Governance

Does the European Union (EU) safeguard the future of the welfare state in times of globalisation? Is the crisis intensifying the pressure to take action and could it even ultimately lead to more social policy integration – a European welfare state? 

There is little faith in the reform of the UN system; nonetheless, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 – also known as Rio +20 – is not only to set the stage for a green economy, but also to provide an impetus for the institutional reform of the UN environmental sector.

An impressive display of fireworks at the Mont des Arts concluded the Belgian EU presidency. Despite orignal doubts due to the Belgian government crisis, the Belgian presidency was a success. A look at the Trophy Cabinet of the belgian diplomats.

Did the Belgian Presidency of the European Union go beyond playing the honest broker and take on the role of providing the necessary driving force required by the EU with regard to internal and external developments? An assessment of Implementing the Treaty of Lisbon, Policies to overcome the crisis, the European Citizens’ Initiative and external relations.

The Belgian Presidency of the EU is coming to its end. A review regarding European Foreign Policy covering the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon, successes and failurees of international summits and noticeable progress at the European Council.

Those who think that the events in the wake of Iran's 2009 presidential election will lead to radical change will be disappointed. The movement that led to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 was powerful and had a clear focus; today's protests are heterogenous and lack leadership.

The two most significant result of the 2009 provincial elections in Iraq are: Iraqis are not prepared to grant carte blanche to politicians whose main pitch is ethno-sectarian. And: The elections were held with minimum support from US forces and proved that Iraqis are able to organise nation-wide elections by themselves.

The Zimbabwean struggle for democracy looks set to continue for some time to come. The MDC-T needs to ensure that future rounds of mediation will take place within a more equitable, framework.

Th EU needs to seriously address its democratic deficit and the disillusionment that many Europeans feel for the Union. Dealing with these issues will surely not be an easy task but it will, without a doubt, enrich European democracy and the very ideals that we stand for and wish to promote in the world.

George Giacaman from Birzeit University in Palestine explains how partial democratisation in the Middle East serves to stabilise the rule of oligarchies - and at the same time is in the interest of Western powers who are afraid that complete democratisation will undermine their influence in the region.

A Zimbabwean journalist - one of the few who reports from inside the country and thus prefers to remain anonymous - on the culture of fear and the atmosphere of frustration within the country: "People have reached the stage that if they go to the polling stations, they will not be intimidated into voting for Mugabe. The problem is that Mugabe will instill so much fear in people so that they will be too scared to go the polling stations."

Background information and analysis after the elections in Zimbabwe.

Whoever wins in Zimbabwe's presidential elections on March 29, 2008 has his work cut out for them. The task is to restore this beautiful country to the “little Switzerland” it used to be before being engulfed in the current political and economic quagmire.

With contributions by Renate Künast, Milan Horácek, Marieluise Beck, Michaele Schreyer and many others