International Political Forum


 
 

 
Belgium

Over-Capacity, or what does the closing of Ford Genk teach us about Europe?

On Wednesday October 24th, the employees of the Ford factory in Genk, Belgium were given the news that the factory will be closed, and all employees will have to find another job by 2014. This obviously directly affects the 4.2...
by Gilles Pittoors
0
Full Story »

 
 
Eurasia

Why Look West: Georgian Foreign Policy in Retrospect

While many empires and regional powers attempted to impose their rule over this tiny Caucasus country, Georgia always maintained its own, distinctively unique approach to its place in the regional and global political arena. Th...
by Tornike Zurabashvili
2
Full Story »

 
 
Middle East

Syria – A Nemesis of World Powers?

On the streets of Dimashq, Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, Deraa…Syrians welcome people with an outstretched hand while saying Marhaba (“Hello”). However, the once happy faces of the Syrian milieu are haunted by the thought of t...
by Samson Faboye
0
Full Story »

 

 
Europe

Italian politics in 2013: will it look like 1994?

Italian politics has always been a puzzle for foreign observers. For that matter, even Italian experts often have a hard time anticipating political developments in the country. The elections that are due for Spring 2013 are no...
by Lorenzo Piccoli
2
Full Story »

 
 
Lebanon

Lebanese Fears Confirmed as Bomb Shakes Beirut

As many Lebanese had predicted, the unrest in Syria has spilled into Lebanon’s borders. Around 3pm local time, a bomb went off in Beirut. Once described as the “Paris of the Middle East,” Beirut has now been reduced to an...
by Laura Casey
0
Full Story »

 
 
Africa

Cowardice of Cowardice, Insanity of Insanity: Malawi -Tanzania Rumours of War

The Malawi-Tanzania border wrangle is a ticking bomb, never to be underestimated and not to be ignored. Nyasaland – now Malawi – was a British protectorate and Tanganyika – now Tanzania – was a German pr...
by Jones Ntaukira
0
Full Story »

 

 
Africa

No go Zone: Could Retirement Armnesty Law inspire Presidential Retirement in Africa?

In the wake of the popular walk to work protests that affected Kampala until a few months ago, one thing stood out: the opposition politicians and their faithfuls wanted to send a message to the regime of President Museveni an...
by Ivan Atuyambe
1
Full Story »

 
 
Belgium

The Lion’s Claws, or Flemish Nationalism in a European Perspective

“So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.” It is a sad time indeed. Flanders fell to the claws of populist nationalism, and if Belgian politicians continue their current strategy, so will Belgium in a ...
by Gilles Pittoors
2
Full Story »

 
 
North America

One Nation Under God?

Vice President Joe Biden might be notorious for sometimes speaking before he thinks, but many will agree that he couldn’t have said it better when it came to abortion and the role of religion during last night’s Vice Presid...
by Laura Casey
0
Full Story »