Politics and Diplomacy explores how interactions between international state and non-state actors affect current issues and trends in international politics and statecraft. Recent articles have addressed the role of the media in international affairs, the challenges and opportunities presented by strategic and regional alliances such as NATO and the European Union, and the prospects of democracy in Iran. Our authors include both academic experts, as well as political practitioners.

Streamlining U.S. Democracy Assistance

By Don Pressley and Lawrence Groo

President George W. Bush started his second administration with a strong pledge to support freedom around the world, alongside a renewed push for U.S. public diplomacy in the Middle East and elsewhere. His administration has backed this commitment with a proposed $1.5 billion in U.S. democracy assistance for developing countries for 2006. Democracy assistance programs include rule of law promotion, legislative strengthening, electoral assistance, and public administration reform. While this level of assistance reflects the U.S. government's clear commitment to fostering freedom and democracy, there is an emerging consensus that U.S. democracy assistance should more effectively address the common governance and public management challenges found in fragile and transitioning states. more...

KEDO Adrift

By Yoshinori Takeda

When the U.S. government confronted North Korea on its uranium enrichment program in October 2002, a new phase in the North Korean nuclear crisis developed, and the role of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) was diminished. In November 2002, the Executive Board of KEDO-composed of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and the United States-condemned North Korea for its pursuit of nuclear weapons and announced the suspension of heavy fuel oil (HFO) deliveries, starting in December 2002. Although multilateral negotiations on Pyongyang's nuclear program began in August 2003, the six states involved in this process-China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States-did not find a comprehensive solution. In response to the deadlocked situation, KEDO decided to suspend the Light-Water Reactor (LWR) Project in North Korea for a period of one year, beginning on 1 December 2003. KEDO renewed the suspension in November 2004. more...