Russia and the Caucasus

I'm currently taking a class on recent Russian history (from Gorbachev to Putin) which has made me realize just how much spin the Western media places on stories dealing with Russia despite the Cold War being long over. This recent article from Foreign Policy was an important reminder to examine media reports critically. In it Charles King, who recently wrote a book on the history of the Caucasus, argues that Georgia really wasn't as innocent and helpless as the Western media portrayed in the recent conflict with Russia over South Ossetia. Of course, Russia has also escalated the situation in recent years by issuing citizenship to South Ossetians, a rather brazen move by any accounts. However, with organizations such as Amnesty International now blaming both sides in the conflict it appears that the United States will have to keep a close watch on its small ally and prevent President Mikheil Saakashvili from making any more rash decisions.

In fact, while Russia's relations with the historically troubled Chechnya have stabilized in recent years, the Republic of Ingushetia, sandwiched between Chechnya and Georgia, has become increasingly hostile towards Moscow. Medvedev's handling of the situation in Georgia, Chechnya and Ingushetia will bear close watching as Russia continues to find its place in the international community and strives to maintain its influence on ex-Soviet republics.

A few articles on Russia and the Caucasus:
Mayor killed in North Ossetia - New York Times: A short news article detailing the recent assasination of Vitaly Karayev and how the Kremlin will be handling the investigation.
The Wild South - The Economist: A brief overview of the situations in Chechnya and Ingushetia
Enigma Variations - The Economist: The paradox of Russia - burgeoning nationalism throughout the country coupled with a growing disparity between the rich and poor. Even the Georgians have it better Russia soldiers discover.
Georgia accused of targeting civilians - The BBC: Evidence of war crimes during the attack on South Ossetia
Georgia-Russia Conflict - The BBC: For those looking for some basic background on the recent conflict.
Seven Questions: Russia's Big Mistake - Paul Goble: A short interview from a regional expert from the CIA on his view of the Russia-Georgia conflict.
Russia and Venezuela sign accords - New York Times: It appears Russia is attempting to regain some influence in Latin America although it may have to fight China for the distinction.

Documentary on Aid in Africa, the Election in Venzuela and UN Naval Patrols?

"Over the last 50 years Western governments have paid more than £400bn in aid to Africa. But according to figures from the World Bank, half of sub-Saharan Africans still live in extreme poverty. Why has so much assistance had so little impact?" - BBC

The BBC has put together a documentary and an article regarding aid in Africa (with a focus on Uganda). The two video clips are revealing of the dire conditions in Uganda and the articles discuss some of the causes of corruption, the results of lost aid and who is actually receiving the money.
This comes as Former US President Jimmy Carter completes his visit in Zimbabwe with reports that he is shocked at the level of crisis in the country. Zimbabwe, still in the midst of political upheaval, has also been hit with an outbreak of cholera which has been compounded by poor water supplies, understaffed hospitals and shortages of medication and aid.
As Somali pirates continue to hold a huge supertanker off the coast, there are new calls for UN naval patrols. However, it is unclear how much this would improve the situation as warships from at least nine countries have been operating in the region and particularly in the Gulf of Aden to try and protect merchant vessels and tankers. It will be interesting to watch how this situation develops and what impacts, if any, it will have on pushing the international community to impose more regulations on the relatively lawless seas.
Recent elections in Venezuela seem to indicate that President Chavez is weakening as opposition members won governorships in several key provinces. Yet the Wall Street Journal cautions against any real expectations of change in the country as the opposition parties remain quite divided and Mr. Chavez's popular support sits at around 60%. However, given Venezuela's relatively powerful position within Latin America, any perceived weakening will undoubtedly affect international relations.

More UN troops for the Congo and the changing relations between the US and Latin America

For those of you following the UN's involvement in the DR Congo, there is good news. The UN Security Council has agreed to increase troops in the region. However, behind the scenes diplomats are unsure where the 3000 new troops will come from and when they will deployed. A comprehensive report on the crisis can be found at the International Crisis Group site.


Another interesting story to watch will be those like this one about Colombia losing foreign aid from the US. Over the past several years, the US has created strong ties with Colombia in an attempt to stem coca production. While the effort has been less successful than hoped, it has created an ally in a relatively hostile region agitated by leaders in countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia. The changing policies towards Latin America will be affected not only by the Obama presidency, which has already promised new reforms, but also by increasing economic isolationism by the US Congress. Also important to note, countries such as Brazil, which hoped to avoid the financial collapse, are starting to see their own economic downturns casting a shadow on the region. Polls such as this one, found in the Economist, lead one to wonder what the affects of the global economic slowdown will be on many of these democratic governments and their relatively strong economic growth.

I would highly recommend you take a moment to read through some of the documents found on the International Crisis Group website. They have comprehensive country reports on those affected by ongoing conflict and continually update articles relating to key regions.
For those of you looking for updates on the UN, the UN News service does supply relevant articles but there is also an excellent daily email provider, UN Wire, which may be helpful to read, particularly as the conference approaches.

"Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared..."

Like me, I'm sure many of you have been caught up in the recent American election. Tuesday night was truly historic and watching CSPAN pan the crowds in Grant Park was incredible. Of course, as Canadians we must always pay attention to American politics as they are our closest ally and largest trading partner. But as observers of the UN we must also consider the ramifications of an Obama presidency on American foreign policy.
While the current US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, has been much more reconciliatory in his style of diplomatic relations, his predecessor sent a clear message on President Bush's feelings towards the organization. John Bolton, who the President failed to get approved by the US Senate and was forced to push through on a recess appointment, has always been a vocal opponent of the UN. By appointing someone clearly hostile to the institution Bush hampered multilateral relations and essentially dismissed the UN of having any relevancy to his actions. However, Bolton proved to be the exception to the rule and like Khalilzad, other American appointees have been generally well respected.
So the current feeling at the UN is mixed. There is a hope that trust can be re-established between the US and the UN but there is also the question of whether the US has strayed too far towards isolationism and protectionist policies. The latest economic crisis will be a true test to of the international community as a whole. Perhaps only actions will tell whether Obama is willing to make a new commitment to the international system and there is a host of delayed decisions waiting for him when he takes office. For instance, the US has not joined the Human Rights Council or the International Criminal Court. It has also failed to sign the Kyoto Protocol and the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty against nuclear weapons development.
It will be very interesting to watch how Obama handles the transition period and, more importantly for us, how he handles international relations. Currently the global community, swept up in the epic election campaign, are willing to support him but to remain popular he will have to take some decisive action at the UN and in other international forums. Let's face it, without US support, the UN's ability to hold countries accountable and make lasting change is severely compromised. With that in mind we can only hope that change really has in this new era of American leadership.
Further reading:
- "UN: Hope that America rejoins the world" - Barbara Cossette
- "New era for UN..." - Reuters
- "Obama Promises 'New Dawn' of American Leadership" - NPR
- Foreign Policy's predictions for new UN Ambassador (Foreign Policy is one of the top American international affairs magazines along with Foreign Affairs. Check out both magazines and their blogs if you have the chance!)