The liberal daily Corriere del Ticino sees the strikes against foreign workers in England as part of a rampant protectionist trend: "Despite all the declarations of loyalty to the principles of free international trade made by the heads of state and government, the great totem of globalisation is tottering under the repeated blows dealt of the crisis, in which each country is pumping money into its own economy and its own banking system. … The fact is that from the English workers who demand protection for English jobs to the states that are helping their car manufacturers and trying to save their banking systems, everyone is sending the unmistakable message that the system of international trade which is based on the rules laid down by the WTO [World Trade Organisation] will be among the victims of the crisis. This outcome can only be averted if the governments of the economic superpowers come up with a plausible idea for how to steer the global economy out of this chaos. But day after day all we have seen is tentative efforts, for no one has a credible plan." (03/02/2009)

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All available articles from » Alfonso Tuor

The Irish Times writes on the strikes in protest against the use of foreign workers in the English district of Lindsey: "As unemployment rises steeply in the UK it is probably not surprising that protests should have broken out about the hiring of Italian and Portuguese workers at a Total oil refinery in North Lincolnshire. A growing fear of job losses is the essential context to understand the spreading unofficial protests directed against EU laws on workers' mobility. Sharp disagreements about whether that is a valid interpretation of a complex legal picture make it a difficult issue to resolve. ... It will probably take a combination of assurances from the company, government pledges on labour rights and trade union commitments to strengthen them to defuse these protests." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » United Kingdom

Commenting on the British strikes against the employment of Portuguese and Italian workers at an oil refinery belonging to French firm Total in Lindsey, England, the daily Correio da Manhã writes: "Economic crises traditionally inflame xenophobia. We should not forget that it was above all the depression of the 1930s that led to the spread of nationalism in Germany. … The worst that can happen in Europe and in the current crisis - which is deepening with announcements of thousands of layoffs and bankruptcies each day - is intolerance against immigrants and the surfacing of nationalist tendencies. This would be a betrayal of the principles of the European Union that were enshrined in the Treaties of Rome in 1957." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » United Kingdom, » Europe
All available articles from » Armando Esteves Pereira

The EU has defended foreign workers in the wake of the strikes in England. The left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes that the numbers speak for themselves: "EU experts are presenting figures behind the scenes which show that the crisis in the labour market is certainly not a result of the free movement of workers. Between 2003 and 2007 migration rose from 1.5 to 1.7 percent in the 15 old EU states. The opening of the borders has created new possibilities, but it has most certainly not taken away jobs. ... Brussels is taking sides with Italy not out of sympathy, but because EU regulations are clear: the market and the freedom of movement are fundamental rights and valuable assets for the European economy. ... Brussels will have nothing to do with walls. To erect them you would need the unanimity of all 27 countries - an unimaginable process." (03/02/2009)

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All available articles from » Alberto d'Argenio

In the liberal intellectual weekly Élet és Irodalom poet and essayist Ákos Szilágyi draws parallels between fairytales and populism. "In his book 'Morphology of the Fairytale' Vladimir Propp comes to the conclusion that all fairytales are based on the same story: the evil dragon kidnaps the princess. … In the basic populist fairytale we certainly find more or less the same roles and the same functions, and the storyline is the same too: The 'evildoer' (political opponent or enemy: the party, party leader, nation, empire, the banks, the multinationals, the government, the opposition, the evil world, the evil neighbour, the evil enemy, etc.) kidnaps the victim (the homeland, the people, the nation, the race, the average man on the street, the citizen, the farmers, the workers, etc.) or at any rate deprives him of his freedom, sovereignty, goodness, homeland, relatives and brothers, his money, his will to live, his historical memory, his consciousness etc. So we have the political challlenge and the political hero: Now the victim must be freed from the clutches of the evildoer, or in other words, the magic instrument of political power must be attained to defeat the enemy. And of course only the liberating hero can do this." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Philosophy, » Weltanschauung, » Hungary, » Global
All available articles from » Ákos Szilágyi

Michel Wieviorka asks where the "first global crisis" will lead, proposing three possible scenarios. On the one hand the globalised economy could resume its old rhythm, Wieviorka postulates. Or the crisis could stop the globalisation process and bring about a new form of protectionism. Thirdly, it could usher in a new form of globalisation: "In this case globalisation would not end, but enter a new era. After the wild or so to speak primitive phase in the 80s and 90s it would enter its second stage, that of regulated globalisation. In this third panorama, summit meetings along the lines of the G-20 would have a special significance. These would be host to numerous heads of state, not just those of rich countries. Equally important would be organisations like the WTO, the IMF and the UN. This new order would also comply with the demands of certain environmental movements critical of a lack of regulation in climate issues. And it would be in line with certain demands from the Developing World - even if nowadays these positions are rather weakened - which don't want to end the globalisation process but want a different kind of globalisation." (03/02/2009)

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All available articles from » Michel Wieviorka

The first steps towards a "United States of Africa" have been made at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Libya's leader Muammar al-Gadaffi has become the chairman of the African Union. The left-leaning daily die tageszeitung writes: "With Muammar al-Gadaffi the African Union now has a leader who is well-known for his unpredictability. This is a problem for Africa, a continent that urgently requires a strong leadership to solve its problems. ... With Gadaffi the AU has acquired a sham leader who talks in terms of façades while any substance is lacking. ... The foreseeable lack of leadership as regards genuine content in the AU is above all a problem because the UN and donor countries all over the world are increasingly withdrawing from Africa. ... For over a year now a couple of thousand ill-equipped AU soldiers are supposed to have been protecting Mogadishu. Africa lacks the money for such a task - but the West is studiously ignoring this." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Africa, » Europe, » Global
All available articles from » Marc Engelhardt

The Independent comments on the elections in Iraq, arguing that they demonstrate the country is able to take control of its own destiny: "It would be wrong to dismiss the importance of this moment. These are the first elections to be carried out since the government signed an agreement with the US authorities to end the US occupation by 2011. They were the first to test the Iraqi security forces' ability to hold a peaceful nationwide election. And they are the first to test the authority of the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, since he reached an agreement on the departure of American and British forces. ... Iraq has a long way to go before it can be called a successful democracy. ... But for anyone who hopes to see Iraq emerge from the traumas of tyranny and occupation, this vote has been an encouraging sign that Iraqis may at last be taking a grip of their own destiny." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » U.S., » Iraq

The Netherlands is the last country that supported the US in the Iraq War to open an inquiry into the background to this decision. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende ended his opposition to the inquiry in the wake of numerous revelations. NRC Handelsblad is unhappy that the inquiry will be carried out by a commission behind closed doors. "Parliament will effectively be muzzled until November 1, when the inquiry is slated to end. The many questions which the First and Second Chambers rightly asked recently, or could ask in the future, have been given over to the commission. ... But there are limitations to the inquiry, and this concerning a topic that could hardly be more important: our country's participation in or support for a war. It is precisely a parliamentary committee of inquiry, with the right to call witnesses and examine under oath, that would be the right means to bring all the facts to light. If parliament is courageous it will decide that there will be a further inquiry." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands

The weekly "22" paints a gloomy picture of the long-term consequences of the financial crisis: "Despite the efforts of the governments the West's capital market will not regain its former vitality for years to come. Inevitably the population will have to pay considerable taxes to cover the costs the current governments have incurred trying to limit the impact of the global economic recession. The stimulus packages of the various states may ensure not only the survival of viable companies but also that of other parasitic or inefficient entities that really deserve to be closed down or go bankrupt. And economics has long ceased to be a true 'science' in the sense of being capable of explaining what is happening. … The conflicting recommendations of experts as regards measures to restore confidence in the banking system and to mitigate the economic depression are testimony to a shameful ignorance." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Africa, » Europe, » North America, » Global, » Middle East
All available articles from » Nicolae Filipescu

Polish psychology professor Janusz Czapiński anticipates that the financial crisis in Poland could lead to a divorce wave among young Polish couples. "Until recently the older generation was in the habit of tightening its belt, and is consequently immune to financial imponderabilities. However this impending crisis could be particularly hard on the generation of 30-somethings. Their only memories stem from times when their parents were better off. And so they cannot repress their zest for life, because they have never done so. They are not able to stop thinking about the new car or the home of their dreams. And so the reciprocal accusations commence: for taking risks, for borrowing unnecessarily and for aspiring to unrealistic goals. Perhaps we can even expect a wave of divorces - if these young couples bothered to get married in the first place, that is. Everything depends on how bad the crisis gets, how long it lasts." (03/02/2009)

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All available articles from » Janusz Czapiński

In contrast to those who reject nuclear power offhand the Sydsvenska Dagbladet does not object to a nuclear renaissance a priori, recommending a broad compromise on which all political parties could agree: "It could well be that the new nuclear energy is so expensive that it cannot compete with renewable energies. ... But for goodness sakes, let the nuclear industry itself decide if it wants to make the investment. Do not condemn nuclear energy from the outset. A decision must be taken in the next legislative period, regardless of whether the government is red-green (Social Democrat and Green Party) or blue [liberal-conservative). A feeble energy policy risks nothing less than a powerless Sweden." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Energy, » Sweden

Debate is raging In the Latvian capital Riga over whether to re-erect a monument to the Russian Czar Alexander I which was destroyed by German soldiers during World War I. Latvijas Avize is indignant at the suggestion: "It is not astonishing that the pro-Russian parties are putting their weight behind this project. But it is a particularly unpleasant surprise that even a few prominent Lithuanian personalities have come out in favour of re-erecting the monument. This is clearly a political question. ... But today we should be trying to see Alexander I in his historical context. At the end of the 18th century the Latvian peasants were subjugated by the Russian empire and lived in extreme poverty, both materially and morally. Word had it at the time that Latvian peasants were even cheaper than negro slaves." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fine Arts, » Cultural Policy, » History, » Latvia, » Russia
All available articles from » Visvaldis Lacis

The business paper Les Echos comments on the opposition at French universities to the planned reforms: "It took just a few weeks for the flame of protests to spread from schools to universities. In both cases we must hope it will not entirely consume the desire for reforms. For 25 years the 60,000 assistant lecturers have had only one obligation: a choice between giving 128 hours in lectures, 192 hours in seminars or 288 hours of practical training. On the other hand time invested in research is neither paid nor evaluated. … Total independence and average salaries. We must give up this historical, but inadequate compromise. Among all the proposals the most controversial idea is to give the presidents of the individual universities more power. However, researchers fear their control for they do not regard them as equals. But the quality of work can be best assessed where the work is being done. To deny this would raise suspicions that the entire profession rejects evaluation." (03/02/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Science / Research, » France
All available articles from » Dominique Seux

The daily Delo criticises the Eurovision Song Contest selection procedure used by Slovenia's public television broadcaster: "In Slovenia there are several excellent singers and composers among both the younger and older generation. But relations between the music industry and the makers of music are problematic. … It looks as if the public broadcaster has also fallen under the sway of the 'one-hit-wonder', which doesn't demand any great investments. The channel contents itself with inviting a few guests, opening the contest and waiting. For what? For a hit that will bring glory on the stage of one of the most watched foreign contests to simply fall from heaven? Good songs aren't made overnight. A high-quality musical scene encompasses all genres and young composers and singers need encouragement. … But as long as no changes are made to Slovenia's national finals the event will merely serve as a backdrop for performers to show their new costumes, long legs and plunging necklines and to market themselves." (03/02/2009)

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All available articles from » Dejan Vodovnik