The European Council on Foreign Relations

Commentary

The EU and Algeria: reasons for hope

14 Dec 11 - Susi Dennison ,

Algeria did not catch fire in the year of the Arab Spring, but this does not mean that it does not deserve the attention of the EU. Algeria needs to reform if it is to remain stable, and it needs European help to do so.

 

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The economics of the summit: an expensive signal to the ECB

12 Dec 11 - Sebastian Dullien,

The only real success of the euro summit was that it might encourage the ECB to step up its role in the euro area. But years more austerity and a major rift with Britain are a high price the whole euro zone will have to pay for German ideology.

 

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Russia's post-BRIC election

08 Dec 11 - Ben Judah, Jana Kobzova ,

Russia in 2010 was as corrupt as Papua New Guinea, had the property rights of Kenya and was as competitive as Sri Lanka. As Putin readies himself to retake the presidency he must also work out how to deal with a country that is now firmly post-BRIC.

 

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The beginning of the end for Putin?

06 Dec 11 - ,

Russia's election results are bad news for Putin for two reasons. Firstly United Russia did badly despite the election being biased in its favour, and secondly it shows that Putin can no longer rely on an apathetic population.

 

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How not to intervene in Syria

02 Dec 11 - Richard Gowan,

The hunt is on for ways to offer security and aid to Syrian civilians, but the risk of any military-humanitarian mission backfiring is high. The lessons of Darfur are that any peacekeepers would be targeted, especially as the unrest turns into full-scale war.

 

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How the eurozone crisis affects EU power

25 Nov 11 - ,

The economic crisis has huge implications for EU foreign policy. There is less time for it, less money available, and Europe's ability to project soft power is in a coma.

 

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Democracy put to the test

Just as the mechanisms that made democracy function in city states were not adequate for governing nation states, representative democracies today are showing themselves incapable of managing, effectively and democratically, the system that is emerging in Europe.

 

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To get out of this crisis we need to rebuild Europe from scratch

22 Nov 11 - ,

The answer to the EU's current problems is to rebuild from scratch, replacing the existing EU with a new, two layered structure with an inner and an outer core.

 

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A deepening crisis requires further integration

17 Nov 11 - Thomas Klau,

The economic crisis is now at a critical point, and Europe's leaders must chose between a federated eurozone power or yielding to the power of the markets and economic and political disruption.

 

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Mother Russia, Father Putin

15 Nov 11 - Ben Judah,

Russia's foreign policy over the coming decade will bear the signature of Vladimir Putin, as Russia seeks new alliances and international clout. The price that Russia is likely to pay is international isolation

 

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Europe's deceptive aggregate deficits

14 Nov 11 - ,

Despite the deepening crisis, when taken as a whole the Eurozone's basic figures do not look too bad. But because the Eurozone is a flawed construction these figures are only a distraction, and the need for real reforms remains.

 

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A marginalised Britain makes EU break-up more likely

03 Nov 11 - Mark Leonard,

The actions of Britain's coalition government are making it more likely that we will see the EU disintegrate, leaving behind a saved Eurozone that marginalises all those outside it - including Britain itself.

 

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The return of political economy

02 Nov 11 - ,

The present crisis of the Eurozone is a direct consequence of a half hearted, half considered, half explained and therefore half finished integration. Europeans must be prepared for sacrifice, but our leaders must make sure that sacrifice is worthwhile.

 

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China's desert-dance in Libya

As its international profile and interests grow, China's foreign policies - now those of a great power - are coming under increasing scrutiny. Here are the four fault lines that are forming in how Beijing deals with the world.

 

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The euro summit: think twice before you celebrate

27 Oct 11 - Sebastian Dullien,

The reaction of both the markets and politicians suggests that the latest euro summit has been a success. But the outcome is unlikely to end the euro crisis, and parts of it might actually make it worse.

 

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In the Press

New York Times
15 May 12

Thomas Klau quoted on Hollande's visit to Berlin

Le Monde
15 May 12

Le Monde quotes ECFR's Policy Brief on China and Germany new special relationship

Francetv Info
15 May 12

Thomas Klau is quoted on Hollande’s first meeting with Merkel in Berlin

Rzeczpospolita
15 May 12

Thomas Klau quoted on Hollande's visit to Berlin and negotiations of Fiscal Pact

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