When a world leader orders an attack on another nation is that just crazy? Maybe we should take a closer look at the thinking behind consequential decisions. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in...
We colour history with nostalgia when we are dissatisfied with the present. But for those who know only what’s now? They might not want to go back. Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, right, looking at his watch, and newly-appointed President Vladimir Putin,...
The mutual defence pact started with 12 nations and now has 32 members. But does bigger mean safer? Military officers attend a ceremony in Albania for the inauguration of an international tactical air base, NATO’s first in the Western Balkan region, 4 March 2024. (AP...
A fleet of Russian warships in Havana in June revived memories of the 1962 face off between Kennedy and Kruschev that had the world holding its breath. People watch the Russian Navy Admiral Gorshkov frigate arrive at the port of Havana, Cuba, 12 June 2024. A fleet of...
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the “international community” stood back. But is there such a thing? What, if anything, can bring the world together? The entrance to the United Nations in Geneva is obscured by the emblems of a dozen international economic and...
Blaming the “international community” for inaction is easy. But does this community actually exist, or is it just tantamount to the United States and company? Correspondent Bernd Debusmann runs it down in this Decoder.
Exercise: Divide students into nine groups. Each group will be assigned one of the regional organizations mentioned in the article: NATO, European Union, Arab League, G-7, G-20, ASEAN, OAS, African Union, BRICS. Groups should research their assigned organization and identify the organization’s main objectives and stance on current international tensions (e.g. war in Ukraine, economic sanctions on North Korea, nuclear proliferation, etc.). Can these regional groups work together to create a true international community, or are their interests too disparate?