World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation is an alternative security organization created by the Russians to offer a counterbalance to Western power.  When it was created in 2001 its members included  China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  It has not been particularly active so far but today India and Pakistan have begun their accession to the group, undoubtedly enhancing the credibility of the organization as a genuine alternative security arrangement to NATO.  It is, however, difficult to imagine these countries reaching solid agreements on specific issues other than their desire to create a more multipolar world.

Finance Ministers of the 19 states in the eurozone spent the day today debating whether Greece should be lent money to repay its debts.  There was no agreement today, but the talks are expected to resume on Sunday and the fate of the European Union rests in the balance.  The issue apparently is whether the Greek government can be trusted to keep its promises of reform.  The hard line reflects five years of negotiations that have essentially accomplished nothing.