http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/rss/10 This feed contains all new content on the Chatham House website related to Europe. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1011/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1011/ 11:30, 12th December 2008 - Held as part of the Europe Africa Research Network To much fanfare and controversy, the EU-Africa Summit was held in Lisbon last year on 8 December, seeking to cement ties between the two continents, and launch a joint strategy and action plan for future engagement. This meeting will highlight progress so far and allow some of the key officials involved to be questioned on its implementation. Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:42:17 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1003/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1003/ 00:00, 13th November 2008 - Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference 2008 Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference will focus on issues of global importance each year. Drawing on Chatham House's extensive range of contacts and its adventurous thinking on international political, economic and geopolitical issues, this annual event offers you the opportunity to hear from, and engage in debate with, leaders from governments, business and international organizations as well as expert commentators. Chatham House has traditionally held an annual members' conference. This annual event, primarily for Chatham House members and Chatham House Foundation Fellows, will take a forward look at future trends in international affairs. Taking advantage of our independent stance and unparalleled convening power, it will provide new insights and high level debate on the most crucial issues facing the world today. Is Globalization in Crisis? Global Futures: The Chatham House Annual Conference 2008 will ask whether the most recent wave of globalization - the growing interdependence of societies and economies through the opening of markets and borders - has reached a turning point, marked by the crisis in financial markets and an increase in protectionist rhetoric. The arrival of a new US administration in Washington, new questions about globalization in the EU, the continuing rise of China and India, combined with financial instability in the West, and increased competition for resources globally, make this a significant moment to review the likely future course of this third wave of globalization of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Most of the speeches were held under the Chatham House Rule. Transcripts which are available are attached below. Previous Chatham House Annual Conferences >> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:03:55 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/975/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/975/ 12:00, 12th November 2008 - Mr Kiniklioglu will provide an overview of the Justice and Development Party's foreign policy outlook. He will outline the intellectual underpinnings of Turkey's proactive foreign policy in the Middle East and the Caucasus. Mr Kiniklioglu will also link the debate to domestic political trends and offer insights into the current polarized political debate in Turkey. Suat Kiniklioglu is the AK Party Deputy Chairman for External Affairs and Spokesman for the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. He also chairs the Turkish-British Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. Mr Kiniklioglu was previously executive director of GMF's office in Ankara, Turkey. Mr Kiniklioglu worked as a development officer responsible for Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan at the Canadian International Development Agency based in Ankara. The remarks will be on the record, but the discussion will be under the Chatham House Rule. For more information please contact Nina Assauer. This meeting has been cancelled. Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:55:06 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/473/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/473/ Chatham House experts offer their perspectives on the key foreign policy and economic challenges facing the new administration. The following quotes and comments from Chatham House are available for immediate use. Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House Mr Obama's first job will be to keep Americans safe and not to please the international gallery. This does not mean that Europeans should resign themselves to be disappointed. Read full comment >> Alex Vines, Research Director and Head, Africa Programme: Reining in stratospherically high expectations both from within Africa, and from within his own administration, will be a principle pre-occupation for the first years of Obama's Africa policy. Read full comment >> Dr Gareth Price, Head, Asia Programme: Barack Obama, whose formative years were spent in Indonesia, in some ways brings greater cultural awareness of the diverse region than any previous president. Read full comment >> Dr DeAnne Julius, Chairman, Chatham House: The downward lurch of the US economy during the final month of the campaign undoubtedly helped Mr Obama win the election. Can he now return the favour by arresting the economic decline? The fundamentals are against him. Read full comment >> Dr Paola Subacchi, Research Director, International Economics Cries for the end of US economic hegemony may be premature. Despite being badly hit by the credit crisis, the US may still show great resilience. Read full comment >> Robin Shepherd, Senior Research Fellow, Europe There are many unanswered questions on Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine and Russia. Obama needs to put meat on the bone now. Read full comment >> Dr Claire Spencer, Head, Middle East Programme: The main headaches for the US administration will remain the three 'Is': Iran, Iraq and the lingering Israel-Palestine conflict. Read full comment >> James Sherr, Head, Russia and Eurasia Programme: It is important for the USA that Russia regain respect for its competence, interests and the judicious use of American power. Read full comment >> Notes to Editors Read all comments in full >> More information on the Chatham House Project, 'Rethinking the United States' International Role' >> Forthcoming event:Monday 17 November 2008 The Whitehead Lecture: Major Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next US President The 2008 Whitehead Lecture will be given by Dr Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to the President of the United States (1977-1981). Contact: Nicola Norton Media Relations Manager ++ (0) 20 7957 5739 ENDS Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:48:08 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2339/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2339/ Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:46:26 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2335/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2335/ The Ahtisaari comprehensive proposal for a settlement of the status of Kosovo met with deadlock in the UN Security Council. It would neither be endorsed nor imposed upon the parties. In view of that position, a new round of negotiations, conducted by the EU, Russia and the US, was launched over a period of 120 days. During these discussions, Serbia's President Boris Tadic revealed a significant measure of flexibility when putting forwards options for wide-ranging self-government for Kosovo. However, these forward-looking positions were undermined by a less advanced proposal emanating from other parts of the Belgrade government, including the Prime Minister. Moreover, the Serbian parliament sought to preempt developments by unilaterally adopting its own constitutional amendments relating to Kosovo, further undermining the credibility of Serbia's position at the international level. However, it could be argued that had Belgrade been willing to begin the previous round of negotiations let by Martti Ahtisaari with the advanced offers it was putting at the very end of the process, a different outcome might have resulted. Such action might have put pressure on western governments to impose an advanced autonomy settlement on Kosovo, rather than putting Belgrade under pressure to accept the Ahtisaari plan. In the end, Kosovo's independence was unilateral in two senses. On the one hand, Kosovo declared independence without the benefit of agreement from Belgrade or cover from the UN Security Council. On the other hand, Kosovo unilaterally accepted the provisions emanating from the Ahtisaari talks. These concessions had been made in the expectation that agreed independence would be forthcoming in return. Belgrade was therefore able to oppose independence and work against its consolidation, while profiting from Kosovo's agreement to the plan it had rejected. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:33:57 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2328/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2328/ The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush's unpopularity at home and abroad and the looming threat of recession would have made a gripping drama of the 2008 presidential election campaign even without the ground-breaking emergence of the first credible black and female candidates for the White House. But the defeat of the Democratic establishment's front-runner, Hillary Clinton, by a little-known freshman Senator of mixed ancestry suggested that this was to be the year of the insurgent, just as the Republicans rallied to the least loyal and most contentious of their candidates, the maverick Senator John McCain. The extraordinarily attractive and articulate Senator Barack Obama re-wrote the rule book on winning primaries and caucuses with the help of Silicon Valley and an unprecedented turnout among black and young voters, before veering sharply to the centre once the nomination was secured. Orthodoxy returned at the conventions, with Obama picking a safe centrist as running mate and McCain choosing a Christian conservative, although generating great excitement by nominating a woman and undermining the usual democrat advantage among female voters. And for all the talk of a 'new politics', the year of the insurgents came down at the end, as US elections usually do, to a handful of swing states and the money and organization to win them. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:05:30 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1823/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1823/ This is a pdf of the entire magazine. Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:14:50 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/960/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/960/ 18:30, 18th November 2008 - The last decade has seen a dramatic shift in the relationship between central banks, notably the ECB, and the public. Regular updates on monetary policy decisions and transparent reporting of inflation targets have replaced the secrecy of the past. The speaker will argue that a return to less effective ECB communication would risk higher, more volatile levels of long-term interest rates and potentially threaten the economy as a whole. This meeting is held in association with the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:25:39 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/954/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/954/ 12:00, 27th October 2008 - The recent crisis has underlined the need for the European Union and NATO to strengthen its strategic thinking with regard to Russia and its neighbours. The Baltic States, as neighbours of Russia and the only post-Soviet members of NATO and the EU, have a crucial role to play in shaping policy in this area. The Minister will speak for approximately 15 minutes, allowing 45 minutes for questions and discussion. Māris Riekstiņš has served as Foreign Minister of Latvia since November 2007. Previously he served as Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the US (December 2004 - January 2007). Prior to his appointment as Foreign Minister, Mr Riekstiņš was Chief of Staff to then Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (January 2007 - November 2007). This meeting will be held under the Chatham House Rule. Please note this event is strictly by invitation only. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:08:14 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/670/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/670/ 'Decoupling' will be declared dead as the global economy heads into a synchronized downturn. However, more careful assessment of the decoupling argument is needed, as it will be relevant in assessing long-term trends beyond the current crisis. The plunge into the abyss will only be temporary - economies will recover and the emerging-market economies will once more streak ahead of the mature OECD bloc. On the other hand, more of the high-income, high-growth newcomers could be incorporated into the OECD over time, perhaps stabilizing the OECD's share of global GDP, compared with the sharp decline seen in recent years. The leading emergers need to be recognized as key players in the global economy and in the policy-making arena. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:02 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/471/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/471/ A new paper by Chatham House says that the once-in-a-century economic meltdown means that OECD countries' simultaneous collapse in consumer and business spending will get worse and more extraordinary 'out of the box' measures may still be needed before the situation turns around. The paper, Synchronized Dive Into Recession: Focus on Damage Limitation, by Vanessa Rossi, Senior Research Fellow, International Economics Programme, also analyzes China's increasingly important role as the single largest contributor to economic growth. Summary Points The global financial system has suffered a once-in-a-century meltdown that almost brought the world economy to a halt in late September. Confidence and trust have been shattered. In spite of concerted and extraordinary efforts on the part of central banks and political leaders, including recapitalizing the banks, it is not yet certain that the waves of panic and destruction have been halted. Many of the repercussions have yet to emerge, including possible legal action as well as economic damage. Even before this latest explosion, the leading OECD economies were plunging into an unusually synchronized recession, driven by the simultaneous collapse in consumer and business spending. This will now get worse. Will a severe OECD recession engulf the rest of the world? Up to mid-2008, the emerging markets remained strong - 'decoupling' did work. Now the crisis has deepened, no region will remain immune to shock waves. This time round, the outcome for China will be much more important because it has doubled its share of world GDP over the last decade and is now the single largest contributor to global growth. China will fight to avoid recession, but can it win? If it can keep up growth, bolstered by its enormous pool of savings pent up in the banking system, this will provide important sustenance for the global economy. Without doubt, this crisis will require substantial, persistent and coordinated global efforts to turn around - possibly including yet more extraordinary 'out of the box' measures. The US and EU are now getting to grips with the immensity of the task. The message has become 'whatever it takes' to halt further widespread destruction. Note to Editors Read Synchronized Dive Into Recession: Focus on Damage Limitation Vanessa Rossi is Senior Research Fellow, International Economics Programme, Chatham House. Contact Nicola Norton Media Relations Manager ++ (0) 20 7957 5739 ENDS Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:13:40 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/669/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/669/ The global financial system has suffered a once-in-a-century meltdown that almost brought the world economy to a halt in late September. Confidence and trust have been shattered. In spite of concerted and extraordinary efforts on the part of central banks and political leaders, including recapitalizing the banks, it is not yet certain that the waves of panic and destruction have been halted. Many of the repercussions have yet to emerge, including possible legal action as well as economic damage. Even before this latest explosion, the leading OECD economies were plunging into an unusually synchronized recession, driven by the simultaneous collapse in consumer and business spending. This will now get worse. Will a severe OECD recession engulf the rest of the world? Up to mid-2008, the emerging markets remained strong - 'decoupling' did work. Now the crisis has deepened, no region will remain immune to shock waves. This time round, the outcome for China will be much more important because it has doubled its share of world GDP over the last decade and is now the single largest contributor to global growth. China will fight to avoid recession, but can it win? If it can keep up growth, bolstered by its enormous pool of savings pent up in the banking system, this will provide important sustenance for the global economy. Without doubt, this crisis will require substantial, persistent and coordinated global efforts to turn around - possibly including yet more extraordinary 'out of the box' measures. The US and EU are now getting to grips with the immensity of the task. The message has become 'whatever it takes' to halt further widespread destruction. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:44:04 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/668/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/668/ The EU is currently at a hectic stage in the development of its internal climate change policies. Having proposed a package of measures in January 2008, the Commission aims to finalize a deal by the end of the year. The key elements include proposals to improve and extend the EU emissions trading scheme (Europe's flagship carbon market), an allocation of effort between member states on reducing emissions, and an ambitious Directive to meet 20% of the EU's total energy demand from renewable sources. There is also ongoing debate over the support for the demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Added into this mix are the international climate change negotiations which are supposed to reach a global deal by the end of 2009. This paper introduces a novel way of looking at the interaction between carbon markets and technology support mechanisms with the hope that an intuitive picture of the fundamentals will promote a clearer and more productive policy dialogue. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:45:02 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2322/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2322/ Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:51:38 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2314/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2314/ As the global war on terror bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new interand intra-service struggle emerged within the military, between what we might call the 'transformationists' and the 'neotraditionalists'. The transformationists put their faith in network-centric warfare and precision munitions to resolve the intractable political, civil and religious conflicts of the twenty-first century. The neo traditionalists, in contrast, go back to the future for lessons, to the 'low-intensity conflicts' of Malaya and Vietnam, the 'small wars' that Marines fought in Central America in the interwar period, and even the instructions given to American servicemen deployed to assist the British occupation of Iraq during the Second World War. Lumped together under the rubric of 'irregular warfare', two new watchwords have had emerged from the neotraditionalist camp: 'counter-insurgency' and 'cultural awareness'. As the neotraditionalists reach out to social scientists to assist them in their efforts, a secondary civil war has erupted in the universities over whether academics should become involved in the new war efforts. Based on a week spent embedded with the 1/25 Marines at 29 Palms and extensive interviews with key proponents and critics, this article maps (and reflexively questions the practice of mapping) the future of warfare as it is planned, taught, gamed and operationalized by the US military. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:25:10 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/470/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/470/ The current financial crisis should come as no surprise, writes Dr Paola Subacchi in this month's The World Today. As early as 2004 structural cracks became apparent and now the stability of the international financial system is at stake. The ultimate goal is to prevent a systemic crisis but it is not clear who should take the lead. Also in this month's issue: Martin Plaut, Africa Editor of the BBC World Service, examines the crisis facing South Africa following the removal of President Thabo Mbeki from office. He concludes that what is at stake is the question of whether the judiciary is above political interference. Romilly Gregory of Oxfam explains how cheap mobile phone devices and mobile internet services are fast-becoming critical tools in helping a billion people around the world. Other articles look at Russia and Georgia and the international arms trade. More about The World Today >> Full list of contents: Financial Crisis: Panic, Blame and Crash Avoidance Paola Subacchi Economic Crisis: Down They Fall Vanessa Rossi Russia and Georgia: A Dangerous GameJames Sherr Moscow's Domestic Policy: Russian Roulette Lilia Shevtsova Georgia, Russia and Energy: Going for Gas John Roberts Two-Tier NATO: Alliance DividedTimo Noetzel and Benjamin Schreer Food Reserves: Just One Failed Harvest...Daryll E Ray and Harwood D Schaffer Mobile Phones: Dialling Change Romilly Gregory South African Judicary: Threat to JusticeMartin Plaut South Africa's Leadership: Uncertain Future James Hamill International Arms Trade Treaty: Gun Control Paul Cornish Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:56:19 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/466/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/466/ Chatham House is pleased to announce the launch of the Strategic Focus on Turkey Project supported by Doğan Holding. This project will analyse and highlight some of the significant issues resulting from the geo-political and geo-economic position of Turkey, and its implications for British, European, US, Turkish and other governments' policies. Areas of research will include Turkey's role in the Middle East, its role in diversifying Europe's energy security and Turkey's role in the development of the Black Sea region and Central Asia. In addition, Mrs Arzuhan Doğan Yalcındağ, a member of the Board of Directors of Doğan Holding has agreed to join the new Chatham House Panel of Senior Advisers, to which she will bring her experience and personal insights on Turkey, Turkey's relationship with its neighbours and allies, and on global economic issues, including the role of the media in the process of globalisation. Mrs Doğan Yalcındağ, is a member of the Board of Directors of Doğan Holding, founding member of the Aydın Doğan Foundation - a philanthropic organisation promoting education, health, sporting activities and culture in Turkey - and the first-ever woman to become President of TÜSİAD (the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmens' Association), a leading civil society organisation in Turkey. Doğan Holding is one of the pre-eminent business groups in Turkey with extensive activities in the media, tourism, energy, real estate and insurance sectors. It has joint partnerships with a number of well-established international companies, including CNN (part of AOL-Time Warner), Axel Springer, OMV, Universal Music Group, Burda GmbH and Egmont Publishing. Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House said: 'Chatham House will be in a position to help give Turkey and its strategic role the prominence it deserves in the international policy debate. We are especially grateful to Mrs. Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ and Doğan Holding for supporting this initiative. I am also delighted that Chatham House will benefit from the input and expertise of Mrs Arzuhan Doğan Yalcındağ as a member of the institute's new Panel of Senior Advisers.' Mrs. Arzuhan Doğan Yalcındağ said: 'Dogan Holding is very happy to support a distinctive project on Turkey with world-leading think-tank Chatham House. I look forward to sharing my insights on Turkey and other significant issues in international affairs among such a distinguished globally-renowned group of individuals in foreign policy, business and civil society on the Panel of Senior Advisers.' Turkish translation >> More information on the project >> Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:12:15 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/935/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/935/ 18:30, 29th October 2008 - This key Members Event will launch the newly refurbished Joseph Gaggero Hall. It will bring together three leading experts with longstanding ties to Chatham House for a discussion on their views of international affairs in the current political and economic climate, based on their first-hand encounters with key financial and political players. In particular, they will focus on what the priorities for the new US President should be and how the UK and Europe can maximize their influence with the new administration. The discussion will also aim to encourage a lively debate from the floor. The event will be followed by an open reception to acknowledge and thank those who have generously contributed to the refurbishment of the hall. Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:01:14 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/462/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/462/ MAJOR NEW REPORT The Chatham House Commission on Europe after Fifty, chaired by Sir Stephen Wall, has published a major new report on Britain's role in Europe - A British Agenda for Europe: Designing Our Own Future. Britain's Future Prosperity and Security are Dependent on a Stronger EU The new report, A British Agenda for Europe: Designing Our Own Future, concludes that Britain's ability to deal with the principal external challenges of the 21st century will depend on its active participation in effective EU policies. The report argues that, following the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, it would be wasteful if Britain were to fall back into its paralysing and perennial stand-off between Eurosceptic and Euroenthusiastic opinion. Sir Stephen Wall, Chair of the Chatham House Commission, says: 'In this report, we have tried to analyse how best the British interest can be safeguarded and promoted. If we conclude that we can best do it by working with those of our European neighbours who share our political values that is a conclusion driven by hard logic, not soft love.' The report also concludes that British thinking on many of the international challenges of the next decade - from combating climate change to dealing with a rising China - will evolve closer to its EU partners' views than to those of the United States. No government, whether one of the world's major powers, an intermediate power like Britain, or a smaller state, will be able to protect the interests of its citizens on its own. Therefore, a clear British vision that looks beyond the Lisbon Treaty at the range of risks emerging from beyond Europe's borders is essential. THE KEY CONCLUSIONS OF THIS REPORT INCLUDE: Britain should continue its leadership on EU enlargement The EU should develop a formal pathway that could lead to enlargement negotiations with Ukraine. Ukrainian integration into the EU would further stabilize a European country that has great economic significance for the EU in a number of areas, including food production and energy transportation. Russia's efforts to reassert its influence over its near abroad make this especially compelling. Further, there is an urgent need to accelerate EU planning on Georgia, provided it demonstrates full commitment to democratic norms, an open economy and the ability to take on the EU's legal structure. The need to build a more integrated European energy market Britain's energy picture will change radically over the coming two decades. As supplies of British North Sea oil and gas decline, increased imports of gas will have to come from Russia. Britain should push for a more coordinated European energy strategy in order to be in a position to better handle Russia's dominant position within European energy markets. The government's priority should be to help create a more physically interconnected EU energy market, integrating national electricity and gas grids and gas storage. This would lessen British and other EU countries' vulnerability to supply disruptions and also deliver considerable efficiency gains. Britain should also promote the idea of EU members giving the European Commission the mandate to negotiate the terms under which outside suppliers like Russia secure access to EU energy import markets. Using the EU to enhance Britain's domestic security The island mentality which dominates the British debate on domestic security disregards the increasingly mobile nature of 21st century threats. Confronting a terror plot aimed at London but coordinated in Frankfurt and Calais requires Europe-wide structures and procedures for judicial, police and counter-terrorism cooperation. Britain's arrangement to be able to opt in or out of current formal EU procedures in this area allows it the flexibility to pick and choose its areas of cooperation. In the future, however, there is the real risk that Britain will be excluded from certain enhanced areas of EU cooperation, as it is currently from the Schengen Information System. Notes to Editors: Read report: A British Agenda for Europe: Designing Our Own Future Chatham House convened a Commission on Europe after Fifty: Policy Implications for Britain whose members would bring to the study a combination of different areas of individual expertise and experience on the European Union. Commission Members >> Sir Stephen Wall, chairman of the Commission, will be available for interview. Dr Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House, will also be available for interview. MEDIA ENQUIRIES Nicola Norton Media Relations Manager +44 (0) 20 7957 5739 +44 (0) 7917 757 528 nnorton@chathamhouse.org.uk Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:22:18 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/657/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/657/ This major new report on Britain's role in Europe is published by the Chatham House Commission on Europe after Fifty: Policy Implications for Britain, chaired by Sir Stephen Wall. Its key messages are: The sterile debate about Europe is compromising future British prosperity and security British thinking on international challenges will evolve closer to its EU partners than to the US British leadership is needed, for example, on energy security, to better handle Russia's dominant position The political thinking behind the island mentality that dominates the British debate on domestic security disregards the increasingly mobile nature of 21st century threats. Read the executive summary >> Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:03:58 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/919/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/919/ 15:00, 24th September 2008 - The European Security Strategy (ESS) has become an important reference framework for the EU since its inception in 2003. Based on the publication of their recent collaborative volume, Professor Biscop and Dr Andersson will examine how the ESS has shaped EU policy, how it relates to existing policies and whether the objectives of the ESS are sufficient to safeguard EU interests. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:58:30 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/912/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/912/ 12:00, 18th September 2008 - This event will discuss some of the key policy challenges facing Britain in the next couple of decades, and consider the part the European Union has to play in tackling them. Sir Stephen Wall will outline the key points and recommendations made in the Chatham House Commission Report, A British Agenda for Europe: Designing our Own Future. The report focuses on the areas of foreign and defence policy; energy and climate change; and cooperation in making the world a safer place in terms of combating crime and terrorism. The discussants will respond to the findings of the report and open a wider discussion on the subject of British engagement with the EU in addressing key policy challenges. More information about the work of the Commission >> Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:43:26 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/903/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/903/ 07:00, 10th April 2008 - While the situation in Afghanistan raises questions regarding the effective role of NATO, there are other factors such as the Russian elections and Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence which will undoubtedly make the upcoming NATO Summit in Bucharest (2-4 April 2008) one of the most important to take place in recent years. Robin Shepherd will give a debrief on the Summit as well as on The Bucharest Conference (1-3 April 2008), organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States in partnership with Chatham House and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This event is strictly by invitation only. To enable as open a debate as possible, this event will be held under the Chatham House Rule Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:11:55 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/901/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/901/ 07:00, 16th September 2008 - The French EU presidency has high ambitions for climate change, food and fuel prices, migration and European security - the Ambassador will take this opportunity to discuss France's priorities and her role in the office of the EU Presidency. This event is strictly by invitation only. To enable as open a debate as possible, this event will be held under the Chatham House Rule Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:18:54 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/900/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/900/ 23:00, 17th September 2008 - Please note this event is strictly by invitation only. This event will launch a Chatham House Commission Report, A British Agenda for Europe. The report addresses some of the key policy challenges facing Britain in the next couple of decades, and considers the part the European Union has to play in tackling them. Commission Chair Sir Stephen Wall and other Commission Members will introduce the key findings and recommendations of the report. There will then be opportunity for an in-depth discussion of these issues and to question the Commission members. During 2007-08 Chatham House convened a Commission on Europe after Fifty: Policy Implications for Britain, whose members would bring to the study a combination of different areas of individual expertise and experience on the European Union, including economics, energy, security and foreign policy. The majority of the Commission members are British, however, non-British perspectives were also included in the Commission in order to encourage a more rounded discussion of British policy options and how they might be received in other European capitals. More about the work of the Commission. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:11:07 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/459/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/459/ As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approaches its sixtieth anniversary, this month's The World Today looks at the status of human rights worldwide. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 2004-8, writes that while there may be much to celebrate, the goal of making human rights truly universal is far from being achieved. Profound and deepening divisions between rich and poor, a security environment that exposes minorities to additional risks, and an expanded UN membership, have all amplified and exacerbated cultural, religious and political divisions especially on issues such as human rights. Against this background of shifting interests and values, in the name of which, all too often, discrimination is perpetrated, international human rights law provides the best, most reliable and fairest guide for managing and protecting multiple identities. The task now is not only to prompt states to give real effect to human rights but also to create a constituency for the middle ground where different national and regional interests, concerns and experiences can meet, be reconciled and directed to honour the purpose of the Universal Declaration. This will ensure future generations are better equipped to uphold the Declaration's universal principles. Read article. More about The World Today >> Full list of contents: Human Rights Anniversary: Without Want or Fear Louise Arbour China and Human Rights: Power to the People Kerry Brown Rights in Africa: Why Africa? Bonita C. Meyersfield Children's Rights: Young and Vulnerable Mary Buckley Islam and Human Rights: In the Name of Islam Maha Azzam United States and Human Rights: Ending Lapse into Lawlessness Kenneth Roth US Presidential Election: Choice or Echo? Robert Singh UN and EU Terrorist Blacklists: I've Got a Little List Monika Heupel Book Review: Punishing the Wicked David Bentley Ukraine and NATO: Destination Unknown James Sherr Angola Elections: Back to Ballots Indira Campos Politically-Capped Reserves: Let the Oil Flow? Daniel Litvin Securing Electricty: Blackout Bill Durodié Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:37:15 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/458/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/458/ In this issue of International Afffairs, Thomas Hegghammer traces the history of the Saudi jihadist movement. Based on primary sources and extensive fieldwork in the Kingdom, the article argues that jihadism in Saudi Arabia differs from jihadism in the Arab republics as it's driven primarily by extreme pan-Islamism and not socio-revolutionary ideology. The article also traces the outbreak - and failure - of the 2003 terrorist campaign by 'Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula' (QAP). This campaign was made possible by the presence in 2002 of a critical mass of returnees from Afghanistan, a clever two-track strategy by Al-Qaeda, and systemic weaknesses in the Saudi security apparatus. The near-absence of violence in the Kingdom before 2003 was due to Al-Qaeda's weak infrastructure in the early 1990s and bin Laden's 1998 decision to suspend operations to preserve local networks. Now, the Saudi regime is more stable and self-confident - and therefore less inclined to democratic reform -than it has been in many years. Read article. Full list of contents: The Responsibility to Protect and the Problem of Military Intervention Alex J Bellamy Righting the Course? Humanitarian Intervention, the 'War on Terror' and the Future of Afghanistan Fatima Ayub and Sari Kouvo The Vienna Negotiations on the Final Status of Kosovo Marc Weller Iran Under Ahmadinejad: Populism and its Malcontents Ali Ansari Islamist Violence and Regime Stability in Saudi Arabia Thomas Hegghammer 'An Enemy at the Gates' or 'From Victory to Victory'? Russian Foreign Policy Andrew Monaghan Security and Democracy: The ASEAN Charter and the Dilemmas of Regionalism in South-East Asia David Martin Jones Using Negotiation to Promote Legitimacy: An Assessment of Proposals for Reforming the WTO Cecilia Albin The Dynamics of British Military Transformation Theo Farrell The End of Impunity? Lessons from Sierra Leone Gillian Wigglesworth Book Reviews Other Books Received Index of Books Reviewed Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:21:50 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1795/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1795/ Madeleine McCann's disappearance in Portugal, just before her fourth birthday in May last year, is a vivid reminder of the vulnerability of children. Minors can be exploited for domestic slavery, work in brick kilns, mines, agriculture, fisheries, construction, begging rings and on market stalls, as well as in pornography and prostitution. They may be sold into forced child marriages, for adoption or be drawn into combat as child soldiers. Children have even faced abuse from United Nations peacekeeping troops and those working for non-governmental organisations, who are meant to protect their rights. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:52:41 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1794/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1794/ Do human rights in Africa have the same meaning as in the rest of the world? Almost more than any other continent, Africa seems removed from the global commitment to such rights. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms - freedom of religion, freedom from want, freedom from fear and freedom of speech - which underpin the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are rare privileges there. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:51:13 +0100