Geopolitik

¿The Two Michaels is a timely and highly-readable book ¿ a gripping human drama that also tells a bigger story about the fast-changing world of international diplomacy, superpower rivalry, and the struggle to secure the Internet.¿¿ MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, former US Secretary of StateLanding in Vancouver on a flight from Hong Kong on December 2018, Chinese telecom executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities with an American extradition warrant. The US Department of Justice accused Meng of fraud and bypassing sanctions against Iran. Nine days later, in an act of retaliation, China arrested two Canadians¿Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur, and Michael Kovrig, a peace advocate¿charging them with spying.Imprisoned and interrogated, the Two Michaels became hostages in a tense showdown between China and the United States over not only the Meng extradition but whether East or West will control the future of the internet.In this timely and essential book, journalist Mike Blanchfield and international affairs expert Fen Hampson combine groundbreaking original reporting and keen analysis to tell this gripping and ongoing story of cyber espionage, life-and-death diplomacy, and global superpowers in conflict.¿The compelling, tragic story of the Two Michaels exposes the dark side of the new China and why the world must not forget them. This book describes in powerful detail the events that led to their arrest and imprisonment. It also puts the struggle to free them in the wider geopolitical context of the new Cold War between China and the West.¿¿ WILLIAM BROWDER, founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, political activist, and author of The New York Times bestseller Red Notice¿The Two Michaels reads like a gripping spy novel, but it¿s a true story. This is a chilling and convincing analysis of how two innocent Canadians became pawns of a bullying state that refuses to follow the rules essential for smaller countries like Canada.¿¿JOHN ENGLISH, OC FRSC, biographer of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Lester B. Pearson, and former Liberal member of parliament¿The Two Michaels is a fast-paced and compelling narrative of Chinäs imprisonment of two Canadian visitors in retaliation for Canadäs earlier arrest of a Chinese executive facing extradition on US criminal charges. Through this dramatic story, the authors illuminate how China uses its economic strength, cyber-attack capabilities, and security assets to bully other nations. It¿s a cautionary tale about geopolitical conflict.¿¿MICHAEL CHERTOFF, former US Homeland Security Secretary

A continuación la traducción de la reseña que acompañó la publicación de la versión original en inglés de este intrigante y sorprendente libro, que fuera publicado en octubre de 2018: Si uno siguiera los eventos en Estados Unidos a través de alguno de los canales de las principales cadenas de noticias, inevitablemente concluiría que todos están en contra del Presidente Trump y que el mundo entero detesta todo lo que él representa.Si éste fuese el caso, entonces, ¿cómo es que él se las ingenió para ser electo y con qué propósito?¿Cuál sería su reacción ante la insinuación de que fue el mismo Dios quien ungió a Donald Trump como presidente de Estados Unidos aún antes de que él anunciara su intención de postular su candidatura.Si hubiera algo de verdad en la narrativa que de manera incansable presentan los canales de "Fake News" (noticias falsas), entonces, los americanos habrían elegido como su presidente a una persona que entre otras cosas es un blanco supremacista, un enfermo misógino y un lunático patán.¿Es así?¿Quién es Estados Unidos en el contexto de la comunidad internacional?¿Qué países se han posicionado del lado correcto de la historia y cuáles lo han hecho del equivocado, y por qué? ¿Quedó la Guerra Fría en el pasado, o aún continúa?¿Se justifica la construcción de un muro en la frontera que divide a Estados Unidos de México?¿Existe una manera realista de financiar su construcción y que sea México quien la pague?¿Debería el Presidente Trump ordenar la invasión militar de Venezuela?¿Quién inició la "Guerra Comercial" y quién va a resultar el ganador de la misma?El Presidente Trump ha prometido que hará que América Sea Estupenda de Nuevo; ¿"de nuevo" como cuándo?Éstas y muchas otras preguntas son abordadas y factual y elocuentemente respondidas a lo largo de este muy especial libro.Leerlo es obligatorio si usted es un ciudadano americano próximo a emitir su voto en las elecciones de mitad de período que se llevarán a cabo el próximo 6 de noviembre de 2018, dado que contiene un mensaje de parte de Dios que usted necesita recibir y entender antes de hacerlo.

2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO). The President of the USA, Donald Trump is not an ardent support of NATO, or indeed many other things and has called for America First," that other NATO member states weren't sharing the burden, and so he might withdraw from it, and that there would be a reduction of American armed forces in Africa. This report considers NATO and the USA in Africa since the end of the Cold War and looks to the future. The role of others, China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, the United Nations and the European Union will also be detailed to consider if they could or would fill a void if NATO and the USA withdrew or if their increasing interest would prompt Trump to be more active in NATO and in Africa.

An urgent and deeply necessary work, Dear Zealots offers three powerful essays that speak directly to our present age, on the rise of zealotry in Israel and around the world. "Concise, evocative . . . Dear Zealots is not just a brilliant book of thoughts and ideas-it is a depiction of one man's struggle, who for decades has insisted on keeping a sharp, strident and lucid perspective in the face of chaos and at times of madness." - David Grossman, winner of the Man Booker International Prize From the incomparable Amos Oz comes a series of three essays: on the universal nature of fanaticism and its possible cures, on the Jewish roots of humanism and the need for a secular pride in Israel, and on the geopolitical standing of Israel in the wider Middle East and internationally.Dear Zealots is classic Amos Oz-fluid, rich, masterly, and perfectly timed for a world in which polarization and extremism are rising everywhere. The essays were written, Oz states, "first and foremost" for his grandchildren: they are a patient, learned telling of history, religion, and politics, to be thumbed through and studied, clung to even, as we march toward an uncertain future.

In a sweeping work of reportage set over the course of 2016, New York Times bestselling author Ben Fountain recounts a surreal year of politics and an exploration of the third American existential crisis Twice before in its history, the United States has been faced with a crisis so severe it was forced to reinvent itself in order to survive: first, the struggle over slavery, culminating in the Civil War, and the second, the Great Depression, which led to President Roosevelts New Deal and the establishment of America as a social-democratic state. In a sequence of essays that excavate the past while laying bare the political upheaval of 2016, Ben Fountain argues that the United States may be facing a third existential crisis, one that will require a burning of the old order as America attempts to remake itself.Beautiful Country Burn Again narrates a shocking year in American politics, moving from the early days of the Iowa Caucus to the crystalizing moments of the Democratic and Republican national conventions, and culminating in the aftershocks of the weeks following election night. Along the way, Fountain probes deeply into history, illuminating the forces and watershed moments of the past that mirror and precipitated the present, from the hollowed-out notion of the American Dream, to Richard Nixons southern strategy, to our weaponized new conception of American exceptionalism, to the cult of celebrity that gave rise to Donald Trump.In an urgent and deeply incisive voice, Ben Fountain has fused history and the present day to paint a startling portrait of the state of our nation. Beautiful Country Burn Againis a searing indictment of how we came to this point, and where we may be headed.

A dazzling and insightful look at the Australian federal election 2019.What went wrong for Labor and how did Scott Morrison achieve his remarkable victory? In this dazzling report from the campaign trail, Erik Jensen homes in on the insecurities that drive Bill Shorten and the certainties that helped Scott Morrison win. He considers how each man reflects, challenges and comforts the national character.Who are Morrison's "quiet Australians"? What did Shorten Labor fail to see? And will fear always trump hope in politics? The Prosperity Gospel sheds new light on the politics of a divided nation."Arthur Sinodinos says the election is a crapshoot. He's in a car park in Nowra, waiting for Morrison. 'The momentum has been with us at different times, especially in Queensland,' he says. 'Central Queensland, even the outer suburbs of Brisbane. It's a narrow pathway to victory, with the odds going the other way. But it ain't over until it's over.' Despite everything, Arthur Sinodinos has an honest face. He does not look confident." -Erik Jensen, The Prosperity GospelThis issue also contains correspondence discussing Quarterly Essay 73, Australia Fair, from Susan Carland, James Walter, Carol Johnson, Travers McLeod, Isabelle Reinecke, and Rebecca Huntley

The end of the Cold War marks the geopolitical peak of America's global primacy. The centerpiece of U.S. Foreign Policy in the pre-pandemic world order was the assumption that promoting human rights and democracy will secure peace. However, the Coronavirus Pandemic challenged the U.S.-dominated globalized order. The international system in the post-pandemic age embodies a paradox of the American primacy and the Chinese struggle for global domination. Pandemics Among Nations: U.S. Foreign Policy and the New Grand Chessboard addresses the geopolitical puzzle of the post-pandemic world order and seeks to explain how COVID 19 has remastered Brzezinski's theory of the Grand Chessboard. In this book, Ivanov offers a two-level approach, emphasizing the consequences of the Pandemic and their impact on U.S. Foreign Policy. He also argues that if the United States wants to maintain its leadership in the post-pandemic world order, Washington should develop a new concept of smart power to deter the Chinese Art of War. The foremost goal of Pandemics Among Nations is to analyze how America could overcome the geopolitical effects of the Pandemic. The author examines three possible scenarios for the future role of the United States on the post-pandemic Chessboard. The analysis rests on the testing of a series of research hypotheses across a structured comparison of all elements of the remastered Grand Chessboard, not just on isolated case studies such as China's rise, Russian New Imperialism or European ambitions for a mutual defense.

A Call for National and Global Re-Evaluation For decision-makers, concerned citizens, and those seeking a deeper understanding of the global landscape, "Switzerland: Checkmate?" offers a thought-provoking and timely analysis. Authored by the DAOLY collective, a group of diverse artists and activists, this book goes beyond the Swiss context to explore a critical question with far-reaching implications: Has the current global paradigm rendered even the most neutral nations vulnerable? Key Features:Thematic Approach. Structured around seven key questions, the book delves into Switzerland's relationship with organisations like NATO and the European Union, while exposing the consequences of the "Grand Reset" narrative.Beyond National Borders. While Switzerland serves as a compelling case study, the book argues that its "checkmate" scenario reflects a broader global trend of national decline within the current paradigm.Alternative Perspectives. The book acknowledges the belief in a new world order and the rise of the BRICS bloc as potential alternatives. However, it challenges the notion that aligning with any singular power structure guarantees success.Capillary Vassalization. "Switzerland: Checkmate?" explores a crucial yet often overlooked concept: the gradual erosion of national sovereignty through subtle economic and political pressures.This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complex global chessboard and the potential checkmate scenarios faced by nations. It encourages critical reflection on the forces shaping the world order and the future of national sovereignty.Additionally, the book's diverse authorship by the DAOLY collective brings a unique blend of artistic and activist perspectives to the table, offering a fresh lens for analyzing these complex issues.

Why Does America Go to War?

Wide-ranging changes have been made to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) since 2006, when the binational agreement was signed in perpetuity. NORAD traces the joint command's recent history - one marked by technological and structural innovations, but also by unprecedented threats and challenges.

"Informative." - Foreign Affairs Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled Turkey for nearly two decades. Here, Soner Cagaptay, a leading authority on the country, offers insights on the next phase of Erdogan's rule. His dwindling support base at home, coupled with rising opposition, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Turkey's weak economy, would appear to threaten his grip on power.How will he react?In this astute analysis, Cagaptay casts Erdogan as an inventor of nativist populist politics in the twenty-first century. The Turkish president knows how to polarize the electorate to boost his base, and how to wield oppressive tactics when polarization alone cannot win elections. Cagaptay contends that Erdogan will cling to power-with severe costs for Turkey's citizens, institutions, and allies. The associated dynamics, which carry implications far beyond Turkey's borders-and what they portend for the United States-make A Sultan in Autumn a must-read for all those interested in Turkey and the geopolitics of the next decade.

In Three Dangerous Men, defense expert Seth Jones argues that the US is woefully unprepared for the future of global competition. While America has focused on building fighter jets, missiles, and conventional warfighting capabilities, its three principal rivals-Russia, Iran, and China-have increasingly adopted irregular warfare: cyber attacks, the use of proxy forces, propaganda, espionage, and disinformation to undermine American power.Jones profiles three pioneers of irregular warfare in Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran who adapted American techniques and made huge gains without waging traditional warfare: Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov; the deceased Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani; and vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia. Each has spent his career studying American power and devised techniques to avoid a conventional or nuclear war with the US. Gerasimov helped oversee a resurgence of Russian irregular warfare, which included attempts to undermine the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections and the SolarWinds cyber attack. Soleimani was so effective in expanding Iranian power in the Middle East that Washington targeted him for assassination. Zhang Youxia presents the most alarming challenge because China has more power and potential at its disposal.Drawing on interviews with dozens of US military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials, as well as hundreds of documents translated from Russian, Farsi, and Mandarin, Jones shows how America's rivals have bloodied its reputation and seized territory worldwide. Instead of standing up to autocratic regimes, Jones demonstrates that the United States has largely abandoned the kind of information, special operations, intelligence, and economic and diplomatic action that helped win the Cold War.In a powerful conclusion, Jones details the key steps the United States must take to alter how it thinks about-and engages in-competition before it is too late.