Lo and behold! A bunch of separate current events is unfolding that are quite independent of each other in terms of details, but all have a single theme uniting them: Democracy is currently kicking ass on the world stage! From the Arab Spring to Burma to BRICS to the Occupy Wall Street Movement in America, democracy is suddenly manifesting itself in quite unpredictable ways, creating a whirlwind daze of freedom-loving rage. Democracy is back to being a worldwide craze!
Keywords: democracy, Arab Spring, Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, BRICS, Occupy Wall Street, US, China, Brazil, India, South Africa, Turkey, Thein Sein, Hilary Clinton
Crickey! 1000 troops being deployed to Australia? What, is there a rabid army of koalas getting ready to overrun Canberra? Not at all, and in fact this is a much longer-term strategic shift that I believe is going to be of great consequence for the entire Pacific realm. Just as US President Obama is pushing for the Pacific free trade area called the TPP, it is being leaked out that the US has plans (for the first time ever) to have US troops stationed in Australia. Taken together, this speaks to a gigantic US shift of focus, both economically and militarily, to the Pacific realm…probably to increase economic activity, shore up and protect its allies, increase its influences, all while also simultaneously countering the growing influence of China in this PAcific ‘hood. Watch this and learn more about the Pacific specifics of US moves into this most crucial 21st century water world!
Keywords: Pacific Ocean, Pacific Rim, APEC, TPP, Japan, Australia, US troops, Darwin, Northern Territory, China, South China Sea
Barack Obama’s new baby: a full on free trade block forming! The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an Asia-Pacific regional trade agreement currently being negotiated among the United States and eight other partners…and is getting ready to be rolled out at the big APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting this weekend in Honolulu. This move signals the ever-increasingly important economic shift from the Atlantic-centered world to the Pacific, and also can be interpreted as a US strategic move to cement its influence in the Pacific arena…possibly to counter China’s power, and certainly to try to expand US exports to these bustling economies. Who will get on board this TPP train? Let’s find out!
Keywords: TPP, Trans-pacific Partnership, APEC, US, Obama, Japan, South Korea, Chile, China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Peru, Brunei, Malaysia
Say what? Why would a non-state like Palestine joining a sub-group of the UN named UNESCO be of any global significance? Oh man, I’m telling you, this is a sign of things to come! Listen to this podcast to understand how the US may be isolating itself to its own detriment on the world stage, and how this little ‘global parks service’ entity’s vote on Palestine may be a harbinger of things to come at the UN as a whole. The US’ role in the world is changing…and I want to know what you think of it!
Keywords: UNESCO, UN, US, Palestine, Israel, Canada, sovereignty, UNICEF, Halloween
A new era of military and political focus is upon us my friends! A big geographic shift is underway for US armed forces! ...and that shift is to Africa! Perhaps dozens of discrete air/drone bases are probably being built across North Africa and the Middle East, and the first one just “officially” opened in Ethiopia…a country that the US is already militarily tight with, as they help fight radical groups in neighboring Somalia. And what cannot be a coincidence, the Obama administration just sent 100 military advisors to Uganda to help quell a terrorists group there too. As times and threats change, so does US foreign policy, troop deployment, and geographic focus for action. Africa is the future!
Keywords: Africa, Ethiopia, Somalia, US, military, drones, air base, al-Shabab, Uganda, Lords' Resistance Army Joseph Kony, terrorists
Are you a college professor teaching World Regions or Global Political classes? Pick up the cutting edge, most entertainly educating textbook currently on the market.
