Stories about International Relations from July, 2006
East Asia: Americanization of legal education
Curzon in Coming Anarchy blogs about the trend in Americanization of East Asian legal education in Japn and South Korea.
Singapore: Remembering Cambodia
The death of a Khmer Rouge operative reminds the blogger at nofearSingapore of the time when the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown. The blogger talks about the geopolitics of the time when other South East Asian countries and western powers were fearful of Vietnamese intentions.
Hong Kong:
Yeahayeah blogs about the demonstration against Israelis bombing in Lebanon in Hong Kong (zh).
Latin America: Mercorsur Summit
The Mercosur summit ended with Hugo and Fidel stealing the limelight says Erwin Cifuentes. Greg Weeks sorts out the implications of Venezuela's new membership in the trade bloc. Finally, Ricardo Carreón argues that Mexico could and should become the trade organizations first non-South American member.
Nepal: China and the Maoists
What does China have to do with the peace process in Nepal. Nepali Netbook says “Considering the fervor with which it is broached, speculation of recent secret talks between a team of Chinese officials and top Nepalese Maoist leaders threatens to throw our nascent peace process off course.”
Russia: Black Sea Navy to Syria?
David McDuff of A Step At A Time writes about unconfirmed reports on Russia's plans to move its Black Sea warships from the Ukrainian Crimea to Syria.
Russia: A Wedding and Paperwork
Stephan of Everybody I Love You gets married in Russia and, in between the wedding and the honeymoon, works on bringing his wife to the United States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Worrying Political Developments
T K Vogel of East Ethnia writes about “worrying” political developments taking place in Bosnia.
Belarus: Hugo Chavez’ Visit
TOL's Belarus Blog reports on Hugo Chavez's visit to Minsk.
Belarus: Economic Sanctions Looming
TOL's Belarus Blog and Andrei Khrapavitski write that “Belarus is soon to be expelled from the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) due to its non-compliance with trade union legislature (mostly when it comes to the rights of the workers).”
Belarus: Scholarship Fraud and Brain Drain
TOL's Belarus Blog writes about scholarship fraud and the connection between scholarships and brain drain.
Belarus: Outgoing U.S. Ambassador
Andrei Khrapavitski writes about George Krol, the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Belarus.
Iran: Ahmadinejad's Letter
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, reformist politician talks about Ahmadinejad's letter to Merkel, German Chancellor. The blogger says Germany says that there will be no answer to Ahmadinejad's letter. Abtahi considers Germany's reaction as an insult to Iranians but he adds it seems that Iranian President in this letter did not talk...
Lebanon at the Iraqi Blogodrome
The Iraqi blogs have been alive with comment on the crisis in Lebanon. The opinions are so diverse that subject deserves to be covered in its own right. If you read no other post read this one Ali from Free Iraqi delivers a sharp analysis that would make Machiavelli nervous....
Ukraine: Maidan, Again, Sort Of
Kyiv, Independence Square: “President Kuchma – shame, Yushchenko – the nation's disappointment. Moroz – betrayed the Maidan!” – by Veronica Khokhlova Nearly two years after the Orange Revolution, there are tents at Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) again. The camp isn't big, and it looks dormant for now, but as...
East Timor: Rumors of Australian Involvement
Samantha at samanddaniel blog dispels rumours that Australia was involved in the unseating of former East Timorese Prime Minister. “I believe the recent trouble all comes down to the incompetence and inexperience of a new government left to fend for itself without adequate ongoing international support coupled with the arrogance...
Cuba: Fidel's birthday concert
Pan-African News Wire reproduces an article from Cuban news daily Granma, announcing plans for a concert to celebrate Fidel Castro's 80th birthday celebrations on August 11-12 in Havana. The concert will feature several “top protest and ballad singers of Latin America” as well as South African star Miriam Makeba.
Armenia: Apricot Republic
Irina Petrosian discusses the omnipresence of apricots, apricot-related gossip, apricots as an indicator of inflation, and much more that has contributed to Armenia being referred to on occasion as an “apricot republic.”
Kyrgyzstan: US to Stay
Yulia comments on the release of additional details about the new agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the United States that will allow the US to keep using the Manas airfield for supporting operations in Afghanistan. She argues that it is fortunate that the issue was resolved without becoming a huge fight...
Russia: Blog on Basayev's Death
David McDuff of A Step At A Time provides a link to a new blog examining the death of Shamil Basayev and its significance for Chechnya.
Israel/Lebanon commentary
“Destroying the infrastructure of Lebanon isn't going to achieve much. It would surely not make Israel any safer,” writes Netherlands-based Nigerian blogger Chippla in a
