Gesine Palmer: The Western world is wracked with anxiety over the fate of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners who have been detained without basic human rights. The US has built up an unrealistic fear of their release, but closing Guantanamo is paramount. We should treat prisoners with generosity rather than anxiety.
... More
Editorial Team: A civil society initiative is working to reopen the Amerika Haus Berlin, where permanent activities were suspended in 2006. A two month series of panel discussions about the US elections of 2008 brought the house back to life, and showed the potential of this open meeting space.
... More
Daoud Sultanzoy: Daoud Sultanzoy, an Afghan member of Parliament, gives his impression of the risks that his country runs if it does not connect with its people during the coming elections. A growing list of tribulations the common Afghan faces is enumerated - concerns that military might alone would be hard-pressed to mitigate.
... More
Guenther von Billerbeck: I advise that civil society organizations, and not just the new DRC government, may be the best partners to bring stability and peace to the Congo. The international community, particularly the UN, EU, and bilateral partners of the Congolese government, should partner with non-governmental actors to turn the country toward sustainable democracy and prosperity.
... More
Aid alone will not solve the situation in Pakistan. ++ Pakistan is ripe for large-scale public rejection of oppression increasingly popular globally. ++ Its recent democratic movements and the increase in highly organized local civil society groups competing with the Taliban show that the West can mobilize a responsible public outcry for change. ++ The expansion of television
... More
MONUC, the biggest peace mission worldwide, has not managed to stabilize the situation in DR Congo. ++ The unfair distribution of power and resources as well as militaristic thinking, on which political decisions are based, constitute the roots of this conflict . ++ However, instead of addressing issues that could ease the tension, international efforts focus on humanitarian activities. ++ The
... More
Regarding the issue of Palestine, Israel, the US, and the free world overemphasized the aim to have a strong partner in the peace process, and in doing so even supported corrupt and violent leaders. ++ But the path towards peace must pursue a radically different approach and must be linked to strengthening Palestinian civil society and the rule of law in the Palestinian territories. ++ The
... More
Last month’s devastating earthquake in Sichuan has taught the Chinese a very important lesson, namely the importance of civil society. ++ The outpouring of foreign and local aid accompanied by a plethora of new philanthropic websites and aid organizations, has been too massive for the government to regulate. ++ As the Party feels its grip wavering, Chinese citizens are coming together from all
... More
President-elect Dmitry Medvedev realizes that high economic growth cannot be sustained as long as Russia relies primarily on macroeconomic policy and rising oil prices, and inequality and corruption remain widespread. ++ His rhetoric suggests that he will seek to encourage entrepreneurship, empower civil society, and create an independent judiciary in order to diversify the economy and combat
... More
