“Botho”: The Bedrock of Botswana’s Being

Editor
-
0
“Botho”: The Bedrock of Botswana’s Being
By Sefalana R. Matambo, Second Secretary, Embassy of Botswana to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Mission to the European Union.  Long before the lexicon was conceived, the people of Botswana were already living the concept of Botho.  The word, derived from Setswana, the national language of Botswana, describes a latent consciousness that one’s own sense of humanity is deeply rooted in the humanity of others in the community, whom we traditionally consider our extended family.  It speaks to the very core of our humanity and says, “I am because you are” [“Motho ke motho ka batho”], a social contract of earning respect by first giving it.  It is humanness as an essential element of human growth, compassion, humility, sharing, responsibility and accountability. Most importantly, for us Batswana (citizens of Botswana, singular: Motswana), it is greater than doing what is good because it is right.  It is an innate manner of existence that permeates the grandness of the cultural spirit of Batswana across every aspect of our lives – the home, community life, education, the workplace, national policy.  It is the social and cultural cohesion that ensures no Motswana shall rest easy knowing that another is in need. The concept of Botho is upheld within Botswana’s five National Principles, the other four being: Democracy, Development, Self-reliance and Unity.  All are derived from Botswana’s cultural heritage and as a collective, are designed to promote kagisano [social harmony].  Botswana’s Vision 2016 acknowledges Botho as one of the tenets of our cultural heritage which has guided the country’s successful socio-economic development to date.  Through the common sense of a shared identity and destiny within every man, woman and child, and the idea that empowering others is to gain empowerment, the five National Principles set a broader context for the objectives of the country’s national development, namely: Sustained Development, Rapid Economic Growth, Economic Independence and Social Justice.  In adapting to the age of rising globalisation, technology and rapid urbanisation, Botswana has become a melting pot of diversity.  Our National Principles have proven to be all the more important and influential in directing the excellent relations we have cultivated with the international community.  The atmosphere of friendship, respect and mutual understanding – elements of Botho – is the platform upon which Botswana promotes all aspects of the country’s national development agenda.  Botho embeds itself in our interactions with the international community, encourages us to cultivate fraternal bonds of friendship with Governments and their peoples across the world, urges us to be ambassadors of goodwill, compels us to be one with our neighbours, both near and far, and instils a profound sense of duty to defend the defenceless, care for the vulnerable and seek social justice for all.  Botho is a powerful and revered cultural concept that unites us all and, by virtue of its true essence, excludes none.  It is an unwavering, universal ‘Welcome’, an invitation to become part of a shared value that promotes harmony and respect amongst people living together, from our families and neighbours at home, to our international friends and partners abroad.  After all, motho ke motho ka batho…                    

A European Public Prosecutor?

Editor
-
0
A European Public Prosecutor?
By Arjen Meij, Visiting Research Fellow T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, formerly Judge General Court of the EU Fraud against EU budgetary means is often discussed and sometimes mocked at as one of those weak spots of EU bureaucracy. Over the past decades many initiatives have been taken to provide a better protection of the EU budget against illegal activity. Important steps were the conclusion of a special Convention on the protection of the financial interests of the European Community (EC) in 1995 and the establishment in 1999 of an agency attached to the European Commission entrusted with investigative powers to combat fraud against the EC budget, known as OLAF. However, criminal prosecution of such offences, often of a cross-border nature, remained the prerogative of the Member States. Despite the efforts of EU bodies such as OLAF and later also Europol and Eurojust, prosecution of these offences by the relevant national authorities used to be sidelined in the priority schemes and fragmented between various jurisdictions, thus remaining far from effective and deterrent. Therefore, the presentation last year, after many years of research and documentation, by the Commission of the proposal to establish a truly European public prosecutor’s office (EPPO) appeared a fresh breakthrough in this extremely complex and intricate area. One of the most delicate questions to be resolved concerns the relationship with the national authorities holding in each Member State the monopoly of prosecutorial operations. At first sight the Commission proposal looks like Columbus egg on this point. It aims at a central European Public Prosecutor (EPP) directing in each Member State one or more European Delegated Prosecutors (EDP) who investigate cases and eventually bring them in the competent national courts. These EDP’s act in a double capacity. They are at the same time integral part of the European prosecutor’s office and public prosecutor of the Member State in question and can as such rely on the whole national machinery involved in prosecutorial operations. This is an unprecedented move by which, for the specific area of EU fraud, the national prosecution authorities become an instrument directed by the central EPP. This approach has immediately given rise to controversy. No less than 14 national chambers of 11 different parliamentary assemblies have drawn the ‘yellow card’, stating that they found it in breach with the principle of subsidiarity. The Commission, however, has maintained its proposal without modifying a syllable. Nevertheless, while the European Parliament has adopted a resolution giving full support to the proposal, negotiations in the EU Council apparently rather tend to introduce a completely different structure based on a college model much in the vein of the existing Eurojust structure. Besides, not all Member States are willing to participate in the project. However, on the basis of a special procedure of so called enhanced procedure a smaller group of at least nine Member States could be allowed to go for it. In September last year the T.M.C. Asser Instituut held a first academic conference on the proposal and the multitude of questions it raises. The conference debates have resulted in a volume bringing the contributions to the conference together under the title ‘The European Public Prosecutor’s Office, An Extended Arm or a Two-Headed Dragon?’ edited by L.H. Erkelens, M. Pawlik and myself and published by Asser Press. The book will be launched at a presentation at the premises of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut on November 14, opened by former Dutch Minister of Justice Ernst Hirsch Ballin, provided with a few speeches and presentations by policy makers and academics giving updates on the actual state of play as regards the proposal and followed by a forum debate between speakers and audience.   Please go for more information on the programme and the registration form as well as references to the book to the following Asser events website page: http://www.asser.nl/events.aspx?id=438&site_id=1

Understanding Somalia: Reasons for its State Failure

Editor
-
0
Understanding Somalia: Reasons for its State Failure
                              By Mitesh D. Mistry,  Diplomat Magazine’s Associate Editor in the United Kingdom. Since the end of the Cold War, Somalia has held many titles. First as a state in civil conflict driven by clan warfare, then as a failed state nesting a humanitarian tragedy and now finally, two decades later and topping the premier league of failed states, Somalia has become the new front for international terrorism. Once considered a potentially lucrative location early on by British and Italian colonialists in the 1900′s, it is now largely considered to be an “outlaw state”. From their colonial legacy to a lack of central governance, Somalia’s fall into state failure is extraordinary. One thing is certain; Somalia has undeniably become the world’s most dangerous place. Somalia’s plunge into state failure is down to a combination of internal and external factors. There is a tendency to suggest factors like terrorism and famine constitute as reasons for Somalia becoming a failed state. This is a misconception because these factors emerged as a result of no official central government. Instead of being causes of state failure, they are instead symptoms of state failure that continue to drive failure in the country. The reasons for Somalia’s deterioration are simple and somewhat predictable, given the path the country has gone down since acquiring independence. The biggest factors to have contributed towards Somalia’s state failure pertains to the legacies of European Colonialism and impact of Cold War politics. Similar to other failed states like Haiti, Somalia has a colonial past that deeply impacted society. During their colonial period, most of Somalia was subject to a European scramble. The colonial powers of Britain and Italy divided communities, ignoring pre-colonial social and political organizations and arrangements for their own administrative convenience The negative impact of colonialism came after Somalia had acquired independence in 1960. Somali people of now very different cultures were thrown together in a system of new politics, disturbing the nature of society generations of people had become accustomed to. Secondly the impact of Cold War politics is somewhat largely responsible for Somalia falling into the crevasse of state failure. Despite the historic pedigree of domestic and regional conflicts in and around Somalia, the Cold War added a completely new dimension. The rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union had escalated further and heavily involved their clients in Eastern Africa, specifically Somalia and Ethiopia. Whilst pursuing what they believed to be their own vital interests, it became the norm for their clients to engage in similar conflict. During the 1970′s the Ethiopians and Somalis tried to get the better of one another; hence the tension building up towards the Ogaden War from 1977-1978. Therefore the Cold War style conflict between the global superpowers largely impacted Somalia’s transition into a failed state because it encouraged proxy wars and created new tensions which with poor leadership brought financial decline and socio-economic hardship. Somalia’s fall into state failure has been a fascinating yet classic story. A combination of internal and external factors have contributed towards Somalia’s downfall. Somalia’s status as a failed state is not a revelation but was to be expected. European Colonialism left a deep imprint on Somali communities and was the cause of growing tensions after Somalia acquired independence. It contributed towards their state failure because it distorted structures in society, displaced families and eventually caused cultural tensions between communities The rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union influenced Somalia’s invasion of Ethiopia with the Ogaden War; resulting in the loss of financial aid and a severe humanitarian crisis.  

RIP R2P

Editor
-
0
RIP R2P
By Philippe Heitzmann In September 2005, the one hundred ninety one states present at the sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously endorsed the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine.[i] R2P was meant to make the international community responsible for the protection of “populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”[ii] Yet as Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun consolidating his invasion of Crimea under the pretext that he only wants to protect “the right of [Russian] ethnic minorities,”[iii] it has become readily apparent that R2P may be readily abused and threaten international order. In addition, the opportunity cost of cancelled interventions due to R2P, such as in the 1995 Rwandan genocide, as well as the political quagmire of administering a country after a civil war, all suggest that R2P actually increases human suffering around the globe. Instead, the world order should stick to Westphalian notions of national sovereignty. The invocation of R2P as justification for one state’s military intervention into another nation blurs the lines between invasion and intervention. The Munich Conference of 1938 saw the Sudetenland, a region of the Czech Republic, given away to Germany in order to appease Hitler’s calls for protection of ethnic Germans suffering from “Czech atrocities.”[iv] Instead of taking military action against aggressive lebensraum rhetoric and the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the international community of 1938 had become lulled into a false sense of security by Hitler’s R2P rhetoric, culminating with Neville Chamberlain’s “peace in our time” speech.[v] Had the line between invasion and intervention not been marred, France and Britain could have countered clear Nazi aggression early and outmatched 1938 German military capabilities, which were deemed inadequate for war by its own generals.[vi] Although public aversion to war, economic stagnation and other circumstances might have still emboldened Britain and France to pursue appeasement policies towards Germany, maintaining a Westphalian notion of national sovereignty for Czechoslovakia might have shortened or altogether avoided a Second World War. Abuses of R2P aren’t confined to history either. Ironically, given Russian bitterness towards Nazi Germany ever since WW2, the Kremlin has been echoing Hitler’s Sudetenland rhetoric as Russian troops have been securing key strategic points in Crimea. Indeed, while President Obama proclaimed that “Russian action is violating international law,”[vii] Russian Foreign Prime Minister Sergei Lavrov calmly responded that Russia is only intervening for the “protection of [its] citizens and compatriots” and the “protection of the most fundamental of the human rights – the right to live.”[viii] The United States cannot legitimately criticize Russia for intervening without UN approval either, since the Iraq War of 2003 was “not in conformity with the UN charter”[ix] according to Kofi Annan, ex-Secretary General to the United Nations. Meanwhile, European nations have been hesitant in their sanctions against Russia, since Europe depends on Russia for roughly thirty percent of its oil and natural gas, as well as for agricultural goods from Ukraine.[x] The take-home message for other militarily aspiring nations is that as long as trade relationships are important enough and that R2P rhetoric is used as justification, one can “intervene” militarily with little fear of retaliation. With the Sino-American trade imbalance nearing $315 billion, and with significant trade relationships with its East-Asian neighbors, China could decide that the time has come to claim back disputed regions such as Tibet or the Senkaku Islands through military means. Although R2P stems from noble intentions, its policies have done little to stop the suffering of the populations of the intervened state. The justification for American missions in Iraq, for example, took on strong undertones of R2P rhetoric as President Bush proclaimed in 2003 that the United States would “help the Iraqi people establish a peaceful and democratic country.”[xi] This democratic ideal cost the lives of 130,000 Iraqi civilians who died from war-related violence between 2003 and 2011.[xii]  While many analysts say that the death toll may have been even greater had the coalition forces not intervened militarily, the post-war reality remains little better than when al-Qaeda forces largely controlled the Middle Eastern country. Since American disengagement in Iraq, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been brutally claiming back lost territory in northern and western Iraq, bringing the civilian body count in the first sixth months of 2014 to five thousand five hundred. If R2P is to succeed, the intervening country cannot simply withdraw without filling the power vacuum with a solid political leadership and governmental infrastructure. Human suffering is also evident in less tangible ways, among them economic devastation stemming from military intervention. The U.S.’s “zero tolerance” policy regarding opium production in Afghanistan, meant to financially starve Taliban forces from a stable income, has left nearly fourteen million Afghan farmers, dependent on poppy cultivation, in destitute poverty.[xiii] These desperate farmers thus enter a vicious cycle of loans and falling incomes, which only increases their dependence on their Taliban overlords and intensifies their suffering as they are forced to sell their land, livestock and even children to repay their debt.[xiv] Similarly, US “humanitarian bombings” during the 1999 Kosovo campaign destroyed government infrastructure, while NATO sanctions against Yugoslavia caused hyperinflation,[xv] massive unemployment[xvi] and the collapse of a fragile health care system.[xvii] Outside observers are left perplexed by the real intentions of the intervening states in such cases, as human suffering seems unchanged despite military intervention. Given the human and financial costs that come with the tab of R2P, humanitarian military action can actually cost the intervening state domestic support. For example, the disastrous 1993 American peacekeeping mission in Somalia, which brought the death of eighteen American soldiers in the Black Hawk Down incident, made then-President Bill Clinton reevaluate the costs and benefits of sending American troops into harm’s way. The American public also became strongly opposed to such humanitarian intervention, as footage on television showed the corpses of American soldiers being dragged in the streets of Mogadishu.[xviii] Two years later, President Clinton would follow this “lesson learned” in his decision not to intervene in the unfolding Rwandan genocide, which would claim the lives of eight hundred thousand Tutsis. The domestic political cost so often associated with R2P thus makes foreign leaders think twice before taking humanitarian intervention, even in such extreme cases as the Rwandan genocide. The opportunity cost of not decreasing human suffering in large scale settings such as the Rwanda genocide, caused by R2P, must therefore be accounted for by its proponents. In cases where humanitarian concern truly is the primary motive for military intervention, removing R2P from the table would force the international community to explore more effective ways to lessen human suffering. The United States, for instance, could have invested a portion of the $1.7 trillion it has spent on the Iraq War[xix] to build better camps for the thousands of Iraqi refugees fleeing to Jordan, Turkey and Syria.[xx] Similarly, more human suffering could be averted in Afghanistan at a lower cost if money were spent on treating malaria, measles or cholera, which all combine to give Afghanistan one of the worst health statuses in the world.[xxi] In conclusion, the international community should strictly adhere to Westphalian notions of national sovereignty given the failures of R2P to eliminate threats to the international order and to decrease human suffering. Military intervention in the name of R2P has not only resulted in the death of thousands of civilian in Kosovo, Iraq or Lybia, for example, but it also almost invariably results in a loss domestic support for the intervening state, which can act as a deterrent for future, more pressing operations, such as the Rwandan genocide. In addition, the sad reality is that war entails atrocities on both sides, and that the record of R2P will always be bloodied by interventions gone awry, thus losing the moral high ground that its proponents take. Lastly, R2P is open to abuses by militarily aspiring nations who would want to regain control over disputed regions, just as Russia is now consolidating its control over Crimea after it sent thousands of troops to protect ethnic Russians. Therefore, it is in the interest of the United Nations, as well as most nations seeking international stability, to overhaul the loophole for invasion that is opened by R2P. Literature Cited
[i]Unspecified author, “History and Timeline of R2P.” Responsibility to Protect: Prevent, React, Build (October 27, 2014).
[ii]“History and Timeline of R2P.” (October 27, 2014).
[iii]Julie Percha, “Transcript: Putin says Russia will protect the rights of Russians abroad,” The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/transcript-putin-says-russia-will-protect-the-rights-of-        russians-abroad/2014/03/18/432a1e60-ae99-11e3-a49e-76adc9210f19_story.html  (October 25, 2014).
[iv] Simona Kralova, “Crimea seen as ‘Hitler-style’ Land Grab,” British Broadcasting Corporation, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26488652  (27  October 2014).
[v] “Neville Chamberlain’s “Peace for our Time” speech,” Harold B. Lee Library (26 October 2014).
[vi] Unspecified author, “The Triumph of Hitler: Conquest at Munich,” The History Place http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/triumph/tr-munich.htm   (27 October 2014).
[vii] Ilya Somin, “Why the Kosovo “precedent” does not justify Russia’s annexation of Crimea,” The Washington Post (October 27, 2014).
[viii] Somin, “Annexation of Crimea,” The Washington Post.
[ix] Ewen MacAskill and Julian Borger, “Iraq war was illegal and breached UN charter, says Annan,” The Guardian, (October 27, 2014).
[x] Anne Korin, Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century: A Reference Handbook, ed. Gal Luft 165.
[xi] Walt Whitman. A Political Companion to Walt Whitman, ed. John Seery, 240.
[xii] Hicks, MH-R, Dardagan, H, Guerrero, Serdán G, Bagnall PM, Sloboda JA, et al. (2011) “Violent Deaths of Iraqi Civilians, 2003–2008: Analysis by Perpetrator, Weapon, Time, and Location,” National Center for Biotechnology and Information (October 27, 2014. 
[xiii] Sonali Huria. “Failed States and Foreign Military Intervention: The Afghanistan Imbroglio,” The     International Relations and Security Network, 1, no. 67 (2009): 6.
[xiv] Huria, “Failed States,” The International Relations and Security Network.
[xv] Steve Hanke. “The World’s Greatest Unreported Hyperinflation,” Globe Asia, http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/worlds-greatest-unreported-hyperinflation (October 27, 2014).
[xvi] Rogel, Carole. “The Breakup of Yugoslavia and its Aftermath,” 69.
[xvii] M. Hicks, H. Dardagan, S. Guerrero, P.M. Bagnall, J.A. Sloboda, et al., 2011. “Violent Deaths of Iraqi Civilians, 2003–2008: Analysis by Perpetrator, Weapon, Time, and Location,” National Center for                Biotechnology and Information, 15 February 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21358813 (October 27, 2014)
[xviii] NPR Staff, “What A Downed Black Hawk In Somalia Taught America,” National Public Radio, http://www.npr.org/2013/10/05/229561805/what-a-downed-black-hawk-in-somalia-taught-america (October 27, 2014)
[xix] Daniel Trotta, “Iraq war costs U.S. more than $2 trillion: study,” Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/14/us-iraq-war-anniversary-          idUSBRE92D0PG20130314 (October 27, 2014)
[xx] Tavernise, Sabrina. and David Rohde, “Few Iraqis Reach Safe U.S. Havens Despite Program,” New York Times on the Web, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/world/middleeast/29refugees.html?_r=0 (October 27, 2014).
[xxi] World Health Organization, “Humanitarian Health Action: Afghanistan,” http://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/afg/en/index1.html (October 27, 2014)

Guatemala a land of opportunities

Editor
-
0
Guatemala a land of opportunities
By Gabriel Aguilera Peralta, Ambassador of Guatemala to the Kingdom of The Netherlands Guatemala, also known as the land of the eternal spring is located in the heart of the Americas and is a country with creative, friendly, working and passionate people…A country that has demonstrated courage and value through history. Guatemala’s fertile land has a territorial extension of 108, 889 sq Kms (42,042sq Mi) with a population of 15 million inhabitants. It is a country surrounded by lakes, mountains and volcanoes. Guatemala heart of the Mayan world; its Mayan heritage is still evident in the traditions and culture of its inhabitants. The territory offers a diversity of landscapes and climates, wealth of flora and fauna and cultural diversity positioning it as one of the most attractive tourist areas in the region.  In addition to its nature and millenary history, Guatemala is a modern country with political stability and a diversified economy. During the last few years Guatemala has become one of the main emerging markets in Latin America, also being the largest economy in Central America representing 35% of the GDP of the region. The country offers several investments opportunities, especially in economic sectors such as: Agroindustry, Apparel and Textile, Tourism, Manufacture and Assembly, Call Centers & BPOs, Natural Resources, Energy and Mines, among others. Guatemala has become a competitive platform for the world’s business market as a result among others, of entering in free trade agreements with several countries and establishing a favorable macroeconomic environment that has been promoted through joint efforts of the government and the private sector. The country exports more than 4,075 different products to more than 140 markets worldwide. Exports have increased 100% in 10 years, representing a growth from US$4.16 billion to US$10.4 billion in the period from 2003-2012. In terms of exports coffee is Guatemala’s flagship product, although the country is a number one worldwide exporter of cardamom and cuttings of poinsettia, eighth largest banana and fourth largest sugar worldwide exporter. Apparel and textile is an important industry for the national economy, clothing and textile exports representing a growth of US$1.512 million in 2013. Guatemala represents an excellent logistical HUB; a trade bridge for a market of more than 68 million people in the Mesoamerican region over a production area which worth exceeds US$319 billions. Currently, Guatemala is presenting the most important international agribusiness tradeshow in Central America, “AGRITRADE Expo & Conference”, a tradeshow designed to promote the Central American agricultural sector competitiveness and opportunities to the European Market. AGRITRADE will be held in the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, on March 12-13, 2015. Nowadays we are working to confirm the attendance of European companies, bringing the region the opportunity to expand the export markets.    The competitive advantages Guatemala has to offer such as geographical location, wealth of resources, high quality in labor and a high performance in logistics, positions the country as the metropolis of Central America, being a sophisticated and modern country with political stability and a diverse economy. More about the Ambassador: Ambassador Gabriel Aguilera Peralta lawyer and notary, graduated in Legal and Social Sciences from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. He also holds a Master Degree of Political Science from Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany. Thereafter he has completed several post-graduate degrees at institutions in Guatemala and Spain. Ambassador Gabriel Aguilera diplomatic career and positions, previous ambassadorial post: Ambassador to Peru and concurrently to the Plurinational State of Bolivia (2010-2014) Ambassador to Germany and concurrently to Poland (2008-2010) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs -on two occasions (1996-1999) (2003-2004) Among his diplomatic distinctions and orders, he holds the “Bernardo O Higgins” Chile, “Cruzeiro do Sul” Brazil, “El Sol del Perú” Perú, “Honorato Vasquez” Ecuador, “Mérito Federal” Germany, all in rank of Grand Cross.

30 december, Rizal Day

Editor
-
0
30 december, Rizal Day
By Anton Lutter. Since 1898 Rizal Day is observed by the Philippine community all over the world every 30th of December in commemoration of life and marytrdom of national hero Jose Rizal.  The major celebration is held at Rizal Park, more popularly known as the Luneta in Manila. The event is highlighted by flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Jose Rizal Monument. Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896), a ophthalmologist and a novelist was a Filipino patriot during the Spanish colonial era and became a martyr for reform in the Phillipines after his execution by the Spanish. He’s considered as the one of the greatest heroes in Philippine history, and is credited as starting the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonisers. His two novels, “Noli me Tangere” (“Touch me not”) and the sequel “El Filibusterismo” (“The Filibustering” or “Reign of Greed”) exposed the injustices brought on the Philippne people. He was the first person in all of Asia to advocate and introduce ideas that can be called modern democracy and Western liberalism. As early as 1880,Jose Rizal through his essays, letters and novels was already espousing such principles as the worth and dignity of the individual, the inviolability of human rights, the innate equality of all men and races, the necessity for constitutional government and due process of law, popular sovereignty as the basis of all political authority, faith in human reason and enlightenment, the right of the masses to public education, and belief in social progress through freedom. Rizal believed in the brotherhood of men irrespective of creed and nationalities, in universal peace and justice, and in the happiness and welfare of humanity. He envisioned a new world order in which men are free of tyranny, bigotry, and slavery, where justice reigns and all nations live together in fraternal harmony (lit: Souvenir Program of the 10th Annual International Assembly of the Order of the Knights of Rizal).              

Questioning America’s Global Economic Dominance

Editor
-
0
Questioning America’s Global Economic Dominance
By Mitesh D. Mistry – Diplomat Magazine’s Associate Editor in the United Kingdom Since the 1920’s, America has evolved into the world’s largest economy. Their status as world economic leaders has enabled them to dictate the course of global economics. However with the rise and threat of other regional economies like that of East-Asia, home to the large economies of China and Japan; it is argued that American economic hegemony is declining and coming to an end. The East Asian economy, consisting of China, South Korea, Japan and Hong-Kong, is one of the most thriving regional economies in the world. China’s economic rise, after their free-market reform in the late 70’s, had a huge impact on their long-term economic prosperity. It created more optimism over the last decade as China entered new markets such as mobile technology, with Huawei overtaking Sweden’s Ericsson to become the world’s largest telecoms equipment-maker. The quality of life improved significantly for median Chinese workers as they benefited from higher salaries, unlike American workers, due to China’s healthy economic growth. This meant more Chinese workers could afford to exchange their bicycles for vehicles, strengthening China’s car industry considerably; Chinese production increased greatly from 2 million cars to 18 million cars over the last decade overshadowing America’s automobile output of 11.6 million last year. This decline in American automobile production can be attributed to the global recession, which the US had failed to fully recover from; something which President Obama acknowledges, “I do think that one of the challenges that we are going face in the US, at a time when we are still recovering from the financial crisis is, how do we respond to some of the challenges of globalisation? The fact of the matter is the US was such an enormously dominant economic power, we were such a large market, our industry, our technology, our manufacturing was so significant that we always met the rest of the world economically on our terms. And now because of the incredible rise of China and other countries, there is real competition.”  The recession showed the first signs of economic power shifting favourably towards East-Asia, with particular focus on the Chinese and South Korean companies flourishing in the past five years, such as Huawei and Samsung respectively, due to particular development in science and technology. However despite the outcome of the recent recession making China appear economically superior, America can still be considered a major force in the global economy; through the International Monetary Fund. With high voting powers within the IMF and global use of the dollar, America has spread its global economic dominance through the loans and conditions the IMF issue to crisis-hit economies. Furthermore, the East-Asian ‘bloc’ doesn’t have an alternative institution to rival and challenge this American influenced organisation. Although the Chiang Mai Initiative is the closest East-Asian rival to the IMF, it is based on the foreign reserves of the East-Asian economies. Surprisingly, China’s foreign reserves are in decline. Figures from the People’s Bank of China showed its reserves had slipped 0.6% to $3.18tn This means if an ‘Asian Monetary Fund’ was created to rival the IMF, China would have to consider whether or not to fund it if their foreign reserves were forecasted for continuous decline. In spite of China’s economic success, rivaling that of America’s over the last decade, the continued global use of the dollar, which finances over half of the world’s trade, is a greater achievement for which global economic dominance can be measured; America’s global economic dominance is not at an end. Nevertheless if other East-Asian economies grow significantly and help push China to higher degrees of economic success and the use of its currency on a global scale, it could instigate a shift in global economic power to the East-Asian region and ignite a potential clash for future leadership of the global economy; between an American-led West and a China-led Asia.

America’s musical Porgy and Bess to Amsterdam

Editor
-
0
America’s musical Porgy and Bess to Amsterdam
Stardust Theatre brings ‘America’s greatest musical’ Porgy and Bess to Amsterdam performing with an all American cast and orchestra in both Breda and Amsterdam from February 27th to March 14th 2015. Porgy and Bess tell the story of the intense love between the disabled beggar Porgy and the beautiful, but capricious Bess. Eighty years after Porgy and Bess first premiered in the United States, the story still captivating audiences all over the world. The beautiful songs, such as “Summertime”, “I Got Plenty of Nothing”, en “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, that have become well-known classics, are definitely a big part of this ongoing success. Everyone also remembers the though world of Catfish Row, where this tale takes place. For information and reservation please call  +31 (0)76 – 530 31 32 or visit www.chasse.nl STAGIONE LIRICA 2011-2012 Teatro di San Carlo THE GERSHWINS? ® PORGY AND BESS? - direttore William Barkhymer dal 10 al 15 gennaio 2012 - Compagnia New York Harlem Theatre, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro di San Carlo direttore William Barkhymer, regia Baayork Lee e Larry Marshall, coreografia Baayork Lee, scene Michael Scott, costumi Christina Giannini, luci Reinhard Traub, direttori associati Richard Cordova, Laurie Rogers, direttore associato del coro Richard Cordova - Porgy Kevin Short, Bess Morenike Fadayomi  

On diplomats and insurances

Editor
-
0
On diplomats and insurances
By Philipp Boy. In the world of insurances diplomats are a difficult bunch, for they can be insured in their home countries but likewise lack such necessary protection in the receiving state. In such cases financial institutions and insurers might be hesitant to extend credit or insurances to diplomats because they have no legal means of ensuring the money repaid, or a contract actually honoured. Luckily most governments require their missions and staff to comply with local contracts and laws concerning credits, rents, labour law (for local hires), parking fines, and even some levies. Embassies and their staff may have need mainly of four types of insurances: General Liability Insurance (GLI) –As the name entails, it is a general insurance network meant to protect the “insured” from the risks of liabilities imposed by lawsuits and similar claims (though most care unsuccessful against diplomatic missions). The current case for GLI for diplomats is focused on property and liability insurances as well as a variety of other covers for the embassy buildings, consulates and residences.  Broiler and machinery as well as equipment coverage for heating/cooling systems amongst others are normally automatically included. The coverage is standard and available for embassies, missions, consulates or residences owned by the sending state, or rented premises in the receiving state. The difference lies in the type of contract entered into by the insurer as insuring a building owned by a foreign state means also signing a contract with a foreign entity.   Health Insurance –Different types of health insurance plans meet different needs. When you compare options, it’s important to understand how they are structured. For diplomats plans covering the staff of an entire mission are normally more desirable to guarantee a good and high coverage for all employees. Very important for diplomats to keep in mind the (hopefully unnecessary) need of repatriation in case of serious illness or disability while on duty abroad. Catastrophic Health Insurance Plans cover essential health benefits but have very high deductibles. The latter entails that it provides a kind of “safety net” coverage in case you have an accident or serious illness. Business vehicles –Business vehicles are those registered in the name of the embassy or consulate at the receiving country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Personal vehicles –Insurances are also available for personal vehicles of diplomats, in which case the vehicle must be registered under the individual name of the diplomat rather than under the name of the mission.
Philipp Boy is a German financial adviser based in Berlin; CEO of “Agentur Boy”. His private financial institution is located at the heart of Berlin’s bustling business centre. He specialises in insurances, capital, business strategy, share and foreign investments and financial advice to private individuals and companies.  Before entering the world of finance he was a top German gymnast.
 

On being a Diplomat in The Hague

Editor
-
0
On being a Diplomat in The Hague
By Guillaume Kavaruganda, Minister Counselor, Embassy of Rwanda. Being a Diplomat, especially an African diplomat in The Hague is indeed fascinating and unusual. Nowadays, less than 20 African countries are represented in Netherlands. The number is increasing each year which is a laudable. Better late than never as the saying goes! When I was posted in The Hague in July 2010, I had a vague idea where I was going and what to expect. I had once visited the City of Zwolle in 2004 when I was then a junior diplomat in Geneva; I stayed one overnight and drove back early morning to Switzerland in my old Mercedes. Nothing particular on that trip had attracted my attention. No one can be indifferent Vis a Vis of the Netherlands, especially the one who has lived in Rwanda. You get shocked by lots of similarities. The two countries are small, over populated; both habitants are hardworking people, interested in farming and very tall people. Compare to their small sizes both countries managed and have succeeded to be relevant in a way or another in the International arenas.  The differences are also there: Rwanda is a landlocked country, very hilly, called for that reason a country of thousand hills; Rwanda is still listed among the Least Developed countries contrary to the Netherlands which is ranked among Developed world. Since the independence of African countries in early 60’s, what African diplomats have been asking has remained quite the same in the last 50 years. The Diplomats of that time, now in retirement, were asking in those days the noninterference in internal/domestic affairs, transfer of technology, more aid, more technical assistance, more capacity building, and the access to the market especially for the commodities. Those are the same issues we are still fighting for.As the Italian saying goes “La Lotta Continua/ the struggle has not yet ended” and we are not sure of the victory. Another uncertainty is to know if the perception of Africans towards Europeans and vice versa have changed since the independence; in other word, if the Europeans still see the African man or woman in the same manner that they were seen by the Europeans in early 60’s.The same goes for Africans to the Europeans. To understand better how the two civilizations were looking at each other’s, I am inviting you to read a novel by the Ivory Coast man named DADIE BERNARD written in 1959 under the title of “LE NEGRE A PARIS” Which can be translate in “A NEGRO IN PARIS”. Meanwhile good news is coming from Africa in sectors where nobody was expecting them. Rwanda has been for the last ten years the first country in the world to have a big number of women in Parliament. This small example can give hope. In half-life of a man age, I was very lucky to live in many countries abroad either as a diplomat or pursuing my studies. Beside Rwanda, the Netherlands is the country where I feel more comfortable. You forget easily that you are a foreigner, and nobody reminds you of that. I am for that reason very grateful to the Dutch people.  
1...760761762...856Page 761 of 856