Almost a generation has passed since the Islamist attacks of 11 September 2001 in New York and Washington. At the time, because of a comparable number of American victims, analysts around the world compared this attack to that of 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbour. But it took the United States less than four years … Lire la suite de Islamism is spreading around the world
We need an industrial strategy
Twenty years ago, the Chinese still admired French industry. They envied us for our 4 A's. Alstom, Alcatel, Airbus, Areva. Today, they only envy us one A. It's Airbus, from which they're trying to extract technological secrets by any means possible. Only a generation ago, Alcatel was the world's most successful telecommunications company. It … Lire la suite de We need an industrial strategy
The four winners of the Osaka G-20
Created by Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin in 1999 to bring together finance ministers from the world's top 20 economies, expanded by President Sarkozy in 2008 to include heads of state and government, the G-20 is a useful institution. It is an instrument that can help to heal or even anticipate global financial … Lire la suite de The four winners of the Osaka G-20
Iran-USA: Macron and Abe must act, quickly!
On June 26, 2019, in a welcome historical coincidence, the two leaders most capable of mediating between the US and Iran will meet face-to-face in Tokyo to put an end to the current dangerous escalation that risks setting the Middle East on fire. Emmanuel Macron, on an official visit to Japan, will have plenty of … Lire la suite de Iran-USA: Macron and Abe must act, quickly!
Xi was right to back down in Hong Kong
We've never seen this in Hong Kong before. Neither during the time of British colonization (1841-1997), nor in the current period of the 'One Country Two Systems' connection to China (HK with its own judicial, economic and political system; Beijing looking after defence and foreign affairs). The population took to the streets on a … Lire la suite de Xi was right to back down in Hong Kong
Does the West wish to offer up Russia to the Chinese?
On June 6th 2019, celebrating the 74th anniversary of their landing in Normandy, the Great Western Allied Powers had invited Germany to the festivities. But no invitation had been sent to Moscow. Yet it was the Russian army that destroyed 80% of Hitler's divisions during the Second World War (with the support of Western equipment … Lire la suite de Does the West wish to offer up Russia to the Chinese?
Iran-America: how to avoid war
On June 2nd, 2019, on an official trip to Switzerland, the US Secretary of State said that the United States was ready to talk to Iran "without preconditions". This is an important statement, capable of initiating a pathway to peace between the two most militarily powerful nations in the Persian Gulf. As absurd as it … Lire la suite de Iran-America: how to avoid war
Environment and immigration: the EU’s two challenges
Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as "the government of the people, by the people, for the people." As the European Union (EU) brings together different peoples, European democracy - as it was created in September 1976 via the Brussels Treaty that established the election of the European Parliament by universal suffrage - should logically be understood … Lire la suite de Environment and immigration: the EU’s two challenges
China will never dominate Asia
Will 21st century China some day dominate Asia? Will it succeed in building its neighbourhood that which the United States, guided by the Monroe doctrine, built in the Americas in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? My betting is - No. There are ideological, geopolitical and economic factors that will prevent China from subjugating its Asian neighbours. Ideologically, China … Lire la suite de China will never dominate Asia
Elections that are no longer European
More than any other organization on the planet, the European Union (EU) assembles countries whose democracy works well. When you travel in Europe from East to West and North to South, whether you are in Poland or Portugal, Ireland or Greece, and you talk to citizens, the vast majority of them will be able to … Lire la suite de Elections that are no longer European
