Passage au crible
A short Critical Analysis of International Current Affairs
The intention of the critical analysis reports Passage au crible on international current affairs is to encapsulate and clarify the mechanisms of world affairs. Using a transnational approach, the reports are delivered in a concise and educational format each week proposing: 1) A brief and factual reconstruction of a significant event; 2) Historical context; 3) A theoretical framework which gives the non-specialist, with an interest in international relations, access to an approach which goes further than the simple empirical descriptive approach. 4) A specialist’s analysis; 5) A short bibliography providing key references – official documents, books, articles – by recognised specialists on the matter.
PAC 92 – Transnational Mobilization of Political Weakness Repression of sexual minorities by Russian authorities
By Michaël Cousin Translation: Lawrence Myers
On June 30, 2013, Vladimir Putin announced a law against “propaganda encouraging minors to accept non traditional sexual relationships”. This law aims to prevent LGBTI activists…
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PAC 91 – A Weak Cultural Exception in the Face of the Global Commodification Transatlantic Negotiations on a Future Free Trade Agreement
By Alexandre Bohas Translation: Frédéric Ocrisse-Aka
Transatlantic discussions to reach a free trade agreement were disrupted in spring 2013 by a new blocking in the cultural sector. Recently, a new showdown took place during the first talks on the proposed free trade agreement…
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PAC 90 – Volkswagen: The “Made in Germany” Label Hegemony A Globalization undermined by National Identities
By Alexandre Bohas Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
The Western automotive industry is going through an unprecedented crisis. However, the Volkswagen Group doesn’t seem to be affected judging its growing expansion…
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PAC 89 – United States’ Digital Surveillance And Clandestine Predation PRISM’s Power in Cyberspace
By Adrien Cherqui Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
The American program PRISM (Planning Tool for Resource Integration, Synchronization, and Management) which collects Internet users’ personal data has been making…
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PAC 88 – Fukushima: A Domestic Catastrophe A Global Challenge April 2011–April 2013
By Clément Paule
Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
Passage au crible n°88
At the beginning of April 2013, there were several radioactive leaks near Fukushima where a nuclear catastrophe had happened two years earlier. According to TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company)…
PAC 87 – Biodiversity At Risk: The Role Of State Sovereignty The 16th Conference of the parties to CITES, Bangkok 3-14th March 2013
By Valérie Le Brenne
Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
Passage au crible n°87
Between the 3rd and the 14th of March 2013, Bangkok held the 16th conference of the parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)…
PAC 86 – A Shady Agri-food Sector: Food Safety On A Thin Line The horsemeat scandal: January-March 2013
By Clément Paule
Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
Passage au crible n°86
On the 19th of March 2013, the French company Spanghero was, once again, charged with presumed fraud. Indeed, 57 tons of British sheep meat – which import is forbidden within the EU (European Union)…
PAC 85 – Dramatic Script in North Korea 12th of February 2013: North Korea’s third nuclear test since 2006
By Thomas Lindemann Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
On the 12th of February 2013, the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) conducted its third nuclear test after 2006 and 2009. This was immediately followed by an emergency…
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PAC 84 – The Asymmetrical War in Mali The international donors’ conference
By Philippe Hugon
Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
Passage au crible n°84
On the 28th of January 2013, an international donor conference opened at the AU (African Union) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in order to finance the deployment of an African stabilization force…
PAC 83 – The Dakar Rally Raid 2013 A Globalised Sporting Trespass
By Josepha Laroche Translation: Anton Stzepourginski
Owned by Amaury Sport Organization, the Dakar rally raid (ex Paris Dakar) started on the 5th of January and ended on the 20th. It includes three types of vehicles: motorcycles, cars and trucks. It is the biggest off-road…
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PAC 82 – Worldwide Anarchy in the Mobile Phone Market Patent War between Smartphone Manufacturers
By Justin Chiu
Translation : Anton Stzepourginski
Passage au crible n°82
On the 21st of December of 2012, the Samsung company was addressed a warning by the European Commission. This action was taken against an abuse by Samsung of its dominant position judging…
PAC 81 – The American Globalisation of the Internet The Failure of the Dubai Global Summit on Telecommunications
By Alexandre Bohas
Passage au crible n°81
The ITU conference (International Telecommunication Union) ended in December 2012 by a disagreement among Member States concerning the type of regulation for the Internet. However, this lack of consensus turns out to be decisive for the future of the sector while it reveals antagonisms of powers and worldviews…
PAC 80 – The triumph of Harmful Free Riders The 2012 Doha Conference on Climate Change
By Weiting Chao
The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 18) and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP8) took place…
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PAC 79 – The Symbolic Potential of International Recognition A Non-Permanent-Member Statehood for Palestine in the UN
By Josepha Laroche
Translation: Pierre Chabal
Passage au crible n°79
On 29 November 2012, Palestine became a non-State member of the UN, thus benefiting from the same status as the Vatican. 138 states voted in favor of its candidacy, allowing it to move from the status of “entity” …
PAC 78 – The Political Success of a Militant Counter-Assessment The Controversy over the Toxicity of GMOs
By Clément Paule
Translation: Pierre Chabal
Passage au crible n°78
Published on September 19, 2012, the study led by Gilles-Eric Séralini – professor of molecular biology at the Caen University, France – revived the debate on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and their use in the food…
