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Reconstructing the World Order
The current state of global affairs is largely unacceptable. Sky high energy prices, runaway inflation, choked supply chains, military conflicts, the climate crisis, pandemics and health emergencies,...
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Marching towards the brink of global conflict
History provides a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of war. The world must never forget that war is a great tragedy which unleashes a level of violence and carnage of unimaginable...
View ArticleKicking away the ladder to development
How did the rich countries today get rich? There is no single answer to this question. However, what is apparent is that they used certain policy tools such as protectionism, subsidisation of their...
View ArticleResponding to the Cost-of-Living Crisis
In a July 2022 report, the United Nations (UN), said that 71 million people across the globe have been pushed into poverty because of the cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is climbing as the Ukraine...
View ArticleWinter is coming!
THE EXPRESSION “Winter is Coming” was popularised first in George R. R. Martin’s book “A Song of Ice and Fire,” then by the television series “Game of Thrones” which is based on Martin’s work. It is an...
View ArticleEnd of the Elizabethan Era
The death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022 has been a sad occasion for many, none more so than her immediate family for whom she was not just Queen, but also a mother, grandmother and...
View ArticleThe world is in big trouble
World leaders have assembled in New York for the 77th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA). The Assembly opened on September 13, with the high-level general debate convened on...
View ArticleIn Liz There is No Trust
Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Truss assumed the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) on 6th September 2022. Truss has taken over the leadership of her country during a hugely turbulent economic...
View ArticleCan the Caribbean Rediscover its Place in the World?
THE GLOBAL geopolitical environment is undergoing some radical shifts which are forcing countries to reassess their strategies of global engagement. This is the case for countries of all sizes and...
View ArticleStorm Clouds are Gathering
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided one of the bleakest global economic forecasts of the past two decades, projecting global economic growth to slow from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2...
View ArticleXi Consolidates as Truss Flounders
In the past week, the contrasting fortunes of the leaders of China and the United Kingdom were on full display. Beyond the leaders, the contrasts between parliamentary democracy and one-party rule also...
View ArticleRace, Gender and Politics
In last week’s column which was written mid-week, I wrote that Liz Truss, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), was “looking vulnerable and there is a sense that she may not be able to hold on to...
View ArticleBreaking the cycle in Haiti
On 21st October 2022, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted resolution 2653, which established a sanctions regime on Haiti. These sanctions are largely targeted at criminal...
View ArticleA basket to hell
In the northern hemisphere, autumn officially started on 23rd September. Autumn is typically marked by considerably cooler temperatures. However, this autumn has been different as much of Europe, and...
View ArticleThe Naked Emperor returns and other Musings
There seems to never be a dull moment in global politics. This past week alone saw the annual summit of the Group of 20 (G20) leaders, a new and potentially dangerous turn in the ongoing war in Ukraine...
View ArticleSports, Politics and Society
Sports, politics and society can merge in powerful, complex and unexpected ways. Sports, as is the case with other forms of entertainment, are linked to social and political issues. Social and...
View ArticleShifting with the World
A few weeks ago, I asked whether the Caribbean could rediscover its place in the world. This was out of a concern that perhaps the region had been deprioritised as an international actor by some major...
View ArticleAvoiding a new lost decade
The 1980s was widely considered to be a lost decade for many parts of the developing world, including Latin America and the Caribbean. Mounting debt levels, record-high interest rates, defaults on...
View ArticleReflections on the US-Africa Summit
Leaders of 49 African countries and the United States (US) convened their first summit in almost a decade from December, 13-15, 2022. Through the summit, US President Joe Biden intends to boost trade...
View ArticleKnow Peace, Know Goodwill
It is the season of peace and goodwill as billions around the world celebrate Christmas. Jesus the Christ, the central figure of Christmas, preached a message of peace and love. Throughout the entire...
View ArticleLooking back and gazing ahead
THE YEAR 2022 has largely been a year of uncertainty as much of the world continued to grapple with the social and economic impacts of climate change; the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine;...
View ArticleEconomic headwinds gathering steam
The Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, warned on Monday 2nd January that this year is going to be tougher on the global economy than last year. This prediction comes...
View ArticleRebuilding trust in democracy
Many of us may recall playing a sport or a game with someone who hates to lose. In childhood, there were times when whilst playing cricket, if the owner of the ball or the bat happened to lose his or...
View ArticleSpotlight on World Economic Forum
At the time of writing, over 2000 political and business elites from around the world were gathering in the Swiss town of Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from January...
View ArticleIs China on the Decline?
Since the late 1970s when China started to pursue a policy of opening up to the rest of the world, it has experienced unprecedented economic growth and development. Between 1978 and 2014, the Chinese...
View ArticleCELAC and foreign policy projection
On a few occasions, I have lamented the prospects for small states to advance their interests in global affairs. Due to their smallness with respect to geographic size, population and economies, small...
View ArticleA World in Disarray
Over the past week, news networks in the United States (US) and other Western nations were dominated by coverage of a Chinese balloon making its way across North American airspace. The balloon was...
View ArticleTowards a Stronger CARICOM
The Forty-Fourth (44th) Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) takes place in Nassau, Bahamas, from the 15th – 17th February 2023. The meeting...
View ArticleSome thoughts on Ukraine and the World Bank
February 24, 2023 marks exactly one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking a conflict which has had global ramifications. Much has been written here and elsewhere about the impact of the conflict...
View ArticleUS has its way with the World Bank
Following the early resignation of current World Bank President, David Malpass, the United States (US) has nominated Ajay Banga as his replacement. This comes after a chorus of calls from around the...
View ArticleEyes on the US Economy
At the time of writing, the United States (US) stock market had fallen sharply after the head of its central bank – the Federal Reserve (Fed), announced that interest rates were likely to rise higher...
View ArticleIndustrial Policy Roars Back
Broadly speaking, industrial policy refers to efforts by a state to promote economic transformation, such as by shifting from lower to higher value activities between or within sectors. Pack and Saggi...
View ArticleBail out for Wall Street, none for Main Street
In recent weeks, two developments on different sides of the Atlantic have rocked global financial markets. In the United States (US), Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed. Over in Europe, the Swiss...
View ArticleDiplomatic Chess Moves
On Wednesday 29th March, the president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Tsai Ing-wen, embarked on a diplomatic mission to Central America, with stops in Belize and Guatemala. Her trip will also...
View ArticleThe Future of the US Dollar
Of late, the future of the United States (US) Dollar (USD) has been a topic of discussion, with some concerns that the currency might be losing its global influence. In what is being referred to as...
View ArticleBeyond the Numbers
On 11th April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its outlook for the global economy for 2023 and 2024. According to the IMF, the outlook is uncertain against the backdrop of financial...
View ArticleGlobal Financial Architecture Under the Microscope
From 10-16 April, the annual Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took place in Washington, DC. The inaugural Commonwealth Finance Ministers...
View ArticleIs India the Next Big Thing?
Based on the projections in the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) “State of World Population Report” for 2023, India’s population by the middle of this year will surpass that of China’s by 2.9...
View ArticleOf Sunsets and Empires
The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May, 2023. The Coronation Ceremony will see His Majesty crowned alongside The Queen Consort. According to Buckingham...
View ArticleOne Caribbean Nation
The 9th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) convenes in Antigua, Guatemala, on May 12, 2023. The Summit is preceded by an international cooperation...
View ArticleWhen debt ceiling and banking crisis collide
In the United States (US), there is a law that limits or places a ceiling on the total amount of money the Federal Government can borrow to meet its obligations. These include paying for federal...
View ArticleToo little, too late
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, from 19-21 May, 2023 for a three-day summit in which they tried to unite on some of the world’s biggest challenges. Leaders...
View ArticleInsuring against climate change
State Farm, one of the largest insurance providers in the United States (US), recently decided to cease offering homeowner insurance policies in California. The context for this decision is that...
View ArticleReclaiming Small State Agency
In the context of international relations, agency refers to the ability of actors, such as states, international organisations, and non-state actors, to exert influence and make independent decisions...
View ArticleSpotlight on the Caribbean
On 8th June, vice president of the United States (US), Kamala Harris, met with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Nassau, The Bahamas. On 13th June, Jamaica was the second stop of a...
View ArticleFocus on Asia
Asia is home to two of the world’s most populous countries in China and India. Asia also accounts for nearly 60 percent of the world’s population and its economic rise in the last few decades has had a...
View ArticleA turning point for global financial architecture?
From June 22 to 23, 2023, France hosted an international conference for a new global financial pact. The summit addressed the financing needs of mainly the developing world, to confront the multiple...
View ArticleCARICOM turns 50 – Looking back and forging ahead
Reaching 50 years is often seen as a significant milestone for any organisation. It represents longevity and resilience. It is an occasion to celebrate the organisation’s history, accomplishments, and...
View ArticleIs the world big enough for the US and China?
United States (US) Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, arrived in Beijing, China on July 6,2023, for a four-day visit. She became the second US Cabinet member to visit China in a month, following on the...
View ArticleWealth here – poverty over there
Two headlines in The Guardian caught my eye this week. One headline read “Top economists call for action on runaway global inequality.” The other headline read “UN unable to feed 100,000 Haitians this...
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