World affairs Archives

Research Briefing

Madagascar’s political crisis

Tuesday, 01 May, 2012

The continuing political crisis in Madagascar began when Andre Rajoelina successfully ousted the incumbent President, Marc Ravalomana, in March 2009 and installed himself instead, albeit formally as a transitional leader pending elections. The international community considers Rajoelina illegitimate. Regional mediation efforts to return Madagascar to 'constitutional rule' led to a peace deal in September 2011, but implementation remains fraught and the danger reamains that the process could collapse.
Research Briefing

The UK and Reform of the European Court of Human Rights

Monday, 30 April, 2012

The UK holds the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe until mid-May 2012. The UK has Government supported proposals to reform the European Court of Human Rights contained in the Interlaken and Izmir Declarations and has proposed in the draft Brighton Declaration that more account be taken of the principles of subsidiarity and the margin of appreciation.
Research Briefing

Sudan and South Sudan: All-out war?

Friday, 27 April, 2012

On 9 July 2011, South Sudan formally seceded from Sudan. But many issues remain unresolved and there has been an upsurge in conflict since then in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan - known as the 'Three Areas'. This note surveys the many challenges still facing the 'two Sudans'.
Research Briefing

Palestine update 2012

Thursday, 26 April, 2012

Talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians on a two-state solution have stalled, with scarcely any meetings since 2010, but the Palestinian question has been displaced from the headlines by the crisis in Syria and mounting concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme.
- Research Briefing
- Middle East
Research Briefing

European Regional Development Fund

Wednesday, 25 April, 2012

This note explains how funding from the European Regional Development Fund is allocated across regions in England and sets out current progress on spending the funds. It also provides information on the 2014-2020 funding round.
Research Briefing

UK-Brazil trade statistics

Tuesday, 24 April, 2012

This short note looks at the available UK/Brazil trade statistics
Research Briefing

The Chagos Islanders

Friday, 20 April, 2012

This note provides brief background about the situation of the Chagos Islanders, paying particular attention to the legal dispute over whether they have the right of return and the recent establishment of a Marine Protection Area around the British Indian Ocean Territory (with the exception of Diego Garcia). The note is not comprehensive in its coverage and will not be automatically updated.
Research Briefing

The IMF’s resources

Thursday, 19 April, 2012

The IMF’s resources come from quotas contributed by each of its 187 Member States (around £234bn in total) and from standing credit arrangements with certain industrialised and emerging economies (currently around £215bn).
Research Briefing

EU bibliographies: European External Action Service

Friday, 13 April, 2012

This Note brings together documents relevant to the proposed legislation establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service and its scrutiny in the UK and the EU. It is not an attempt to define policy in this area. For information on the institutional issues or policy developments, contact Vaughne Miller on extn 4327 or Claire Taylor on extn 3852. See also SN/IA/5558 The European External Action Service
Research Briefing

National Parliaments and EU law-making: how is the ‘yellow card’ system working?

Thursday, 12 April, 2012

This Note considers the background to the ‘yellow card’ subsidiarity early warning mechanism and its application in practice since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.
Research Briefing

Chad: A political and security digest

Thursday, 12 April, 2012

This note provides a quick guide to political and security issues currently affecting Chad -a country that at the moment may seem superficially stable, but one for which the norm over the past half century has been a condition of permanent emergency
Research Briefing

The Russian crisis and Putin’s third term

Wednesday, 04 April, 2012

Recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Russia led to the return of Vladimir Putin as President of Russian Federation from May 2012. There has been a crisis in legitimacy of Putinism and moves to restore faith in the system, but the looming economic problems threaten the system and carrying through genuine reform will be difficult.
Research Briefing

In brief: Burma – the beginning of a new era?

Wednesday, 04 April, 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy achieved a stunning victory in recent by-elections, leading some to argue that Burma's democratic transition is no sham after all. This note briefly surveys the debate about what has been achieved so far, what remains to be done and whether the time has come to scrap Western sanctions.
Research Briefing

The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: views in other EU Member States

Tuesday, 03 April, 2012

This Note looks briefly at views on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union in the other EU Member States, the US, China and Russia.
Research Briefing

In brief: provisions of the eurozone fiscal compact and economic issues

Friday, 30 March, 2012

This note describes the 'fiscal compact' agreed by 25 EU Member States in March 2012 and associated economic issues.

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