Peace Blog
The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the IIP.
It is certainly not normal to restrict our daily movements and the chances to see our families and friends. It should not be normal to go around with masks over our mouths and noses. It is not normal that our schools are closed - even if some pupils are happy about it - for some time. But not everything we did in the past should be seen as normal and self-evident. Therefore, already now, we should think what kind of normality we should aspire to.
The new coronavirus and the subsequent worldwide crisis is once again forcing the issue of a Third Way between neoliberal capitalism and authoritarian systems onto the global agenda. Especially as we have “two failing superpowers” in China and the US, as Martin Wolf recently wrote in the Financial Times. Whether we live in a bipolar world or without any strong pole or even in a chaotic global system, Europe should take the chance provided by the present crisis to develop a new global strategy — a strategy that should not imitate any of the existing ways to deal with global issues such as the coronavirus.
The EU will move forward with the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. Both countries — like the other candidate countries Serbia and Montenegro — lost much time due to a lack of reforms and internal political disputes. But let us not speak about the past but instead look toward the future. And both governments present in power in Albania and North Macedonia have made decisive progress on many reforms necessary for future EU membership.
Hannes Swoboda analysiert in seinem neuen Blogbeitrag die möglichen Auswirkungen des Umgangs mit Covid-19 auf die Zukunft staatlicher Gesundheitssysteme, potentielle Kontrolle der Gesellschaft durch den Staat mithilfe neuer technischer Entwicklungen aber auch mit dem Spannungsfeld zwischen Nationalismus und Kooperation. Wohin wird sich die internationale Gemeinschaft nach Ende der Krise bewegen und was bedeutet das für aktuelle Friedensprozesse?
The word “war” is unquestionably often misused. Recently French President Macron spoke about a war against the new coronavirus. At the same time, the media report on a new oil war. A better expression to describe the conflict about the oil price and the oil supply would be to speak about a crash in oil prices. But “oil war” sounds more exciting. Irrespective of the words used, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Russia concerning the oil price has global consequences.
Seit längerem wird in politischen und wissenschaftlichen Kreisen diskutiert, ob der Phase der Globalisierung eine Periode der De-Globalisierung folgen könnte. Das Auftreten und die rasche Verbreitung des Corona Virus hat nun dieser Debatte neue Nahrung gegeben. Was nun den Virus und dessen Verbreitung betrifft, so muss man vorsichtig sein, dies mit der Globalisierung in Zusammenhang zu bringen.
The European Commission (EC) recently presented a new EU-Africa strategy titled “Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa.” From green technology, digital transformation, and sustainable growth to peace, security, and a balanced approach to migration and mobility, the report addresses many essential areas of cooperation. EU High Representative Josip Borell underlined in particular the need for security and peace cooperation. Here the EU is certainly the biggest supporter of all activities combatting violence and armed conflicts. But, as Borell reiterated after a visit by the EC to the African Union in Addis Ababa: “The future of Europe is strongly connected to the demographic, economic and political dynamics of Africa. Unfortunately the public sees Africa only through the migration prism.” Regarding the issue of climate change, he correctly added:” Our climate future depends as much from what Africa doing as from our own efforts.”
