The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
Abstract:
Record fires in Brazil’s Amazon this year marked a political protest led by ranchers who, already empowered under Bolsonaro’s government, are keen to push the government to fully embrace a dictatorship-era extractive doctrine.
A few months after the European Parliament elections, and a few weeks before a new European Commission is fully operational, the European Union is facing old and new challenges, both domestic and international.
Internally, the EU will soon be testing these new institutions. In the recently elected European Parliament, nationalist and Eurosceptic political forces are a minority, but pro-European mainstream parties, which have the numbers to control the proceedings of the Parliament, have not been able to consolidate a stable and comfortable majority. The new European Commission has encountered setbacks in the confirmation procedure of three of its members and will therefore fully assume its responsibilities with some delay on 1 December.
Topic:
Government, Nationalism, Politics, Elections, and Transatlantic Relations
Political Geography:
Europe, North America, United States of America, and European Union
Last month, an unprecedented protest
movement took hold of Lebanon’s
streets and public squares. Dubbed
as the October uprising, the timing of
the movement roughly coincided with
important anniversaries, such as the
fall of the Berlin Wall or other iconic
historical events, including the October
Revolution in Russia, leading many to
draw comparisons.
In the context of the 2011 Arab spring
wave, many argued that Lebanon
would stay isolated from the protest
movements that gripped the region
even though the country has witnessed
previous protest cycles, such as the socalled 2005 Cedar Uprising. Still, eight years after the Arab protest
wave, an unprecedented protest
movement has materialised, spreading
to various Lebanese cities from Tripoli
to Sidon. In the wake of a proposed
WhatsApp tax, people have been
calling for the sacking of political
leaders and the eradication of political
sectarianism. Arguably, the protest
movement may trace its roots back
to a precursor wave of protests over a
huge garbage crisis in 2015. Back then,
the movement also decried the inept
politics of sectarianism and corruption.
Topic:
Politics, Sectarianism, Domestic politics, Protests, and Political Movements
The civilian dimension of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict stabilisation has long been prominent in EU crisis management missions. From 2000 onwards, the EU has developed its monitoring, capacity-building, strategic advice and training tools, deploying a total of 22 civilian missions beyond its borders. Currently, there are 11 active civilian missions, stretching from the Balkans (EULEX Kosovo) to the Middle East (EUBAM Rafah, EUPOL COPPS, EUAM Iraq), from Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EUAM Ukraine, EUMM Georgia) to Africa (EUBAM Libya, EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger, EUCAP Somalia). Their main tasks include policy reforms on the rule of law, the fight against organised crime and security sector reform.
Topic:
Politics, Reform, Budget, Crisis Management, and Institutions
Should the EU enforce a containment policy towards the People’s Republic of China (PRC – or simply China), joining efforts undertaken by US President Donald Trump, who has unleashed a trade and technological war against Beijing with the aim of permanently subordinating the Asian giant to the West? Or should the EU continue its engagement policy towards Beijing – and even seek to maximise Sino-European ties to put limits on those US unilateral policies that are detrimental to Europe’s interests and fundamental values? What would be the best policy mix of engagement and containment for EU–China relations? And to what extent should the EU align its China policy with that of the US?
Topic:
International Relations, Politics, and Institutions
Political Geography:
China, Europe, Asia, United States of America, and European Union
Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI)
Abstract:
We will examine how Putin's Russia has accepted the rules of the liberal international order and managed to take advantage of them, enduring the long and difficult post-Soviet transition, in peace and with its integrated territory.
Topic:
Cold War, Liberal Order, Nation-State, and Post-Socialist Economies
Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI)
Abstract:
The main objective of this study is to analyze the presence of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea and in the East Mediterranean Sea, taking into account the operations in Syria and the overall strategy employed in this region.
Topic:
Military Strategy, Navy, Oceans and Seas, and Seapower