Transnational news - 23 July 2009

The next TNI news goes out in September

Editor's Picks

	What Obama can do in Honduras Atilio Borón Obama could use the long experience the US has gained during the blockade of Cuba, and apply similar measures to Honduras which would cause the immediate collapse of the coup. See also: Honduras: Term limits apply when governments benefit people, by Saul Landau and Nelson P. Valdes > More analysis on Honduras

The challenges and possible policy alternatives for the Southern African Development Community in the face of ‘the global crisis’
Dot Keet
The global crisis confronting the world consists of a multiplicity of crises. What is needed is the revival of earlier state-led development approaches, but reshaped in a more democratic, inclusive and accountable way.
See also: Regional Integration: a new opportunity to face the crises

	Robert McNamara's Second Vietnam Walden Bello The role he played in the Vietnam war was not the only sin of the recently deceased Robert McNamara. As a president of the World Bank, he was responsible for supporting the Philippine dictatorship and ruining the country through structural adjustment measures.

	Democracy-promotion: doctrine vs dialogue Mariano Aguirre George W Bush made democracy-support a central theme of his presidency. Barack Obama, by contrast, has downplayed it. Yet the latter's approach may achieve more effective results.

	US Bases and Empire Catherine Lutz The vast network of US bases and troops worldwide – officially 190,000 troops in 46 countries – has a long history that predates Bush. However it is facing a movement growing in strength that is forcing the US administration to change tactics.

New video

	Writing on Water Video documentary of the Pan Asian Colloquium on Rights To Water Inspiring video on the experience of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board which has broken down barriers between communities and engineers, and is pioneering a model of effective, democratic, accountable public water services.

Global perspectives

Potentially powerful: the European Defence Agency at five years
Frank Slijper
While it is too early to effectively evaluate the EDA, its lack of accountability in an increasingly militarised European Union is deeply problematic.

Iran’s tide of history: counter-revolution and after
Fred Halliday
Iran's regime has made huge efforts to crush the country’s demonstrating citizens. But their heroic and lucid protests have opened a path to the future via a reconnection with Iran’s true revolutionary past.

No Bernie Madoff for the most vulnerable to blame
Saul Landau
The people who lost millions or hundreds of thousands speculating with Madoff have generated media attention, while the truly poor remain marginal in all arenas of consciousness.

UPA’s early drift
Praful Bidwai
The government has not made a break with conservative and neo-liberal policies despite the election’s message and its own promises.

Confessions of Cassandra
Boris Kagarlitsky
The warnings from the analysts from the Institute on Globalisation and Social Movements on pending crisis were regularly derided, because under the prevailing ideology, acknowledging and analysing system antagonisms is prohibited.

En español

Selección del editor

Lo que Obama puede hacer en Honduras
Atilio Borón
Aprovechando la larga experiencia adquirida durante casi medio siglo de criminal bloqueo a Cuba, Washington podría tomar algunas medidas parecidas, que provocarían el inmediato derrumbe de los gorilas hondureños.
Véase también: Honduras: Los límites de periodo se aplican cuando los gobiernos benefician al pueblo, por Saul Landau y Nelson P. Valdés
Más análisis y noticias

	Keynes: ¿un hombre actual? Walden Bello Una de las consecuencias más significativas del colapso de la economía neoliberal, con su culto al "mercado autorregulador", ha sido el resurgimiento del gran economista inglés John Maynard Keynes.

	Democracia: ¿diálogo o promoción? Mariano Aguirre Con el gobierno de Obama, Washington afirma por primera vez que no quiere interferir en los asuntos internos de otros países, a la vez que traza una línea crítica frente a los gobiernos represivos.

	«Estamos en la edad dorada de la vigilancia» Entrevista con Ben Hayes. Por Eva Peruga La guerra contra el terror ha tenido grandes consecuencias. Se han cambiado las leyes y estas han servido más para la vigilancia de los ciudadanos que para luchar contra el terrorismo.

Nueva publicación

	Asociaciones público-públicas (PUP) para el suministro de agua David Hall et al Hay ya 130 asociaciones público-públicas entre los proveedores públicos de agua en más de 70 países, que proporcionan modelos eficientes y eficaces para el suministro de agua. Este informe ofrece unas recomendaciones para el futuro desarrollo de las PUP.