During the election campaign, Barack Obama made much of the situation in Afghanistan. Indeed he argued (rather disappointingly since the war in Iraq should be regarded as a terrible mistake regardless of what was happening in Afghanistan) that the reason he was against the war in Iraq was because it diverted attention from Afghanistan and the hunt for Al Qaeda. He has already expressed his commitment to an Afghan ‘surge’ and he plans to send extra combat brigades to the area. He also made... more »
2008 has seen a marked worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan, both in terms of the number of incidents and in terms of the geographical spread of the insurgency. The number of violent incidents has increased by about 50% on previous years (although statistics vary depending on the source); while the government has de facto lost control over two provinces close to the capital Kabul (Wardak and Logar).
Antonio Giustozzi is a researcher at the Crisis Research Centre at the... more »
Human Rights at 60: early retirement or another chance?, Daniele Archibugi
As the time comes to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the West has lost its moral authority and seems incapable of offering any hope of future dignity to the rest of the world. Guantanamo, 'extraordinary rendition' and Abu Ghraib will be just some of the words launched in the face of the West to deny its self-assigned role as the champion of human rights. Many despotic regimes, previously so used to being the accused, are now careful not to... more »
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the next sixty years , Conor Gearty
There is much natural jubilation over the fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is celebrating its sixtieth birthday in 10 December 2008. At one level, it is indeed right to observe that we live in an "age of human rights": the United Nations has been emphatic throughout its existence that human rights is at the very core of its global mission while the nation-states, particularly since the end of the cold war in 1989, have also been vying with each other for ways... more »
Greece in turmoil: riots and politics, Kostas Gemenis
The current situation in Greece, where days of riots followed the shooting on 6 December 2008 by a policeman of a young student, is messy and confusing. A general strike on 10 December in protest at the government's economic policies - even though the turnout of demonstrators was far smaller than organisers hoped - reinforces the sense of social division and dysfunctional governance. The riots belong to a larger historical and political pattern, which can help to explain or at least clarify... more »
Climate change futures: postcard from Poznan, Camilla Toulmin
The black Labrador is tussling with an Alsatian on the grass next to Poznan’s airstrip, their handlers giving them a chance to exercise before the next flight lands. Poznan has the kind of shiny new airport that might make you keen on flying again – no queues, no fuss about gels and liquids, and security men so charming it’s a pleasure to unzip your, er, boots for them.
Welcome to Poland; and farewell, as on this occasion I am waiting for a delayed flight back to London’s... more »
Memorial: the making of an activist, Anastasia Valeeva
Dokka's hair is streaked with grey, but there is a sparkle in his eyes. He met me in a small room in a hotel near Moscow, where legal experts, monitors and lawyers from regional Memorial offices were attending a special seminar about changes in Russian immigration legislation. He greeted me like the owner of a small and shaky house, but a real one for all that: in the next room, women were setting the table for tea. Dokka introduced me to Chechen human rights activists, and told me how he... more »
Cameron is standing up for the Union, Chekov
Chekov (Three Thousand Versts): Lord Smith makes a handful of curious points pertaining to realignment of the Conservative and Ulster Unionist parties, currently being effected by David Cameron and Sir Reg Empey. The Liberal Democrat peer appears confused as to the nature of the Conservative and Unionist force which the two parties intend to create and inconsistent in his criticisms of Cameron’s unionism.
Reconstituting links between Conservatives and Ulster Unionists will not, as... more »
What do we mean by police independence?, Rick Muir
Rick Muir (London, IPPR): A lot of contradictory claims have been made in recent weeks about ‘police independence’. The Home Secretary says that she could not have intervened in the police investigation into Home Office leaks because it is for the police, not politicians, to initiate criminal investigations. Jackie Ashley argues simultaneously that Jacqui Smith should have intervened, but that it is dangerous for elected politicians to get too involved in policing. Sir Ian Blair says that... more »
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