As the first decade of the twenty first century comes to a close, some of the old certainties of international politics seem a little strained.
Many observers believe that the initial optimism surrounding the election of President Obama and its supposedly revitalizing effect on the European-American partnership was misplaced. Russia has moved closer to NATO. Global economic turmoil has tested the solidarity of the European Union, just as it tries to speak with one voice, opening embassies throughout the world. The United States struggles with its mountain of debt while China continues its rise skyward.
Therefore in these changing times, we would like to ask you, the members of the Atlantic Community, what specific issues you would like to focus on in the year ahead. Please choose three from the list below in the poll. Should you have other suggestions not covered in the poll, please discuss them in the comments section below. Your choices will be prioritized while we will continue to focus on developing current issues.
NATO and Russia
In November, we finally saw a degree of convergence between NATO and Moscow over the future of European security in general. Positive topics included further cooperation in Afghanistan, missile defense as well as arms control. How viable is this new strategic partnership between old enemies and how can the successes of the NATO-Russia summit be realistically implemented in the coming months?
Iran's Nuclear Program
The ongoing saga of Tehran's efforts to be counted among the world's nuclear powers is still cause for concern in the West and Middle East. What can the transatlantic partners do to stop Iran's nuclear program, or is it too late? Should serious alternatives be looked at, such as focusing on other issues where cooperation is possible, rather than just the nuclear issue, and if so, how?
The Future of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has been described in the past as the "graveyard of empires". The British, the Soviets and now the Americans have all been tested to the limit in the country. For the US, what is the most responsible exit strategy? How can the transition to self governance be managed without completely destabilizing Afghanistan?
The Debt Threat
First Greece, then Ireland and now the markets have set their sights on Portugal and Spain. These are testing times for the European common currency with commentators predicting either its break-up or a move toward closer top down political and fiscal union. Moreover, the US is also struggling with huge amounts of debt. What does the ongoing sovereign debt crisis mean for the future of the transatlantic partners as world economic leaders and engines of growth?
China: Rivalry to Partnership
Taking the recent example of the Nobel Peace Prize boycott in Norway, Beijing is becoming more assertive, particularly with other East Asian nations, in challenging Western norms and interests on the international stage. Despite this, there are issues such as North Korea, in which China can share responsibility with the West. What prospects are there for encouraging China to become a responsible member of the international community, rather than an aggressive, unstable superpower?
Climate Change
Another year, another climate conference which has ended without concrete progress in reducing emissions. Following failure at Copenhagen and now, Cancun, what are the best ways in which consensus between the developed and developing world can be reached? Moreover, from a realistic perspective, how can the deeply indebted Western economies convince an increasingly skeptic public to place climate change toward the top of the political agenda?
Cyber Security
The protection of sensitive electronically stored information from outside infiltration and attack has been identified as a key priority by NATO in its new Strategic Concept. Considering the impact which the Wikileaks revelations have had on international diplomacy it is clear that the internet is becoming an extremely powerful force in international relations. Yet, is cyber security as great an issue as conventional terrorism, or has it been exaggerated?
The New Terrorist Hotspots
It has long been known that the tribal areas of Pakistan which border Afghanistan are breeding grounds for al-Qaeda. Do you believe that in the next year, this could threaten the viability of Pakistan itself, edging it toward failed state status? Furthermore, ungoverned areas of northern Yemen have also made headlines as the source of recent cargo plane bombs. Could lawless Yemen become the next Afghanistan and what should be done about it?
Are there other key issues which you would like to see covered? Please let us know in the comment section below what you think Europe and North America should focus their cooperative efforts on in 2011.
Atlantic-community.org will publish new articles starting January 13, 2011.
Written on behalf of the editorial team by Eoin Michael Heaney. Eoin is a recent graduate of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and University College Dublin.
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December 30, 2010
Felix F. Seidler, Atlantische Initiative, Platinum Contributor (329)