian terror networks are not threats but enemies who are “trying to kill Americans right now.”++ The lives of Americans “rest on the way the president interacts with our enemies” and security should come first.

Mr. Putin, Your Economy is Showing

Commodity prices are falling, Western credit has dried up, and Russia has failed to diversify its economy. ++ Russia’s dazzlingly successful economy turned out to be just make-believe. ++ Despite the professionalism of the finance ministry’s rescue plan, Putin does not see the need to make that consistent with his foreign policy. ++ He can no longer assume Russia’s energy power entitles him to world power. ++ Russia desperately needs to develop its human capital and scale down its geopolitical ambition “to its real weight.”

Falling Oil Prices - Key to Negotiations with Iran

The dramatic fall in oil prices could be the key to Iranian willingness to negotiate about their nuclear program. ++ Despite economic sanctions, Iran has managed to compensate for this financial hindrance via high oil prices, but current trends will intensify sanctions. ++ “30 percent inflation and 11 percent unemployment” will contribute to the oil price crisis – threatening Ahmadinejad's reelection. ++ “America needs to end the cold war with Iran” and an Obama administration, who is willing to negotiate, challenges the mullah regime.

The UN: Obama's Money Pit

With its dubiously opaque financial practices, “chronic scandals and tyrant-friendly tilt,” the UN is in dire need of reform. ++ While McCain proposes a League of Democracies to provide competition, Obama wants to impose serious oversight on the UN, although previous attempts at such have fizzled. ++ Along with espousing the Millennium Development Goals, he wants the UN to play a larger role in US foreign policy and give it up to $300bn over the next four years. ++ The UN looks like an Obama fan who is eagerly awaiting some “wealth-spreading.”