Section: The Conversation (USA)
The next frontier in reproductive tourism? Genetic modification
Human oocyte in vitro fertilization. Ziess Microscopy/Flickr, CC BY-SAThe birth of the first baby born using a technique called mitochondrial replacement, which uses DNA from three people to “correct” an inherited genetic mutation, was announced on Sept. 27. Mitochondrial replacement or donation allows women who carry mitochondrial diseases to...
Trump’s US could give up the fight to stop nuclear arms from spreading
With a few notable exceptions, Democratic and Republican presidents alike have generally tried to restrain if not reverse nuclear proliferation since nuclear weapons came into existence. But in the era of Donald Trump, that history may count for nothing. President-elect Trump apparently has little time for his country’s fragile nuclear...
What will Trump’s foreign policy look like?
Trying to predict Donald Trump’s foreign policy is a complex exercise, which inevitably produces vertigo in those bold enough to undertake it. In the past year, the president-elect has offered so many vague, simplistic and inconsistent foreign policy declarations that it’s basically impossible to pin them down to some essential common...
Trump’s victory spells trouble but also exciting, unimagined opportunities
A Donald Trump presidency is as unpredictable as it was unexpected. While some have welcomed the result, for many Americans, as for America’s friends and allies, there is a deep sense of unease about the future. Yet, strange as it may sound, the outcome of this election may depend more on what we make of it than on what Trump and his...
European leaders would see a Donald Trump victory as total calamity
This piece is part of The Conversation Global’s ‘The View From …’ series, explaining how governments and citizens in key countries worldwide view the US election. Today, Richard Maher explains why Europe is so afraid of Donald Trump, and how it all comes down to Russia, NATO and trade. As the US presidential election enters its final...
The election of Hillary Clinton promises a more dangerous world
Hillary Clinton has proven to be hawkish on foreign policy. Reuters/Carlos BarriaIn a long and often exasperating presidential campaign, Americans and the world have been subjected to Donald Trump’s odious and often incoherent rhetoric, and from both sides much vitriol and endless accusations of deceit, crookedness and sexual misconduct. In...
How NatWest bank became a player in the new propaganda war between Russia and the West
The recent decision of the National Westminster Bank to freeze the UK accounts of Russian international broadcaster RT sparked a furious row, with talk of Kremlin disinformation pitted against accusations of British suppression of free speech. It’s the latest blow in a propaganda war that has raged between Russia and the West since before...
Thirty years on as ‘new Cold War’ looms, US and Russia should remember the Rekyjavik summit
White House Photo OfficeIn what looks very like a tit-for-tat downgrading of bilateral relations, Russia and America have traded diplomatic insults in recent weeks over nuclear weapons, geopolitics and economics, prompting speculation about “a new Cold War”. Moscow acted first, announcing on October 3 that it had suspended its agreement with...
BRICS struggles to fashion coherent action due to inconsistent agendas
Challenging times for some BRICS countries ReutersA Brazilian leader’s faux pas spoke volumes about the state of the BRICS alliance, ahead of the 8th BRICS summit in India. The Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa formation is slowly being written off as a bloc that can administer coherent political action. There were always questions...
Africa remains a target as Global South ‘land rush’ moves to production
In 2007, a spike in commodity prices triggered a sudden increase in demand for agricultural land across the world. It was believed that commercial investors in the Global North speculated on a rise in land and commodity prices. And governments aimed to ensure food security without dependence on the volatile world commodity market by buying up...
