by Linee strategiche (a narrative of global complexity)
This year, 2015, is a strategic make or break year for Africa’s development. With the launching of the post-2015 development agenda, the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be pivotal towards ensuring socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic growth in Africa. (Richard Munang, Robert Mgendi, Al Jazeera, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/needed-billions-leaving-africa-yearly-al-jazeera-/)
In February 2015, militants from the Libyan wing of the Islamic State (IS) brutally executed 21 Egyptian citizens in Libya. All those executed were Coptic Christians. The Egyptians were taken hostage about a year ago near the Libyan city of Sirte. IS militants have previously carried out a number of such crimes. The dozens of victims they have executed have included citizens of Iraq, Syria, the US, Britain, France, Japan, and Jordan. Quite likely the goal of these bloodthirsty attacks is to try to intimidate everyone who is fighting against IS and to instill in them the fear of imminent death should they fall into the hands of its militants. To some extent this tactic is working. For example, after the Islamists executed their captured Jordanian pilot, the UAE, which is part of the US-led anti-IS coalition, halted airstrikes by its pilots over the Islamists’ positions, until the US «can guarantee the complete safety of all pilots carrying out airstrikes on IS.» (Boris Dolgov, Strategic Culture Foundation, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/egypt-sonfrontation-with-radical-islamism-boris-dolgov-strategic-culture-foundation-/)
The reshaping of relations between citizens and state in the Gulf will be fundamental to the future security of countries in the region and how they relate to Western partners. (Jane Kinninmont, Chatham House, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/future-trends-in-the-gulf-jane-kinninmont-chatham-house-/)
One year after Maidan succeeded in its call for a democratic government in Ukraine, and Russia responded by instigating a separatist conflict in the east of the country, Ukraine’s democratic future remains at stake. (Iskra Kirova, Al Jazeera, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/eu-can-still-protect-the-spirit-of-ukraines-revolution-iskra-kirova-al-jazeera-/)
America’s two political parties rarely agree, but one thing that unites them is their anger about “currency manipulation,” especially by China. Perhaps spurred by the recent appreciation of the dollar and the first signs that it is eroding net exports, congressional Democrats and Republicans are once again considering legislation to counter what they view as unfair currency undervaluation. The proposed measures include countervailing duties against imports from offending countries, even though this would conflict with international trade rules. (Jeffrey Frankel, Project-Syndicate, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/the-non-problem-of-chinese-currency-manipulation-jeffrey-frankel-project-syndicate-/)
The world is facing the prospect of an extended period of weak economic growth. But risk is not fate: The best way to avoid such an outcome is to figure out how to channel large pools of savings into productivity-enhancing public-sector investment. (Michael Spence, Project-Syndicate, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/why-public-investment-michael-spence-project-syndicate-/)
The World Economic Forum’s new publication Hedging Risk by Combating Human Trafficking: Insights from the Private Sector is designed to help companies share best practices so they can mitigate their risks and help eliminate this heinous practice. In this first of a series, we highlight insights and technology-driven interventions in the hospitality, finance, and transportation industries. (World Economic Forum, http://www.lineestrategiche.org/news/hedging-risk-by-combating-human-trafficking-insights-from-the-private-sector-world-economic-forum-/)
