Contenu du sommaire : Diplomatie : les choix d'Obama II

Robin Niblett, Obama II: Where Does the Transatlantic Alliance Go from Here?
Barack Obama's second term presents an opportunity to revive the transatlantic relationship between Europe and the United States. If each is primarily absorbed by its own domestic problems, they can still try to find common solutions to problems that affect both: international terrorism, persistent instability in the Middle East, the economic crisis, or the rise of China.

Laurence Nardon, The United States toward Energy Independence? The U.
S.'s exploitation of “unconventional” domestic oil reserves is reviving its economy. It will also have effects on the country's energy independence and thus its geopolitical position. While it is unlikely that the relationship between Washington and the Middle East region will be fundamentally altered, the U.S.'s relationships with China, Russia, and Europe could be affected. The United States will have to incorporate these changes into its global strategies.

Chady Hage-Ali, Washington and the Middle East: Changes to Come?
During Barack Obama's first term, the United States' Middle East policy generated a lot of disappointment, especially for the Palestinians. The U.S. President intends to play a more active role in the region, working on issues such as the Iranian nuclear question, civil war in Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He can count on the help of John Kerry, who recently replaced Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

Corentin Brustlein, Changes in the United States' Military Posture in Asia
After its withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States has reoriented its military strategy toward Asia. This shift has been made in particular through the strengthening of bilateral partnerships with some Asian countries, additional deployments of troops and equipment, and the development of new doctrines. Budgetary constraints and strategic uncertainty, however, raise questions about its long term implementation.

Jennifer G. Cooke, The United States in Africa. The Clinton and G.
W. Bush administrations significantly expanded U.S. engagement in Africa through redefinition of strategic interests, development of major humanitarian and health programs, and sizable economic and military investments. The first Obama administration did not live up to expectations, seeming to largely neglect the African continent. Will Obama take advantage of his second term to renew the U.S.'s commitments on both humanitarian and economic levels?

Louis Maréchal, Could the Mining Sector Bring Development to Africa?
For 15 years, foreign investment in the mining sector in Africa has increased significantly. At the same time, several mechanisms have been put in place to allow producing countries to make more profits from their mined resources. For example, the taxes levied on foreign companies have been increased in various states of sub-Saharan Africa. The fears of the “resource curse” are fading.

Thierry De Putter and Charlotte Delvaux, Certifying Mineral Resources in the Great Lakes Region
Giving a “certification” to minerals from the African Great Lakes is meant to prohibit an economy that concentrates wealth and arms into corrupt local powers. The critical nature of some of these minerals for developed countries, however, implies that ethics may not be given enough precedence. Despite international agreements, this has shown an overall failure in the certification process: the only way it could become effective would be if it were accompanied by restrictive measures.

Didier de Failly, Mining sector in DRC: What Transformation for what Development?
Management of the mining sector in DRC today brings the logics of industrialization and artisanal mining into opposition. Public action within the country is largely powerless, sometimes even counter-productive. In a region so plagued by conflict, only action carried out by a determined civil society focused on increasing the capacity and autonomy of the various artisanal mining actors would allow the coexistence of these two approaches in favor of development.

Clémence Pène, The New American “Electoral Science”After John Kerry's defeat at the hands of George W. Bush in 2004, the Democratic Party rebuilt itself. It has become a laboratory for experimentation, inventing a new “electoral science”, which focuses on innovative technologies and database management. This new “science” has thus far been exploited by the Obama team to win two presidential elections. It is now used by the Democrats to push for action within the government.

Delphine Richard, The Renewal of the Chinese Central Military Commission
After intense negotiations, the 18th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has appointed 11 new members to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the commanding body of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The new composition of the CMC reflects the profound changes taking place within the Chinese military: modernization of equipment, empowerment of its various components – and, to a lesser extent, the evolution of the relationship between the Party and the army.

Michel Goya, The Three-Month War: The French Intervention into Mali in Perspective
The intervention in Mali has significantly reduced the jihadists' potential operations in the Sahel. This success was made possible by the combination of clear political decision-making and efficient military force. However, this action has revealed deficiencies, including limits in capability, and has highlighted the need for sustained support of the Malian army, even with the help of a UN force, that may eventually need to take on reconstructed jihadist groups.

Pierre-Henri d'Argenson, The Euro, a Monetary Utopia
The Eurozone is not a stable or sustainable structure. Its implementation has not resulted in the initially sought-after economic convergence between its members. Instead, the advent of the single currency has only strengthened domestic imbalances. Attempts to force convergence through coercive fiscal policy are also doomed to failure. Under these conditions, the return to a mix of national currencies seems like the best way out of the crisis.