Young Professionals in Foreign Policy - Development

Syrian-Iranian Ties Not Easily Shaken

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:52:06 -0700

Some analysts believe Syria would be willing to distance itself from Iran in favor of a peace treaty with Israel. Syria and Iran have a history of close cooperation and their strategic relationship cannot be easily compromised.

There is an assumption that Syria would distance itself from Iran in favor of a peace treaty with Israel and normalized relations with the United States. Syria’s strategic relationship with Iran began in 1979 and both countries sought friendship as a deterrent from a mutual Iraqi threat. Iraq rivaled Syria as the true inheritor of Ba’thism and Arabism. Ethnic, religious and territorial disputes between Iran and Iraq prompted the former to seek an alliance with Syria.

"U.S. plan to fight drugs in Mexico bound to falter without changes."

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:31:29 -0700

On June 30, President Bush signed into law an initiative called Plan Merida, a $465 million program designed to help Mexico deal with the unchecked drug trafficking and violence that have recently turned much of the U.S.-Mexican border into a war zone. The initiative is the most recent chapter in the long history of attempts to regulate activity along America's southern frontier. It is bold and ambitious - and it probably won't work.

Plan Merida dwarfs previous U.S. counter-narcotics assistance to Mexico, and the Bush administration has touted the aid package as a major step forward in the fight against the drug trade. As currently designed, however, Plan Merida stands little chance of producing meaningful long-term results. Why? Because at its core, Plan Merida represents the same flawed ideas that have long bedeviled U.S. drug policy. If not modified substantially, this program will go down as simply another failed offensive in the war on drugs.

Israel Need Not Fear Turkey's Islamist Government

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:47:19 -0700

Analysts are concerned that recent Islamist trends in Ankara could threaten the long-standing amicable relations between Israel and Turkey. These fears were highlighted by legislation passed in Turkey on Feb. 9, which rescinded a law in the constitution banning the wearing of a traditional Islamic headscarf. However, in June Turkey's high court overturned this ruling, claiming it violated separation of religion and state. Turkey is governed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), whereby Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the prime minister and Abdullah Gul is the president. Erdogan and Gul share pro-Islamist beliefs that clash with the secular nature of the majority of Turkey's political and military establishment.

Georgian War Could Revitalize Chances for European Missile Defense Sites

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:47:26 -0700

The looming debate in Congress over building U.S. missiles defense sites in eastern Europe could be significantly altered in the wake of Russia’s war with neighboring Georgia.

The Bush administration is moving quickly to cement agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic in a rush to break ground on interceptor and radar sites in those two countries before leaving office. Democrats in Congress have stymied these efforts by using their legislative powers to postpone groundbreaking on the sites.

Gaz de France cancels Nabucco interest

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:04:43 -0700

French energy firm Gaz de France recently canceled its bid to become the seventh member of Nabucco pipeline consortium.

The French gas company’s involvement with the Nabucco pipeline was contentious. Turkish energy officials opposed Gaz de France’s involvement with the Nabucco pipeline because of the French National Assembly’s approval of a bill which made it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottomans during the First World War.

Despite resistance, however, France continued to show interest in participating as recently as last month. Details of the cancellation were not given, though Jean Sirelli of Gaz de France-Suez said that it would consider rejoining if the pipeline was extended to France.

My take on it is that it doesn't really matter. Nabucco has enough leadership; what it needs are the actual supplies. Dubbed 'a pipeline without gas,' the Nabucco pipeline project has floundered in the absence of a natural gas source. Azerbaijan, the onetime hope for the pipeline’s leadership, is no longer “feasible” as a supplier. In the absence of a single gas source, Nabucco leadership is deliberating a more multilateral approach for the pipeline, potentially supplying Europe an amalgamation of Middle Eastern, Northern African, and Eurasian gas. This would raise the multi-billion dollar price tag on Nabucco even higher, but at the very least save its face.

Young professionals in domestic policy

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:28:34 -0700

In what has been dubbed as the city's "brain gain," New Orleans has benefitted from the stream of young professionals moving to the city in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Many are compelled to move by a sense of wanting to help the city, either directly by working in disaster-related industries or simply trying to reverse the trend of net emigration since the 2005 disaster.

These 20- and 30-somethings work primarily in disaster relief work, but can be found in fields as diverse as business or politics. They come mostly for opportunity, and for the chance to feel part of something greater. They can see the impact of their work, be part of rebuilding a broken city, and a share sense of camaraderie and purpose with their fellow city residents. Personally, I wonder if these new residents seek some of the romanticism and raw energy associated with a rising American city - Gold Rush-era San Francisco, Atlanta during Reconstruction, or even 1950's New Orleans, as portrayed in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Three sides of the internet

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:09:16 -0700

The Bold
Serchilo is a new tool that allows a user to navigate several search engines at once and quickly be taken to the final destination. The website works by allowing you to place short commands before your search to tell the engine where to look for what you want. For example, users interested in searching wikipedia will type a "w" before their search terms, and be taken directly to the wikipedia page on that topic. The simple commands don't save you much more time than going to the website itself - Serchilo really shines when it comes to more sophisticated functions. For example, someone wanting to quickly search an exchange rate need only type in "eur-usd 115," and they will get a currency conversion.

Washington DC leading high-tech cluster

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:12:42 -0700

With almost 300,000 employees, the DC area surpasses Silicon Valley in number of high-tech jobs, according to a report released by the American Electronics Association. Adding over 6,000 jobs in 2006, the DC area also had the second-largest growth in the US after The Big Apple. Other leading metro areas by high-tech employment were the New York City region (#1), Boston (#4) and Dallas-Fort Worth (#5).

The study’s definition of “high tech jobs” encompassed a variety of fields. While New York City’s is a hub of internet services, Silicon Valley remains the national leader in semiconductor manufacturing. Washington DC’s tech cluster is based around computer system design.

The first city-level report created since the burst of the dot com bubble, the study also warned that stringent visa requirements barring skilled foreigners to work in the United States and lack of qualified American graduates would hinder high-tech competitiveness in the long-term.

Further Reading
American Electronics Report releases Cybercities 2008
Cybercities 2008 on the Business Innovation Technology Society blog

Mind the gap: England's brain drain

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:06:12 -0700

The United Kingdom will need to attract highly-skilled foreign workers in order to maintain a competitive economy, said the London–based Work Foundation this week.

Their report, which highlighted key trends in migration and future obstacles for British companies, warns that a hostile environment towards migrants could harm the ability of firms to attract skilled, talented workers that are desperately needed in the UK. National debates about immigration combine low-skilled and highly-skilled migrants, forcing politicians into the precarious balance of being open to talent and growth while not appearing weak on national security.

Reporting live from my Nokia N810

Wed, 21 May 2008 03:07:47 -0700

Formerly tools of the tech savvy, two new social networking trends are becoming mainstream – and changing how citizens react to crisis situations. Moblogging (short for “mobile” and “blogging”) and microblogging allow for instant updates via cell phone to a web interface. During the recent Kenyan elections and Myanmar cyclone relief efforts, moblogging has been used to provide valuable on-ground information to circumvent autocratic governments.

In the aftermath of the Kenyan elections, the formerly free press was suddenly under the control of the state. Leading Kenyan bloggers (including Kenyan Pundit and White African) gathered and created a mashup, Ushahidi.com, to gather real time reports of major events. Updates included reports of police brutality, bonfires, and peaceful events (such as meetings or candlelight vigils). The blogs then used information to report on the post-election crisis. A good summary of this coverage can be found at Global Voices Online.

Declining Dollar Hurts Remittance Recipients Abroad

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:46:39 -0700

As the value of the dollar continues to decline relative to other currencies, some of those most affected don't even live in the United States. Instead, they are citizens of developing countries who receive remitted dollars from family and friends working abroad. For them, the weakening dollar is particularly crippling because it either converts into less local currency or, for those in countries with pegged currencies, can't keep up with local inflation.

It's a situation roughly similar to American travelers in Europe discovering that it now costs $4.77 for a Big Mac, whereas a year and a half ago the cost was only $3.77. The dollar is no longer going as far as it once did, and the decline is pinching the incomes of remittance recipients -- often the poorest -- and prompting shifts in international migration patterns. Policymakers in developing countries need to act soon to reduce the costs and unpredictability of remittances and ensure that social safety nets cover those who are harmed.

Increasing aid effectiveness: harmonization is the key

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:23:17 -0700

Since the inception of the Marshall Plan post World War II, the United States has been one of the most active and generous aid donors to the developing world. Unfortunately, over the last few decades, our aid and trade policies have become increasingly fragmented and, at times, even contradictory. In order to increase aid effectiveness and best serve the interests of the U.S. and aid recipients, we must work towards harmonizing aid and trade policies towards developing and least developed countries.

The aid debate often centers around two primary approaches: increasing versus decreasing foreign assistance. However, as the recently released HELP Commission report has highlighted, we must also consider national aid harmonization. In order to ensure maximum impact for U.S. taxpayer’s investment, we must look beyond the stale aid budget questions and address harmonizing and rationalizing the U.S. aid system. The U.S. government currently has over 20 different agencies working on various foreign assistance-related issues. The U.S. has already begun streamlining efforts though through the establishment of coordinating bodies such as the “F Process” at the State Department and the HELP Commission; it is imperative these efforts continue to be explored. By finding ways to align these agencies we will be better positioned to effectively implement programs to the neediest countries.

A Winding Journey From Seed to Plate

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:10:38 -0700

WASHINGTON, Mar 28 (IPS) - Ballooning food prices around the world are prompting a reevaluation of the underpinnings of aid practices that many analysts consider to be inefficient and, in some cases, counterproductive.

And while many hope rising prices will force changes in the way food aid is administered, it also appears this could further entrench current practices.

At least two key food aid providers, the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), warn their current budgets can't keep up with rising costs. The WFP says it is short more than 500 million dollars and has issued an emergency appeal to donors, noting that the cost of its food purchases has risen 55 percent since June 2007.

$500 Million Well Spent

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:37:20 -0700

Over the weekend the World Food Programme (WFP), the U.N.'s food aid agency, sent out an “extraordinary emergency appeal” to donor countries asking them to help make up for a $500 million shortfall in its budget. The agency is strapped for cash thanks to rising food and fuel prices--and the world’s poorest people are about to be dealt a serious punch to the stomach unless the WFP is able to come up with supplemental income by May 1st.

On any given day the WFP may feed up to 70 million hungry mouths in the world. Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP, reports that the cost of their food purchases “has risen 55 percent since June 2007.” Transportation prices are also increasing, and in an effort to cope the agency has been buying more and more food from sources close to the areas receiving aid. But these efforts have not been enough to make up for the blistering rate of food inflation. Unless it receives additional money to make up for the higher prices it must pay for both food and transportation, Sheeran warns the WFP will be forced to cut rations--dealing a devastating blow to those who need food the most.

Is Uncle Sam Giving the World Hunger Pains?

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:35:48 -0700

Late last month, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP) told the Financial Times that the U.N. agency would soon be forced to consider "cutting [its] food rations or even the number of people reached." This comes as soaring inflation in staple food items such as wheat, corn, rice, and soybeans has produced hunger riots in developing countries and left governments grasping at straws for a solution. Over the past eight years, the price of food worldwide has increased 75 percent; the price of wheat has gone up a dramatic 200 percent. Struggling to keep up with inflation, the WFP must now pick between two unsavory choices: cut back on the amount of food it gives each person or reduce the total number of people it aids. The U.S. Agency for International Development also says it now faces a similar dilemma.