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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Dec-2011
18-Dec-11 World View -- Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia

Web Log - December, 2011

18-Dec-11 World View -- Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia

Congress kicks the can down the road to Groundhog Day

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Turkey warns France of 'grave consequences' of surprise genocide bill
Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia
Arab League gives Syria another Wednesday deadline
India and Russia strengthen strategic and economic ties
Congress kicks the can down the road to Groundhog Day

Turkey warns France of 'grave consequences' of surprise genocide bill

Sarkozy meets Erdogan earlier this year in Ankara (Reuters)

Sarkozy meets Erdogan earlier this year in Ankara (Reuters)

Turkey has been caught by surprise by a bill in the French parliament that will make it a crime to deny that Turkey was guilty of genocide of Armenians in 1915 during World War I. The Turks don't deny the deaths of many Armenians, but insist they occurred during a bloody war, and deny any genocide. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, warning him against the “grave consequences” of the possible passage of the bill, including the withdrawal of Turkey's ambassador from Paris. The bill makes denying the 1915 events as a genocide punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros. Zaman (Instabul)

Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia

The recent threat by Standard & Poors to strip France of its AAA has triggered a war of words between France and Britain. Christian Noyer, governor of the Bank of France, said that credit-rating companies have become "incomprehensible and irrational," and said that Britain should be dowgraded before France:

"A downgrade doesn’t strike me as justified based on economic fundamentals. Or if it is, they should start by downgrading the U.K., which has a bigger deficit, as much debt, more inflation, weaker growth and where bank lending is collapsing."

But Nick Clegg, head of the Liberal Democratic party that is David Cameron's governing partner, responded by warning of xenophobia and polarization:

"There are different visions and traditions of what European integration looks like. The great genius of European integration economically is that it has always held two different traditions in balance – the Anglo-Saxon liberal tradition and the French dirigiste tradition. The goal has been to ensure that neither the French or British tradition triumphed over the other. I don't think it is in their interest to see the British liberal tradition marginalised. It will not happen.
The danger at the moment is because society is under economic stress, xenophobia, chauvinism and polarization increase. You can see it in British politics. This is the perfect environment if you are [Ukip leader] Nigel Farage or [SNP leader] Alex Salmond. The people who are trying to exploit the politics of grievance and blame, they believe they have got the wind in their sails. I represent a centre-ground liberalism that is saying we have got to stick to being reasoned and open. The liberal open society is always under pressure when there is fear and anxiety in society."

Bloomberg and Guardian

Arab League gives Syria another Wednesday deadline

For several months, the Arab League has given Syria's president Bashar al-Assad one deadline after another to end the massacre of unarmed protesters, but al-Assad not only ignored all deadlines, but actually escalated the violence each time. Now the Arab League appears ready to give its final ultimatum: If al-Assad doesn't allow inspectors into Syria by Wednesday, then they'll (gasp!) refer the case to the U.N. Security Council. Previous attempts to get the Security Council to condemn violence in Syria have been blocked by Russia and China, on the grounds that they agreed to a tiny action in Libya that the West turned into a major military action. Gulf News

India and Russia strengthen strategic and economic ties

Just as the economic and strategic ties between China and Pakistan are growing, they are also growing between Russia and India. India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on Sunday, and said,

"The depth and range of our relationship with Russia is growing. Our strong strategic partnership in nuclear energy, defence and space will, in future, be buttressed by a stronger economic relationship."

With Russia formally joining the World Trade Organisation while Manmohan Singh was in Moscow, the two sides have decided that an Indian study group will explore the possibility of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) with a three nation grouping comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. India Times

Congress kicks the can down the road to Groundhog Day

A few months ago I proposed the "Kick the Can Theory," which says that government is so paralyzed that every important decision will be postponed as long as possible, and that the paralysis will end only when a major crisis occurs that puts the survival of the nation in danger. So far, every major decision in Washington or Europe has reaffirmed and supported the Kick the Can Theory. That was never more true as on Saturday, when Congress passed a compromise payroll tax cut bill that will expire in two months. That means that somewhere around Groundhog Day, the whole thing will be repeated again, and we'll have to listen to same nattering of politicians saying the same old things, over and over and over again. Bloomberg

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 18-Dec-11 World View -- Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (18-Dec-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Dec-2011 18-Dec-11 World View -- Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia

Turkey warns France of 'grave consequences' of surprise genocide bill

Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia

Arab League gives Syria another Wednesday deadline

India and Russia strengthen strategic and economic ties

Congress kicks the can down the road to Groundhog Day

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Dec-2011
18-Dec-11 World View -- Europe's financial crisis brings accusations of xenophobia