Financial Times (February 24, 2014)
“Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe again echoes to the sound and fury of revolution.” With the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich, the Ukraine now has a chance at a fresh start. “This is a moment of immense opportunity–and immense danger–for Ukraine, for the EU and for Russia. More than any single moment since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the revolution that began in Kiev heralds ‘the hour of Europe.’”
Tags: Berlin Wall, Danger, EU, Europe, Kiev, Opportunity, Overthrow, Revolution, Russia, Soviet bloc, Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich
Wall Street Journal (December 9, 2013)
Former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and the protesters he leads have shown a remarkable “capacity for self-delusion. They dismiss anyone who supports the government as either ignorant or in the pay of Ms. Yingluck and her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra…. The country will continue to pay the price as Mr. Suthep defies the will of the majority. It’s hard to escape the suspicion that a revolution is coming in Thai politics, but it won’t be one to the opposition’s liking.”
Tags: Government, Opposition, Politics, Prime minister, Protesters, Revolution, Self-delusion, Suthep Thaugsuban, Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra
Wall Street Journal (November 4)
By year end, the U.S. is likely to unseat Russia and become the second largest global producer of liquid fuels. The U.S. is now well positioned to escape the capricious yoke of OPEC and “even could surpass Saudi Arabia to become the leading global producer within the next decade.” Former Secretary of State George Schultz and FedEx CEO Fred Smith write, the nation’s leaders should “embrace both the supply revolution now well under way and the emerging demand revolution in oil-displacement technology that, together, promise a more secure and prosperous future.”
Tags: Demand, Energy security, FedEx, Fred Smith, Fuel, Future, George Schultz, Oil-displacement, OPEC, Producer, Revolution, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Supply, Technology, U.S.
The Economist (July 13)
“Roughly two-and-a-half years after the revolutions in the Arab world, not a single country is yet plainly on course to become a stable, peaceful democracy.” The Arab spring appears “doomed” to some. Yet, “despite the chaos, the blood and the democratic setbacks, this is a long process. Do not give up hope.”
Tags: Arab spring, Blood, Chaos, Democracy, Hope, Peace, Revolution, Setbacks
The New York Times (July 4)
“Despite his failings, and there were plenty, President Mohamed Morsi was Egypt’s first democratically elected leader, and his overthrow by the military on Wednesday was unquestionably a coup. It would be tragic if Egyptians allowed the 2011 revolution that overthrew the dictator Hosni Mubarak to end with this rejection of democracy.”
Tags: Coup, Democracy, Dictator, Egypt, Elected, Leader, Military, Mohamed Morsi, Overthrow, Revolution
New York Times (December 7)
“The revolution in Egypt is in danger of being lost in a spasm of violence, power grabs and bad judgments…. It was Mr. Morsi’s dictatorial edict placing himself above the law last month that ignited this crisis.”
“The revolution in Egypt is in danger of being lost in a spasm of violence, power grabs and bad judgments…. It was Mr. Morsi’s dictatorial edict placing himself above the law last month that ignited this crisis.”
Tags: Crisis, Egypt, Morsi, Revolution, Violence
Los Angeles Times (June 19)Los Angeles Times (June 19)
“The largest population shift in human history” is taking place. Every month over 5 million people leave the countryside for cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. By 2050, an additional 3.1 billion people are expected to live in cities. In 1950, 70% of the world’s population lived in rural areas. By 2050, 70% will live in urban areas. This massive migration offers both opportunity and danger. It is one of the forces behind “revolutions in the Arab world” and other current events. “Never in human history have so many people changed their locations and lifestyles so quickly,” yet this trend remains little noticed and misunderstood.“The largest population shift in human history” is taking place. Every month over 5 million people leave the countryside for cities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. By 2050, an additional 3.1 billion people are expected to live in cities. In 1950, 70% of the world’s population lived in rural areas. By 2050, 70% will live in urban areas. This massive migration offers both opportunity and danger. It is one of the forces behind “revolutions in the Arab world” and other current events. “Never in human history have so many people changed their locations and lifestyles so quickly,” yet this trend remains little noticed and misunderstood.
Tags: Cities, Revolution, Urban migration
Washington Post (February 28)
Will the Jasmine revolution spread to all of the Arab States? Who should the U.S. and other countries back, existing leaders or the protestors? The Post believes, the “direction of events means that, more than ever, the American interest lies in encouraging more rather than less freedom and in reaching out to those Arabs who seek genuine democracy. If that means straining ties with autocratic allies, that is preferable to appearing to back the wrong side.”
Tags: Democracy, Diplomacy, Middle East, Revolution
The Economist (January 27)
The “Jasmine revolution” is spreading from Tunisia to Egypt, where Hosni Mubarak has held power for 30 years. The Economist writes, “if Mr Mubarak truly put his country’s interests first, he would immediately promise to retire before the next presidential election, due in September.”
Tags: Egypt, Mubarak, Revolution, Tunisia
