Globalaffairs

Enrico Labriola

The struggle between the two visions for the future of Iran is in the toughest days. The 12th June elections mobilized the main parties and the public debate sustaining the two main opponents, with different programs and different views about the future of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is driving a campaign based on populist slogans (the same that have given him the victory) and hoping for a low turnout that could mean that ’silent voters’ that are bored and unsatisfied with the political class have not cast their vote. The aim of the opponent’s supporters is to build a grassroots movement that could bring the reformist former Prime Minister of Iran Mir-Hossein Mousavi to the Presidential victory. Speaking with some sources involved in the campaign, I have understood some key facts about this election.

Firstly, Iran is in a peculiar situation, and, differently from the others, this time all eyes are looking at the moves of citizens of Iran. And citizens know that this election could be decisive for the future of the Republic. On the other hand, the situation is very unclear and enthusiasm and fear are mixed in a complicate emotional moment. Mohammad speaks frankly about the new way of campaigning of the reformists: building a flat movement and campaigning on Internet and with widespread events and mobilization. It reminds me in a way the new wave calling for change driven by Barack Obama. Of course, Mousavi and Obama couldn’t be more different, but the exciting movement has many things in common. New key-words, a big involvement of common people, a charismatic figure and the distrust in traditional politics, mixed with a urgent need of change perceived my many.

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15/04/09
Luis Guillermo Colín Villavicencio

On 25th and 26th March the USA Secretary of State Hilary Clinton visited Mexico. It was an official visit, the first one since she was appointed by President Barack Obama and it is in the context of a serial of visits being done since February to European and Asian countries.

Overall, the assessment of such visit is positive due to four aspects, however, there is a negative aspect related to the potential appointment of the North American diplomat Carlos Pascual as representative of such country in Mexico.

First of all, the meeting of Clinton with the President Calderon is framed in a high diplomatic level dialogue that has been initiated in February when President Calderon visited the still elected President Barack Obama. The participation of Foreign Secretary Espinosa in the meeting could have established a new personal relation between both. This will allow going forward in the definition and enforcement of the Binational Agenda Mexico-USA.

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By Andrea Bonzanni and Jacobo Mato
Dubai, UAE

15/05/09

By Senia Bachir Abderahman

Algeria, Refugee camp

15/04/08