Contenu du sommaire

The United States, Central America and the Caribbean, by Jean-Pierre Clerc Seen from close up, Central America cornes nowhere near being an homogeneous entity than the Caribbean. Holding the view that thèse twenty countries dotted around the « American Mediterranean » are merged into a single régional set is tantamount to thinking like an American. The fact of the matter is that Washington has for a considérable period of time been looking upon this Central American and Caribbean régional set as its « third frontier » and has wrought upon itself the task of protecting this land and this sea. As it so happens, absolute and relative poverty render these States prone to internai disorders and political turmoil. Washington is thus faced with a pressing dilemma : should the US send Marines to every single area which is being gradually taken over by Marxist movements — or even to areas already taken over by such move-ments as, for instance, Grenada — or should she resort to the solution of a carefully thought out coexistence with revolutionary movements when its very nature, above ail its Puritanism, is instinctively hostile to such movements. After careful study of the « threats » hanging over the région, the author concludes that thèse should not be over-exaggerated and would favour the second option. How-ever, he also examines the conditions which would ensure the safe-guard of US, hence Western, security interests. He holds the view, furthermore, that the other larger States in the region have a part to play in setting up this new modus vivendi and that those European powers who maintain a stake in this area, notably France, must also play an intelligent role in this process.

Some réflexions on Grenada, by Philip Windsor By their action in Grenada, the United States, according to the writer, broke international law. It did so on grounds which are un-convincing when exposed to any real scrutiny, and create, in most European eyes at least, a kind of camouflage for the pursuit of mistaken state policies. The effects of their action are le s s likely to contribute to the stability of the Caribbean and of Central America than the fragmentation and polarisation. It showed that the North-South relationship between the two American continents does indeed become absorbed into the East-West conflict between the two superpowers. In addition, it has created an extremely dangerous precedent, for if either superpower can take into its own hands the invasion of another country, in the name of justice and in that of the future of justice, the world will be open to conflicts which could engulf even the very minimal order which it enjoys today.

East Europe in the second half of 80s : learning to live with crisis, by S. Kartveli Eastern Europe does not face a choice between internai intégration and opening up to the West. In spite of ideological objectives, economie rigidities prevent further progres s in internai intégration. Further retreat from the opening up to the West would endanger economie survival. « Assistance » from both East and West is now more limited, is less and less effective in warding off economie crisis, and will continue to create even greater dependance than in the past.