A journal of political, social, and other important, possibly even somewhat related affairs, including but not limited to: Central European Society, The European Union, HC Kometa Brno, American Politics, Film, and Beer.

20 April 2007

The BBC

One thing about the BBC is that it gives a great deal of attention to two things: English soccer (which I couldn’t care less about), and world news. One thing that dawned on me is that it is giving more attention to the Nigerian election than the French one. I’m starting to believe that there might be something to this in terms of world significance, even for the US. The French election will have a great deal of influence on the construction of the EU – I think that Segolene Royal and Francois Bayreuth (spelling?) are far more interested in building a socialist, derigiste Europe than Sarkozy, which would continue the tragedy of European decline, but we can anticipate the general direction of France either way. It will still be punching above its weight in the international arena, still completely baffled over its diminished lack of influence in the world, and still inclined to build walls of agricultural subsidies and other protectionist measures, though Sarkozy is more open to reform these.

The election in Nigeria is quite another matter. Nigeria is a regional power, and its elections are characterized by slightly less stability than France’s are. While we know that there is one of three candidates who will win, we also are fairly certain that no ballot boxes will be stolen, nor will the election be boycotted. France will still be 300 kinds of cheese, to use de Gaulle’s expression. Nigeria, however, may be a complicated mess. It has been a regional power, and the smaller African nations around it have had peacekeepers from Nigeria (sometimes doing a decent job.) It has huge oil reserves, and everybody wants a hand in where those go. The Chinese are already starting to develop closer ties with African nations in general because it is considered (by everyone) to be the last place to really develop an economy. In the long term, America should pay attention to some of Africa’s developments, and prepare ways to curb Chinese and Arab influence in that part of the world.

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