27 May 2013   Leave a comment

Jobs are hard to find everywhere in the world, even in countries with high rates of economic growth.  China is encountering a serious problem finding enough jobs for its college graduates.  Note, however, the curious contradiction in the article: not enough jobs, but serious overwork for those with jobs.  Companies try to keep down labor costs as much as possible by not hiring workers, so the workload on those with jobs is intolerable.  Over time the shortage of jobs is going to lead to serious political problems, if young people do not believe that the system offers opportunity.

An anti-Muslim march was held in London in response to the killing of a British soldier by a religious extremist.  The march was organized by the English Defence League, a far right party.  A spike in anti-Islamic incidents has been reported after the killing, and the British leadership has been singularly inept at dealing with the problem.  The issue is the growth of extremism in Britain, not Islam, but the Prime Minister has not spoken out forcibly to the public making that distinction.  It is precisely at times of great anguish and uneasiness that leaders need to step out in front of hysteria.

The European Union has decided not to extend the arms embargo on Syria.  The decision frees EU states to send or sell weapons to the rebels in Syria, although it is not clear that any state has any plans to do so at present.  It will be interesting to see which state decides to provide arms and what the precipitating event for that decision will be.  The US is likely to keep its arms embargo intact for now.  There might be a joint US-EU decision at some point in the future since it now appears as if President Assad has the upper hand in the civil war.

Posted May 28, 2013 by vferraro1971 in World Politics

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