The World Next Week: Global Economic Risks After the Fiscal Cliff, Hugo Chavez’s Inauguration, and U.S.-Russian Talks on Syria
By experts and staff
- Published
James M. LindsayCFR ExpertMary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy
The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed global economic risks, Hugo Chavez’s presidential inauguration in Venezuela, and upcoming U.S.-Russian talks on Syria with UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
The highlights:
For more on the topics we discussed in the podcast check out:
Global Economic Risks After the Fiscal Cliff: WEF’s 2012 Global Risks report warned that economic imbalances and social inequality threatened to reverse the gains produced by globalization. The Washington Post reports on how Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell pulled Congress away from the fiscal cliff. The National Journal offers its own tick-tock on the fiscal-cliff deal, as does Politico. Suzy Kimm argues that the fiscal-cliff deal may have made the markets happy for a moment but will prove to be a drag on economic growth.
Hugo Chavez’s inauguration: The Associated Press writes that secrecy about President Chavez’s health condition is fueling rumors and uncertainty in Venezuela. Reuters reports that Venezuela’s opposition movement has demanded the government come clean about Chavez’s health. following his prolonged stay in Cuba. The Financial Times explains that Chavez’s potential absence from his scheduled inauguration could trigger a constitutional crisis. Al Jazeera cites government officials saying that Chavez is alive and conscious.
US and Russia hold talks with Syria envoy Brahimi: Bloomberg reports that while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has no plans to step down, Russia has increased pressure on him to engage in a political dialogue with the opposition. The Associated Press writes that a Philippine shipping company recently canceled its contract with Syria citing increasingly dangerous conditions, further weakening the Syrian economy. Reuters argues that the window of time for a peaceful solution to the ongoing violence in Syria is slowly closing. The Washington Post explains that despite Russia’s willingness to meet with the Syrian National Coalition, the two parties strongly disagree on whether or not Assad should remain in power. Samuel Charap explains why Russia won’t help on Syria.