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September 25, 2008 | Private Wars: The Renaissance of Western Mercenary Warfare

Thomas Speckmann: To Western democracies, the idea of war privatization is still largely associated with the reign of warlords in Africa and Afghanistan. However, privatization is also sneaking into Western warfare. This new financial aspect of war needs to be regulated on a national and global scale.

June 30, 2008 | It's the Economy, Stupid!

Sonja Davidovic: Instead of continuously debating, negotiating and making plans for reconfiguration, the international community should help the Serbian and Kosovar governments find ways to strengthen cross-border trade and regional business activities.

May 22, 2008 | UN Peacekeeping - Struggling to Define 'Business as Usual'

Ethan Christian Arrow: Raising the issue of UN legitimacy in matters of hard and soft power, a panel of speakers have recommended tailoring operations according to local needs. Perhaps running the UN more like a business and less like a Western power would produce better results for all concerned.

December 12, 2007 | Kosovo: It's Not as Bad as You Think

Elizabeth Pond: The EU and the UN can build on recent progress to resolve the last unfinished business from the 1990s’ Balkan wars. There is still a long way to go, though, to bring Kosovo under EU supervision and persuade Serbia to opt for a European future.

August 6, 2007 | Amnesty Prevents Darfur Violence When Governments Can't

Ariela Blätter: I chide the transatlantic partners for their continuing failure to stop the attacks in Sudan. The Eyes On Darfur initiative uses commercial innovation to achieve what governments have not, preventing further bloodshed by broadcasting satellite images of the most vulnerable areas.

October 1, 2008 | The End of US Arrogance

By talking about terrorism instead of the financial crises in front of the UN, Bush has staged himself as “yesterday’s man.” ++ Even Germany - one of America’s closest allies - is distancing itself from the US and blames the state for opposing tighter international market controls. ++ German politicians do not see the US as the “superpower of the global financial system” anymore. ++ The view

September 25, 2008 | UN Should Further One-State Solution

The peace process based on the two-state solution is stagnant and one alternative which is increasingly popular among Palestinians and some Israelis is an unitary state, providing both parties equal rights. ++ Abbas and Bush still support the two-state solution, but they are on the wrong track. ++ It is up to the UN to act, but the one-state proposal can only be discussed at the organisation if

September 25, 2008 | Iran Plays up Its Card as a Peacemaker

Ban Ki-moon lauded Tehran’s mediating role in the Caucasus, which surely is music to the ears’ of Iran’s president. ++ Ahmadinejad adopted the language of post-hegemony and portrayed Iran as the leader of a new global alliance for peace and, thereby, as an alternative to the US. ++ Some developing countries’ diplomats appreciate Tehran’s criticism of NATO’s role in Georgia and Afghanistan. ++ The

September 24, 2008 | The UN and the State of the World

Today’s challenges need to be faced with collaboration. ++ The UN is successfully fighting for democracy and human rights in various countries. ++ However, Darfur shows that mandates are empty if they are not backed by resources. ++ The foundation of the UN’s work is accountability, and that can only be maintained if the UN becomes faster, more flexible, and effective. ++ Member states should be

September 19, 2008 | World Hunger Increases Despite More Agriculture

The UN reports that the number of individuals around the world who go hungry has increased by 75 million in the past year to 923 million. ++ The UN attributes this to the rising price of food, fuel, and fertilizers. ++ Hunger has increased despite the fact that the last year witnessed more food production and more global wealth. ++ In response, the UN has begun a project to deliver $30 million

September 11, 2008 | EU and UN Should Lead International Reform

International organizations are stretched to their limits and need reform. ++ NATO struggles to produce an effective strategy in Afghanistan, UN peacekeepers are dispersed over the globe, and the EU can only offer fledgling military support in any operation. ++ Yet, the EU and UN are in the best position to lead the much-needed reform of international organizations. ++ The UN has a critical

September 9, 2008 | Why We Are Blind to the Somali Tragedy

The situation in Somalia has gradually become worse since the US and UN withdrew in the 1990s, but most people think otherwise, assuming they would have heard more if problems were escalating. ++ The suffering of nearly 10 million Somalis is publicized less than that of the Darfuris simply because the White House wants to protect its image. ++ The US record in Africa, in contrast to the Middle

September 1, 2008 | International Silence Costs Darfuri Lives

The regime in Khartoum threatens the UN humanitarian and peacekeeping presence in Darfur. ++ If UN Security Council does not take action in the face of such outrageous threats, humanitarian organizations will withdraw from the region, leaving millions without help. ++ Support from African, Arab, and Islamic countries makes Khartoum increasingly confident that it will not be held accountable for

August 27, 2008 | United Nation's Diplomatic Farce

It’s been almost a year since Burmese people were violently crushed as they publicly demanded freedom and the international community has still not achieved anything. ++ As Than Shwe intensifies the crackdown, the world looks towards Ban Ki-moon for leadership in dealing with the dictator but UN mission in Burma has been fruitless. ++ Flowery speeches about democracy aren’t enough –

August 26, 2008 | US Should Give up on Solving Georgia Crisis

There is little the United States can do to help Georgia. ++ Russia, with its nuclear weapons, oil, dollar reserves and seat on the UN Security Council, has too much leverage on US foreign policy, so banishing Russia from the G8 would be unwise. ++ The US should lessen their dependence on Russian energy and aim to get Russia to cooperate, not provoke obstinacy. ++ Russian troops should be

August 25, 2008 | Ukraine Will Not Cede to Russian Power

The conflict in Georgia has exposed the dangers of ignoring “frozen conflicts” as well as the UN’s lack of helpful precautionary tools. ++ The absence of democracy and free media in breakaway regions breeds corruption and human rights abuses, posing a threat to the development of adjacent nations. ++ Wider international representation is the only way to successful peacekeeping. ++ Ukraine

August 21, 2008 | Protect the Protectors

UN officials and aid workers are frequently killed - both on purpose and accidentally - in Iraq, Algeria, and Afghanistan. ++ In fact, al-Qaeda declared the UN to be a central target. ++ Facing this danger, the UN needs to “nationalize” field operations and replace foreign workers by local nationals. ++ It should also spend more money on security and as a last resort, if a local government

August 5, 2008 | Only UN Can Bring Peace to Iraq and Afghanistan

The recent escalation of violence in Afghanistan and the calls to divert the US troops from Iraq make the question of ending these long and costly wars even more urgent. ++ There is only one organisation that can provide the leadership necessary to defeat the insurgencies and bring peace and stability to both countries: the UN. ++ US and its allies can never achieve these goals alone. ++ Only the

August 5, 2008 | Chance for a New Momentum in the War Against AIDS

By denigrating the effectiveness of condoms and demonising sex workers, Bush administration inflicted deadly damage to the fight with AIDS both in the US and abroad. ++ Consequently, global policy-making on HIV prevention regresses just when it’s most needed. ++ Until now, UN has failed to challenge American influence. ++ 17th International Aids Conference which takes place in Mexico City this

July 22, 2008 | Why we Need Beijing

After the end of the cold war the world experienced a transition period of US dominance. ++ The new world order will be multipolar. ++ Therefore, we need Beijing to solve the global challenges
and it is up to Germany to promote an international integration of China. ++ The economic and the civil domain are the keys for the development of bilateral relations. ++ China’s internal liberalization

July 4, 2008 | 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

June 27, 2008 | Rape Constitutes a War Crime

The recently adopted UN resolution 1820 finally recognized rape as a threat to international peace and security. ++ It recognized emotional, physical, and financial damages not only to the individuals and but to the whole communities and underlined the link between the sexual violation and the persistence of conflicts. ++ Although it was accepted as a war crime before, rape was never treated

June 17, 2008 | Sudan Flouts its International Obligations

If the international community remains inactive regarding Sudan, its outrage could end up being regarded as hollow. ++ With the help of the International Criminal Court, France, Britain, and the US should pursue a strategy for concomitant peace and justice. ++ To avoid the country’s disintegration, leaders in Khartoum need to be threatened with ICC prosecution. ++ Since there is currently no

June 17, 2008 | US Deal Leads to Rising Resentment in Iraq

Iraq’s disparate ethnic groups are united in their opposition to the latest American political and military intentions for the country. ++ According to Bush’s plan, occupation of Iraq could be indefinite. ++ The president should leave the task of settling a deal with the Iraqi government to his successor and be content with an extension of the UN mandate, which is soon to expire. ++ His current

June 13, 2008 | EU and UN: Less Talking, More Action

Global issues, such as proliferation, energy security, diseases, and terrorism are not disparate and unconnected, and cannot be settled unilaterally. ++ “Practical multilateralism is a strategic necessity, not a liberal nicety.” ++ The UN Security Council needs to adopt permanent members such as India, Brazil, and South Africa. ++ “Treaty-based-action” should convert the UN into the legalizer

May 23, 2008 | Acting Responsibly is a Priority in Burma

Responsibility and emergency to act in Burma cannot be doubted but UN legitimacy is lacking and R2P stands for “responsibility to protect,” not “right to invade.” ++ Any action requires “a careful, informed calculation of the likely consequences.” ++ Now the junta has acquiesced to limited aid “under an Asian umbrella,” the West should drop plans for air and sea bridges that could entail the

May 7, 2008 | Pan-Africanism is the Voice of African Sovereignty

African leaders are less reluctant to grant China access to their markets and resources because its aid is not conditional on good governance, democracy, or human rights. ++ The West and the UN’s attempts to tackle conflict, disease, and hunger are perceived as dictatorial re-colonization strategies aiming at challenging the Chinese. ++ Resistance to the US Africa Command has led to calls

May 2, 2008 | The Children Will Pay for Climate Change

Since global warming – by causing “natural” disasters, disease, and conflict – is threatening the lives and livelihoods of ever more children in the third world, we need to increase our contribution to the cost of adapting to climate change so that it is more evenly shared. ++ Governments, the private sector, and individuals must take action and adapt aid to the level of

April 25, 2008 | UN Calls for Mobilization Against a "Relentless Killer"

Means to end malaria – a preventable and treatable disease – are today’s focus for the international community on the first ever World Malaria Day. ++ Malaria kills over a million people a year, costs billions, and slows economic growth and development in regions where it is endemic. ++ Since a globalized world knows no borders, international action is needed to ensure universal

April 21, 2008 | "International Rice Market Has Become a War Zone"

Cereal stocks have not been this low since 1980, but the food crisis can be explained by human greed. ++ To avoid mass hunger, climate change and trade protectionism must be addressed. ++ If international cooperation is brokered by the UN and World Bank, export embargoes on rice are removed, China lessens its demand for pork, and the US’s bioenergy policies are amended, then this crisis may be

March 24, 2008 | Success in Afghanistan Depends on Coordination

Most important task for the UN secretary general’s new special representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, is to form a relationship with President Karzai. ++ UN must be the primary coordinator for all organizations in Afghanistan. ++ Military and civilian efforts need to be coordinated, Afghanistan Compact needs to be supported, and Afghanistan’s neighbors need to help stabilize.

February 25, 2008 | Rethinking the Efficacy of International Organizations

Kosovo’s independence weakens international institutions, which have been waning in influence since end of Cold War. ++ UN and NATO unable to regulate international conflicts. ++ Weaker countries most likely to support international regulations, superpowers rely least upon international law. ++ Institutions can only function if set up to resolve concrete problems; standards can’t be created with

January 23, 2008 | Climate Change Threatens International Security

The geopolitical consequences of climate change are determined as much by political, social and economic factors as by the climatic shift itself. As a rule wealthier countries will be better prepared to cope with the effects of climate change whilst developing countries are least able to do so. For example, an increase in rainfall could be a blessing for a country that can capture, store, and use

August 1, 2007 | Lack of EU Solidarity Jeopardizes Kosovo Independence

Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation Morton Abramowitz calls on EU member states to take a united stand on Martii Ahitissari’s blueprint for Kosovo’s “supervised independence” from Serbia. Even though Ahitissari’s proposal complies with the official EU (as well as US) policy on the issue, a number of European nations were still openly skeptical of challenging a country’s territorial integrity.

July 23, 2007 | Time For a Transatlantic Consensus on International Law

William H. Taft and Frances G. Burwell from the Atlantic Council advise the EU and US to coordinate their positions before the ICC review conference in 2009. The transatlantic partners must set an example for the rest of the world.

With the review conference on the International Criminal Court (ICC) coming up in 2009, a concerted transatlantic effort to build global consensus on international