Contenu du sommaire

Denise Flouzat-Osmont d'Amilly, The Future of the Euro Area: Questions and Hypotheses In Europe, exiting the crisis has itself become a crisis, for two reasons: imbalances in the international monetary system and in the euro area, along with contradictions in different national policies. Exiting the euro area is not a credible policy for member countries, and nor is accelerated monetary integration. This leaves progressive coordination as the only feasible scenario, in which Franco-German agreement will play a vital role.

Daniela Schwarzer, Governing the Euro after the Crisis The crisis has revealed the insufficient coordination of European economic policies. The setting-up of a permanent mechanism allowing for the supervision of national economies and the prevention of indebtedness could be the instrument of a European growth strategy, without which distrust over the single currency and integration are likely to rise. But only a strengthening of democratic legitimacy at the level of the Union can justify a new transfer of sovereignty from Member States.

Alain Lamassoure, A First Assessment of the Europe Born in Lisbon The Lisbon Treaty completed the federal/confederal, bipolar structure of the European Union, putting into place new procedures and institutions, and closing the institutional debate. However, the first months of its application show that there still is no specifically-European pilot in the cockpit. While the Treaty has made advances possible, for example, via reinforced cooperation, Europeans should no doubt apply Lisbon by overtaking Lisbon.

Christian Chavagneux, Do Multinational Companies Set the Rules of Globalization? Are States still at the center of international economic relations? They have to put up with the rise of private actors, including productive and financial multinationals, especially in the key area of setting rules. Large accounting firms, cross-border trade associations, international cartels all strive to ensure that the political standards of globalization respect and foster their interests.

Philippe Ryfman, Non-Governmental Humanitarian Aid: an Alternative Diplomacy? The progressive structuring of international networks of humanitarian organizations (NGOs, international public organizations or foundations, etc.) has reinforced their visibility in the area of diplomacy. Their grass-roots expertise and experience in assistance, which are necessary to many international discussions, have stretched their mediation role in conflicts and government lobbying to promote a certain notion of law. Despite several persistent criticisms, this has given power to an “alternative diplomacy”.

Riva Kastoryano, Minorities and Foreign Policy: Transnational Space in Global Diplomacy Diaspora minorities have become significant political actors, especially in Europe. They contribute to reshaping host States, preserving identities that are increasingly guaranteed by specific legislation. They have an international impact, drawing on transnational projects and structures, and by generating original relations between host- and home-States, which are more complex than traditional bilateral relations.

Yves Viltard, Local Authorities and International Relations International actions by States are being affected by the new diplomacies of local authorities and non-central governments. The latter are seeking to define collectively a specific identity on the international stage. This is especially the case of large metropolises, whose internationalization is a fundamental phenomenon. Various types of “local” diplomacies exist today, which are both isomorphic and complementary to State actions.

Georges Mink, Russo-Polish Reconciliation: Moving to a New Paradigm? Russo-Polish reconciliation draws on a “diplomacy of forgiveness”, which stretches back several years. Only knowledge and recognition of a common history will allow present differences to be overcome. The setting up of a bilateral group “on difficult problems”, which is essentially dedicated to studying historical problems, reflects this ambition. Events in 2010 have clearly accelerated this process, even if it remains long.

Marie-Claire Considère-Charon, The Failures of the British General Elections: A Changing Model? The formation of a Tory/LibDem coalition government after the parliamentary elections in 2010 may lead to profound change in Britain's political system. Compromises have been reached on numerous issues, and both sides seem to have decided to stick to the agreement. Yet the façade of unity could founder on the attitudes of Members of Parliament who may be less docile than their leaders, and on the 2011 deadline of electoral reform sought after by the Liberal-Democrats but which the Conservatives will inevitably resist.

Myriam Benraad, Iraq: Political Turbulences and Military Retreat
The parliamentary elections in Iraq in March 2010 have not settled anything. They bear witness to profound divisions. Political, social, and religious cleavages remain. Economic reconstruction remains an extremely long process, hampered by vast corruption and the omnipresent “culture of violence”. The risk of a real decomposition of Iraqi society remains.

Pierre Berthelot, The Golan Heights: the Status Quo or Restitution? In relations between Syria and Israel, the importance of the Golan Heights is both real (control over water resources in the region) and symbolic. Israel would exchange the Golan for a real peace agreement, but Damascus has hesitated to commit itself sufficiently in an area that is hardly strategically decisive. This explains why the many episodes of indirect negotiations have always depended on global and regional issues, and on Washington's willingness to intervene decisively.

Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, Tales and Legends of African Wars: Controversies and Politics Relating to Violent Death Is Africa going from bad to worse, with figures on violent death rising constantly? This idea is shared by most commentators, but merits qualification. First, improvements in statistical systems have removed much of the meaning of historical comparisons. Next, the idea that the nature of conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa is changing and has led to heightened mortality is highly contestable, and sometimes manipulated.