Spain finds itself at a crucial moment in 2008: the era of spectacular growth that began some fifteen years ago is reaching its peak. It is now time to restructure the economy and lay the foundation for the second transition. To do this, Spain should find new ways to grow by analyzing which sectors it should develop, as a function of its strengths as a country, in accordance with international market opportunities. The author says that it is very important to open up sectors that, through clusters, add a lot of gross value, just as successful countries like Israel and Ireland did.

These years are decisive: the manner in which the main ecological problems (global warming, deforestation, erosion, soil desertification, the extinction of animal and plant species and the dearth of fresh water) are resolved (or not) will determine the quality of life of future generations. There are countries that have already rolled up their sleeves and gotten to work, but others (such as the United States, Australia and Spain) continue to practice the ostrich strategy; in other words, they hide behind mere rhetoric.

• Environmental lobbies in the United States
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• The Impact of Climate change in Africa
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It does not make sense to think that the national interests safeguard can be guaranteed with measures that have exclusively national jurisdiction. Colombia will not be successful against FARC if its members find refuge on the other side of the border (which does not exempt Bogotá from having to ask Ecuador for complete forgiveness). Latin America will only achieve domestic and foreign security with a common and coordinated effort. Here is how.

Moving beyond the lessons that the nationalist parties and the communist left (IU) should take home from their loss of votes to the PSOE, the only statement that is valid today is that the general elections in Spain have only one winner: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Even if the PP has increased its presence in parliament, today it constitutes more opposition than it did four years ago. Mariano Rajoy’s strategists have failed.

• The harmful convergence of politics in Spain
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• The electoral contest intensifies in Spain
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Pakistan, Myanmar and Thailand all exemplify how the argument that democracy is not the appropriate system or the democratically elected leaders are corrupt helps the military elites control the country. Bangladesh, with the opposing forces of Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, could be added to this list. The upcoming postponed elections and the return of civil and political liberties appear to be the only way out of this narrow alley in which the provisional government has placed Bangladesh, states the author.

Pakistan’s fledgling PPP and PML-N led coalition government appears promising, yet it faces many challenges upon inception: primary problems like rising inflation, joblessness, the growing strength of Islamic radicals, poverty, and a wheat and electricity crisis; but also rewriting the constitution, ousting Musharraf and dealing with the deposed judges. Fearing that a direct confrontation between the coalition and Musharraf would serve to destabilize Pakistan, the author timely reminds us of the adage politics is the art of compromise.

• The Politics of Pakistan: The Implications of the Recent General Elections
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• Can Pakistan turn over a new leaf?
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After days of a military offensive against the Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, Turkey consented to withdraw its troops, in what appears to be a strategy to gain Washington’s trust and ensure that Ankara will have the possibility to carry out new, characteristically similar offensives (limited in scope and duration) in the near future. However, the Kurdish question will not be resolved until Turkey changes its mentality and puts policy before force when making decisions related to national security, states the author.

The escalating tension between Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela is as incredible as it is dangerous. The shaky international community cannot allow an armed conflict to break out in the Andes region, or even a new focal point of tension in the American continent. Rhetoric can turn into drama, states the author.

The expectations that Fidel Castro’s resignation generated throughout the world are vanishing. Nothing augurs profound change, at least not in line with the change that world leaders are looking for. It looks like the day in which Cuba opens itself up to democracy, holds debates regarding the rights of the people and is incorporated into the global economy is far away, the author assures.

• Cuba, following in the footsteps of China and Vietnam
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