The Finnish Institute of International Affairs: Blog

Thomas Spencer: Hedegaard Warms Up With New Climate Strategy

Thomas Spencer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:33:00 +0200

New EU Commissioner for Climate Connie Hedegaard has pulled together a new communication on the EU climate policy in very quick time. In as Byzantine a democracy as the EU, this is testament to her engagement and political calibre. So how does the new strategy measure up?

Jyrki Kallio: What is China up to in the Arctic?

Jyrki Kallio — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:13:00 +0200

The new SIPRI report, China Prepares for an Ice-Free Arctic, by Linda Jakobson, is timely and informative, but some of the arguments fail to hit the icicle right on the head.

Timo Behr: EU-Morocco Summit: How Special a Friendship?

Timo Behr — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:07:00 +0200

The EU-Morocco Summit this weekend showed both the great potential as well as the current shortcomings of the advanced status as a tool for the European Neighborhood Policy.

Alexandru Luta: Worrisome Prospects for Japanese Climate Policy

Alexandru Luta — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:25:00 +0200

As anybody who has ever made a New Years resolution would know, making a big announcement is one thing, while operationalizing it is quite another.

Igor Torbakov: Vancouver as the mirror of Russian degradation

Igor Torbakov — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:06:00 +0200

Anyone who grew up and did his studies in the communist Soviet Union will remember Lenins article Leo Tolstoy as the Mirror of the Russian Revolution. To paraphrase the title of the proletarian leaders 1908 piece, Vancouver Olympics proved to be the mirror of the post-Soviet Russias degradation.

Arkady Moshes: Belarus: Avenue of Independence

Arkady Moshes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0200

For a few years already the main street of Minsk has been called the Avenue of Independence. Since this is the major artery linking the city with its international airport and, most importantly, the Moscow highway, renaming of the street was an unmistakable signal to the external world about Belaruss priority to be viewed as a truly independent country, definitely friendly towards Russia, but no less definitely separate from it.

Toby Archer: How moderation got taken off the map

Toby Archer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:11:00 +0200

Why there is so little room for centrist Democrats or Republicans in a gerrymandered United States.

Sinikukka Saari: What explains Russia's hostility towards the EU's Eastern Partnership?

Sinikukka Saari — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:04:00 +0200

Russia has expressed mistrust of the Eastern Partnership from the outset. No matter how patiently the EU explains that the EaP is not directed against Russia, it remains unlikely that Russia will be convinced.

Mari Luomi: The Opec state that clears its own, greener path

Mari Luomi — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:31:00 +0200

The United Arab Emirates, led by its wealthiest emirate Abu Dhabi, is finally taking the steps necessary to align its domestic and international policies in the field of climate change. Who would have thought just three years ago that it would stand out as the only Opec state to associate itself to a controversial climate change accord, have a Climate Change Envoy, dub nuclear as clean energy, and, most importantly, set international climate change mitigation ahead of oil industry interests.

Thomas Spencer: Benched or Benchmark? Can the EU Take the Lead Again on Climate?

Thomas Spencer — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:03:00 +0200

For the EU, Copenhagen was a wake-up call. Granted, the EU was not the cause of the ambiguous outcome, but it was clearly not as effective as it might have been. So is a rethink needed?

Kristian Kurki: Valaanpyyntikiista on politisoitunut liikaa

Kristian Kurki — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:38:00 +0200

Valaanpyyntikiista on politisoitunut siihen pisteeseen, ettei se koske enää valaskantojen hyvinvointia. Väärinkäsityksiä ja puolitotuuksia esiintyy sekä valaanpyyntiä vastustavien että sitä kannattavien keskuudessa. Kiistassa ei enää neuvotella vaan siinä kilpaillaan.

Maria Jokela: Baltic Sea Action Summit political pushover

Maria Jokela — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:40:00 +0200

The Baltic Sea desperately needs a legally binding protection agreement but none of the Baltic Sea states have shown a true commitment towards this. Why?

Maria Jokela: Baltic Sea Action Summit true actions or empty words?

Maria Jokela — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:10:00 +0200

The Baltic Sea Action Summit approved civil societys and companies willingness to act to save the Baltic Sea. For the first time policy makers and private sector representatives were brought together for this common goal, but will commitments made by the heads of states will turn out to be merely empty words?

Mia Pihlajamäki: Will the mysterious summit save the Baltic Sea?

Mia Pihlajamäki — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:23:00 +0200

Today those who have made a commitment to concrete actions in order to save the Baltic Sea gather together in the Finlandia Hall in an event titled the Baltic Sea Action Summit. What can we expect from this first-of-a-kind event?

Lotta Numminen: Suomesta EU:n arktinen lipunkantaja?

Lotta Numminen — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:15:00 +0200

Diana Wallis, arktisista kysymyksistä vastaava Euroopan
parlamentin varapuhemies, ehdottaa Suomelle roolia EU:n arktisena lipunkantajana.

Jyrki Kallio: Finlandization is no model for Taiwan to follow

Jyrki Kallio — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:01:00 +0200

Professor Bruce Gilleys recent article in the Foreign Affairs is flawed both on its premises and its conclusions. He suggests that Taiwan should aim at repositioning itself as a neutral power through a policy of appeasement toward Mainland China. Appeasing the Soviet Union was a way for Finland to protect its sovereignty. For Taiwan, appeasing China might lead to the inability to ever become a sovereign power again, even a neutral one. There is no certainty that the current détente between Mainland China and Taiwan will last.

Toby Archer: "Figure it out and let us know."

Toby Archer — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:18:00 +0200

Is confusion and jockeying for position at the head of the EU already costing the Union international influence?

Katri Pynnöniemi: "Dmitri Anatolevitsh, palauttakaa alueellemme normaaliolot!"

Katri Pynnöniemi — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:24:00 +0200

Viime lauantain mellakoissa Kaliningradissa tuhannet mielenosoittajat vetosivat Medvedeviin hyvänä tsaarina ja vaativat häntä toimimaan pahaa byrokratiaa - eli paikallista kuvernööriä Georgi Boosia ja pääministeri Putinia - vastaan.

Arkady Moshes: Will we see a reset between EU and Russia?

Arkady Moshes — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:12:00 +0200

In recent years the stagnation in relations between the European Union and Russia has become obvious to all independent observers. Of course, routines are followed, summits are held twice a year and diplomatic niceties are regularly said. But in practice the picture looks as follows.

Leena Liukkonen: Accountable governance starts with a demand for it

Leena Liukkonen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:56:00 +0200

Russias former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov has published a book titled Bez Putina (Beyond Putin). The book is written by a prominent Russian journalist Yevgeny Kiselev. It is partly the writer's narrative, partly interviews with Kasyanov. The book describes among other things the reasons that have formed Kasyanov into the perhaps only really serious opposition figure in contemporary Russia.