From Foreign Policy, six regions and territories are craving international recognition. Each has its own government—even its own flag—but lacks independent status at the United Nations. Who will be next to win this coveted prize? A review of International Law and its Others. From Monthly Review, a look at how the South has already repaid it external debt to the North, but the North denies its debt to the South. A review of The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and the Truth about Global Corruption by John Perkins. A review of Imperialism and Postcolonialism by Barbara Bush. An interview with Noam Chomsky on religion and politics.
From The Moscow Times, Bringing the Past to Life: Enthusiasts in Kaliningrad re-enact the Battle of Friedland, where Napoleon defeated the Russians. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves discusses the dispute over the Soviet memorial in Tallinn, why the Nazis were not necessarily worse than the Soviets, and the ethnic Russians plotting against the Estonian state. An excerpt from Sketches from a Secret War: A Polish Artist’s Mission to Liberate Soviet Ukraine by Timothy Snyder. The richer they come: Can Russia's oligarchs keep their billions - and their freedom? A new cult for a new leader? In Turkmenistan, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's persona faces Turkmens' murky isolation. Kazakhstan's feuding first family: When the president of an oil-rich former Soviet republic where the ruling family runs everything falls out with his son-in-law it can have huge repercussions.
A review of The Boys from Dolores: Fidel Castro's Classmates From Revolution to Exile by Patrick Symmes. Lessons of Porto Alegre: The Brazilian experience shows us that local participation can be more than just consultation. Argentina's Power Couple: Cristina Kirchner's path from first lady to president is almost assured. But she's no Hillary (and more). There Goes the Neighborhood: American clout with its neighbors has hit a new low, warns Mexico's ex-foreign minister Jorge Castaneda.
The Lonely Business of Defending America: America can be hard to love these days. And persuading non-Americans even to like it can seem an impossible task. Executive Nonsense: Bush's assertion of privilege is wildly misplaced—and could lead to another Watergate. Maybe we've totally misjudged Mr. Bush. Perhaps he isn't a Kantian after all, but a Marxist, as in Groucho, who famously said, "These are my principles; if you don't like them, I have others".
