Could the new “Eastern Partnership” and Union for the Mediterranean be a sign of EU ambitions to come? Continue reading
December 4, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Category Archives: Rest of the World
November 5, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
On not getting too excited
I was up all night, drinking vast quantities of beer and vodka, finally getting to bed around 11am UK time. It was certainly worth it – even though it was all over by 4:30 (CNN called it for Obama at … Continue reading
November 3, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Pre-US election links and the like worth a look
Pre-US election links and the like worth a look
– As that all-important US election looms ever closer, EU foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss how to rebuild those battered ties between Europe and America that conventional wisdom sees as having been so badly damaged during the Bush … Continue reading
September 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
The rise of new world order rhetoric and the current identity crisis
Two articles well worth a gander, both trying to work out the “new post-Cold War world order” that increasing numbers are identifying in the wake of the Georgia crisis, and slowly trying to define. First up, from The Economist, this … Continue reading
September 11, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on US response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia
US response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia
This will bear close analysis, even with the imminent change of regime in Washington. Running, as it does, to nearly 6,000 words, I don’t have the time just now, but will hopefully return to this on the morrow. For now, … Continue reading
September 10, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Sorry, you’re just not European enough
Better luck next time, Ukraine. One of these days the EU powers that be are going to realise that when you’ve got countries torn between a European and non-European identity, to keep on telling them “sorry, you’re not European enough … Continue reading
September 5, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
European Commission: It’s not racist to target a particular ethnic group for police persecution
Good news for fascists today – according to the EU, it’s no longer racist to target a particular ethnic group based on folklore that suggests they’re all criminals. Up next from Italy and the EU, fresh policies to deal with … Continue reading
September 3, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
The EU, Russia and Georgia: Round and round in circles
So, where are we after the EU’s summit on the Georgia crisis? Exactly where we were before the summit. A few vague tutting sounds in the general direction of Russia, a bit of hyperbole (Hans-Gert Pottering, who should know better, … Continue reading
August 29, 2008
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
The limitations of the EU in the “new Cold War”
One of the major theories behind the formation of the EU – and one of the successes that has always been claimed – is that by intertwining European economies as closely as we can, future conflict will become impossible. All … Continue reading
August 28, 2008
by Nosemonkey
10 Comments
What does Russia have to gain?
With the limiting/cutting off of the wealthy European markets for her products that any isolation / “new Cold War” would imply, her economy will end up even more screwed than it is already, further isolating the government from the people. … Continue reading
August 27, 2008
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
Russia: The urban myth foreign policy approach
It seems that Russia’s new post-Cold War strategy is based on the urban myth that if you’re approached by a group of muggers you should act like a lunatic, as that’ll confuse them and make them go away. How else … Continue reading
August 22, 2008
by Nosemonkey
15 Comments
Russia: History and humiliation
Two interesting – and thematically related – pieces look at past conflicts in relation the the Georgia / Russia spat over the last couple of days have prompted some thoughts along the old comparative history line (always an interesting intellectual … Continue reading
August 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Blogs, Georgia and David Miliband
There’s a rather good look at blogland’s attempts to cover strange going ons in faraway lands of which they know little from the chap behind tip-top Central Asia blog Registan, which is well worth reading in full: “Elite bloggers often … Continue reading
August 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
Europe’s Russia strategy / Russia’s Europe strategy
What way forward after the Georgia crisis? Continue reading