World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

I am afraid that many of my postings for the immediate future will be on the violence in the Gaza Strip.  We’re still trying to parse out the motives for the manner by which Israel has broadcast its attacks–a sharp deviation from its previously close-mouthed approach to its activities.  The consensus so far is that Israel is trying to bait Hamas into a wider conflict.  This possibility is real, but it could also be the case that the Israelis have decided that the advent of social media has rendered its previous silence irrelevant.  No matter what the reason, it remains to be seen whether Hamas will attempt to widen the war.

Coordinated protests against the economic austerity programs broke out in 23 European countries.  Even though millions of Europeans participated in the protests, the American media has pretty much ignored them, choosing instead to focus on the extra-marital affair of General Petraeus.  The economic situation in Europe is sharply deteriorating and it is hard to imagine that slowdown not seriously affecting the rest of the world.

The Chinese have finally announced their new leadership for the next ten years.  Scholars are still going over the names to glean some hints about the future direction of the country, but the initial analyses tend to suggest a more conservative and less reform-minded leadership.