The New year is in motion

2006 is now done, and the whole world now awaits what 2007 isa going to offer them. In this post, I am going to look at certain key events that have created an impression in the region and try to give its dynamics in 2007.

The world witnessed mixed fortunes in 2006. The Middle East continued to be volatile, with tensions increasing in both Iraq and Israel. Now, Iran seems to be going the Nuclear path, to add to the dangers already plaguing the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflic seems far from resolved, and it looks to continue well into 2007. Wether there will be increased bloodshed in the region is being watched upon by the world. Also, the formation of a new government has led to changed policy in the region. Ariel Sharon's ailment led to Ehud Olmert leading a new party to power in Israel. The country was tested with external aggression in the form of Hezbollah attacks in Northern Israel. The country went to war with Hezbollah, leading to destruction in Lebanon and unstabling the government there. Nobody knows who won this war or who lost it, but it was interpreted that Israel had suffered the most losses. The situation in Lebanon is now unstable, and the radical Hezbollah is attempting to establish itself in Lebanon, which would really put the Middle East on boiling point. The condition in Iraq is what will determine the world political dynamics in 2007. The US faces strong opposition at home as well as growing world isolation for its mishandling of the Iraq situation, hence what will happen in Iraq during this year might as well set the pattern for the following years.

Europe in 2006 recovered from its economic stagnation, but not significantly. The factor of Multiculturalism, upon which Western Europe prides itself, was tested in early 2006. Race riots in France shattered the social tranquility of the nation, while European countries rejected the EU constituition in a referendum. The factor of Turkey joining the EU has many europeans divided. Admitting a Muslim nation into a predominantly Christian EU will continue to be a question posed to Europeans in the next couple of years. In 2007, the EU will have two new members, Romania and Bulgaria. The size of the EU from 2007 will consist of 27 members. However, the situaion is mixed in Central and Eastern Europe. The economies of Estonia, Slovakia and other Baltic states are growing faster than Western Europe, and there are immigrants from states like Poland who now work in the UK

The other side of all this has led to the Authoritarianism of Russia. It has engaged in Arm-twisting Politics in the case of Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. With the threat of cutting the Gas and Oil supplies to several countries in Central Europe, Russia is showing off its economic clout in a big way. Vladimir Putin has consolidated power and does not look like relinquishing it in the year 2007. There remains the problem of Chechnya which the whole world has ignored. Hence, the actions of Russia in the near future will affect the working of the member states in the EU.

Africa has had to cope with the problems that have continued for a long time. By the end of the year, Somalia and Ethiopia have engaged in War, in order to drive away the Islamic militias. The outcome is not yet clear, but the west is keeping a close eye on the Horn of Africa, for this could affect the War on Terror operations for 2007. The problem of Darfur in Sudan has shown the inability of the African Union to impose its will and prevent Human rights atrocities in that part. The situation in Darfur was known to the world surprisingly due to vigilance by the Western Media to cover the issue in Central Africa. Unfortunately, Internal Civil Wars have ravaged the most part of Africa, and in the case of Congo, it is continuing to wreck havoc in Africa. Africa's World War in Congo, where a total of 7 nations are involved, is continuing to be the stumbling block for Africa's revival. So, unfortunately, in 2007, might be covered for Civil Wars, Famines, AIDS and other natural calamities by the West.

The United States goes into 2007 with an uncertain future. Its image abroad has been tarnished on account of the Iraq mismanagement, and unless President George.W.Bush does something drastic, its image abroad will continue to take a beating. With the Republicans losing the majority in both the Senate and Congress in the midterms, the US now has to tread a careful path from not messing up the Middle East even furthur. The factor of illegal immigration dominated American Politics for some time in 2006. The land of immigrants was turning away illegal immigrants, namely from Mexico and other Latin American countries. Even the Economy of the US is not showing signs of rapid growth, and it will be interesting to see what policies does America advocate in 2007.

The Asian countries will label 2006 as the year of resurgence, in particular countries like India and China. China continues to have the fastest growing economy in the world, and India is following close behind. China and India are standing up to the traditional economic powers of the West, also staking a claim in the G-8, G-20 and in the case of emerging economies like Brazil, India and South Africa, a permanent seat in the UN. However, it is in the Southern part of the continent where problems still persist. The conflict in Sri Lanka between the LTTE and the Government has reached bloodier proportions, and calls for a ceasefire have been ignored by the Tamil Tiger group (LTTE). India and Pakistan have committed to discussing the Kashmir problem, but the fear in 2007 is that unless action is not initiated in this problem, it might stagnate and the whole process could be back to Square One. The fate of Kashmir will determine the stability of the Sub Continent in the coming years, more importantly in 2007. Afghanistan and Pakistan have had a tough 2006. Afghanistan is now unstable and the War on Terror there seems to have lost its focus, and the Taliban are resurfacing and have engaged in open conflict with NATO and the United States. Pakistan had to cope with internal strife, namely regarding the status of Balochistan. The country witnessed riots by angry Balochs following the death of a prominent Baloch leader Mohammed Bugti. There has also not been any progress on North Korea, and there are fears that North Korea may already possess Nuclear weapons, making East Asia the battleground perhaps for a Nuclear War. Negotiation between US and North Korea and the US have stalled, and there seems no way forward for this dangerous situation.

Overall, 2006 was a dangerous year for the world in general. As far as India is concerned, it was a mixed year. The economy grew at 9% for the first time after a long time. The country witnessed Media activism to call for Justice, thus empowering the Citizen and reaffirming the Power of the ordinary Indian Citizen. The IIM's and all other prestigious instituitions continued to put India on the world Map, and India's Railways was revived thanks to initiatives by the Railway Minister of the country. But, there were problems also for the country in terms of Security. The 7/11 train bombings in Mumbai bought the horror of Terrorism even closer to home, and for some time, the social scenario of the city and the country was tense. The old spectre of communal riots was always lurking around the corner, with another attack this time on a Mosque in a small town of Malegaon in Maharashtra state. To add to the security woes, the Naxal menace was wrecking havoc in the Eastern as well as in the Northern part of the country.

2007 is a new opportunity for nations and the population to seek new ideas and make things around them better. The hangover of the end of 2006 is over, and it is upto Heads of States and the population of the states to ensure that 2007 is a year of Prospereity, Tranquility and Happiness. The evils of this Techno-Age will continue, but it is upto Human beings to evolve and adapt to this scenario.