Gideon Rachman



Profile:
Full name: Gideon Rachman

Area of interest: Foreign affairs (esp. American foreign policy, the European Union), Globalisation

Journals/Organisation: Financial Times

Email: [mailto:gideon.rachman@ft.com gideon.rachman@ft.com]

Personal website:

Website: http://www.ft.com/comment/columnists/gideonrachman

Blog: FT.com / http://blogs.ft.com/the-world/#axzz1sHmcxLe0 The World: Gideon Rachman and his FT colleagues debate international affairs

Representation: http://www.insightbureau.com/GideonRachman.html

Networks: https://twitter.com/#!/gideonrachman



Biography:
About:

Education: Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge University: History (first class honours degree)

Career: Commenced career at BBC World Service: presenter and producer of current affairs programmes - including 24 Hours and The World Today, 1984/1987; Visiting fellow and Fulbright scholar at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, 1987/1988; The Sunday Correspondent: reporter (based in Washington DC), 1989/1990; The Economist: US editor, South-east Asia correspondent (Bangkok), Britain editor (London) 1997/2000, bureau chief, EU correspondent and wrote 'Charlemagne' column (Brussels); The Washington Quarterly: contributing editor, 1996/2006; joined the Financial Times in 2006

Current position/role: Chief foreign affairs commentator


 * also writes/has written for: Prospect Magazine (as freelance), see archive

Other roles/Main role:

Other activities:

Disclosures:

Viewpoints/Insight: Gideon Rachman's blog opening statement - Financial Times, 31st August 2006

Broadcast media:

Video: regular appearances on TV and radio, including CNN, BBC, Sky, Fox and NPR

Controversy/Criticism:

Awards/Honours:

Scoops:

Other: Brother of author Tom Rachman



Books & Debate:

 * The globe in a glass OCLC 247223078, 1999
 * Passion, pride and profit : a survey of football OCLC 248790737, 2002
 * Outgrowing the Union: a survey of the European Union OCLC 249486410, 2004

Latest work:

Speaking/Appearances: see Insight Bureau - moderator/speaker at numerous academic and business events, including conferences
 * Salzburg Global Seminar: The United States in the World: New Strategies of Engagement, 10th/15th November 2008

Current debate:



Financial Times:
Column name:

Remit/Info: Foreign affairs, esp. American foreign policy, European Union, Globalisation

Section: Comment

Role: Chief foreign affairs columnist

Pen-name:

Email: [mailto:gideon.rachman@ft.com gideon.rachman@ft.com]

Website: FT.Com / Gideon Rachman

Commissioning editor:

Day published: Tuesday

Regularity: Regular weekly column and more frequent 'International Affairs Blog'

Column format:

Average length: 1050 words



Articles: 2012

 * Five big events that shaped the past year - Crises in Europe and the Middle East still dominate headlines - 18th December
 * America’s drone war is out of control - Unmanned strikes to kill suspected terrorists set a dangerous precedent - 11th December
 * The perilous drift to intervention in Syria - The most telling argument against action remains that the consequences are incalculable - 4th December
 * Obama should end his reticence on rights - Double standards in US foreign policy need to be addressed - 27th November
 * Europe would lose if Britain left the union - Brussels would not have to give much ground to keep the UK in the club - 20th November
 * China and US navigate in risky waters - Tensions are rising as the two countries jostle for power - 13th November
 * Romney presidency would be just fine - My guess is that the Republican is a moderate, not a Tea Party radical - 6th November
 * Welcome to Berlin, Europe’s new capital - The price of assistance will be rules made in Germany - 22nd October
 * Spain, Britain and the forbidden fruits of independence - No marriage can survive by declaring divorce illegal - 16th October
 * The Brics have taken an unhappy turn - The new marks of Bric status are a weakening economy and political dysfunction - 9th October
 * Blame the great men for Europe’s crisis - Answering ‘who is at fault?’ will be important in fixing the mess - 2nd October
 * India is part of an upside down world - The highway leading out of Delhi is lined with adverts for new housing developments with names such as “Exotica Dreamville”. A typical hoarding shows a smiling young couple, standing on a manicured lawn, under the slogan: “Lifestyle is here.” - 24th September
 * Obama not to blame for Middle East anger - President’s policies have not ended Islamist rage with US but have made it easier to contain - 17th September
 * Democracy loses in struggle to save euro - The sight of a German representative on the ECB being isolated is chilling - 11th September
 * Now Obama must build the case for government - The president will have to avoid treading on the American dream - 4th September
 * The Diary - The FT columnist talks about the Republican convention, the food on sale, and Team Romney-Ryan’s good looks - 1st September
 * This election could be Republicans’ last chance - The changing US population presents a strategic dilemma - 28th August
 * Pussy Riot can rock the Kremlin to its foundations - Any PR firm could have warned Vladimir Putin that the band’s sentence is an unqualified PR disaster - 21st August
 * Britain can avoid a post-Olympic crash - The British have been reminded that their country can still succeed on and off the track - 14th August
 * The backlash against the rich has gone global - This mood could end an era of low taxes and rising inequality - 7th August
 * If you liked George W. Bush, you’ll love Mitt Romney - This is a promise to set policy in line with a Manichean world view of friends and foes - 31st July
 * Our plastic Brits are the secret of London’s success - Britain’s Olympians perfectly illustrate our global capital - 28th July
 * Blackmail cannot be UK’s Europe policy - It is increasingly possible to envisage circumstances in which Britain does leave the EU - 3rd July
 * Our obsession with Iran obscures the bigger threat - Pakistani nukes pose more of a danger to the west - 26th June
 * Greece has won Europe a respite – now it must use it - Mistake to provoke the final euro crisis now - 19th June
 * We isolate and overload Germany at our peril - Europe must avoid the rise of the German far-right at all costs - 12th June
 * A pageant that offers respite from reality - The monarchy and the ceremonies that go with it are a reassuring symbol of a rooted British stability - 5th June
 * For Syria, diplomacy still beats bombs - The threat of fanning power conflicts is not the only reason to hesitate before starting the engines on Nato warplanes - 29th May
 * Time to plan a velvet divorce for the euro - A break-up would be painful but it is the best option - 22nd May
 * One bullseye cannot rescue Obama’s global record - The US president’s real problem is that he has over-promised and under-delivered - 14th May
 * The Greek crisis will fast expose Mr Hollande - Forced to choose, the French are almost certain to go with the Germans - 8th May
 * No alternative to austerity - Spending has done very little to change the fundamental problems - 1st May
 * France votes to throw down the gauntlet to Europe - Both Sarkozy and Hollande are promising to change the direction of the EU - 24th April
 * Europe has yet to make Europeans - Proposing English as the language of Europe would be a new amusing way of committing political suicide - 10th April
 * A time bomb that no one can defuse - If Greece leaves the eurozone and is plunged into chaos, the rest of Europe will be sucked into the resulting mess - 3rd April
 * The west has lost in Afghanistan - Nato’s goals for the country are now minimal and focused on security. Even they might not be achieved - 27th March
 * political crisis will not stop China'' - We are not suddenly going to wake up and discover that the Chinese miracle was, in fact, a mirage - 20th March
 * China’s past needs to be rewritten - As foreigners seek to engage modern China, it is important they understand how the country views its own past - 13th March
 * Don’t despair of democracy - The authoritarian urge to cross-dress in democratic clothes is an implied compliment - 6th March
 * Syria, the case for staying out - The wrong decision can possibly cause more deaths than it prevents - 28th February
 * The drift towards war with Iran - The west’s appetite for conflict appears to be growing - 21st February
 * Germany faces a machine from hell - The actions urged on Berlin are unreasonable. Its own solution – structural reform now, political union later – is unworkable - 14th February
 * The ice is cracking under Putin - While nobody is talking of a Moscow spring, there is a definite thaw under way - 7th February
 * ‘Davos consensus’ under siege - Both the US president and the French would-be president were calling key elements of globalisation into question - 31st January
 * The real debate that America needs - Romney and Obama are the men to set the agenda - 24th January
 * America, Greece and a world on fire - A Greek economic crisis is threatening Europe but the US has no intention of leading the rescue mission - 17th January
 * Why I’m feeling strangely Austrian - The failure of the hard left to capitalise on the economic crisis testifies to how profoundly communism has been discredited - 10th January
 * The big questions for 2012 - In a year of pivotal elections, what will be the main global themes? - 3rd January



Articles: 2011

 * Our age of mounting indignation - A virus of popular protest that began in Cairo and Athens has gone global - 30th December
 * Farewell to a dumb war in Iraq - In sharp contrast to the Bush era, it is European nations that are now arguing for more confrontational policies in the Middle East - 20th December
 * The summit will prove a footnote - One act in a drawn-out melodrama that still threatens to turn into a tragedy - 13th December
 * Western dreams and Egypt’s reality - The rise of the Salafists has alarmed liberal voters - 6th December
 * The long shadow of the 1930s - A modern version of the 1930s would see a new generation of nationalist politicians rise to power in Europe, and the break-up of the EU - 29th November
 * The markets are not the monster - The markets are not the enemy of European politicians. In fact, they are all that stands between political leaders and angry citizens - 22nd November
 * A rat, the Downing Street cat and a vision of a calmer Britain - Larry, number 10’s feline resident, is supremely unburdened by the cares of high office and thus an example to the nation - 19th November
 * Look behind you, Lucas and Mario - If the technocrats fail to work miracles, the extremists are waiting in the wings - 15th November
 * Saving the euro is the wrong goal - European leaders insist the currency will remain eternal - 8th November
 * threat to Obama'' - Europe will loom large in battle for the White House - 1st November
 * America must manage its decline - Those who refuse to entertain such talk risk accelerating the process - 18th October
 * be blind to Erdogan’s flaws'' - The prime minister is becoming more autocratic at home and more reckless overseas - 11th October
 * China or the US? Make your choice - With the US government borrowing 40 cents of every dollar that it spends – and China the largest foreign buyer of US debt – the Chinese are indirectly funding American military dominance of the Pacific - 4th October
 * Russia takes a step backwards - The ease with which Dmitry Medvedev, the current Russian president, has been eased aside, will strengthen the cynical view that he was always a glove-puppet for Vladimir Putin - 27th September
 * The single currency’s true fatal flaw - Euro bank notes lack a common identity - 20th September
 * The long slide into protectionism - A European economic, banking and debt seizure inevitably has global ramifications – particularly when the US economy is so weak - 14th September
 * Hang on to your purse, Ms Merkel - Rather than lambasting her, Europe should be glad there is a calm and cautious leader in Berlin - 5th September
 * the year of global indignation'' - Many revolts have pitted a well-connected elite against ordinary citizens who feel excluded and angered by corruption - 30th August
 * the guns of August'' - Since when has late summer been a safe time to go to the beach? - 2nd August
 * needs a new political culture'' - If Greece is to do more than simply stagger from bail-out to bail-out, the country needs a profound change in its political culture - 26th July
 * lost among zealots'' - The Tea Party is promoting a form of constitutional fundamentalism that bears a striking resemblance to religious fundamentalism – and appeals to many of the same voters - 19th July
 * time to park the peace process'' - Effect of the Arab spring on the Palestinian issue is that both sides are even less likely to risk negotiating a settlement - 13th July
 * time to park the peace process'' - Effect of the Arab spring on the Palestinian issue is that both sides are even less likely to risk negotiating a settlement - 12th July
 * and Europe sinking together'' - The debt debates in the US and the EU are so inward-looking that surprisingly few people are making the connection- 5th July
 * foreign policy of empty slogans'' - David Cameron wants Britain to continue to behave like a major power, without the financial and military muscle to back it up - 28th June
 * union cannot fix the euro'' - The single currency’s problem is not institutional. There is just not a strong common political identity to support it - 21st June
 * Syria will get away with it'' - A 20-year experiment with the idea that western military force can put the world to rights is coming to a close - 14th June
 * China becomes number one'' - China will be a strange superpower - 7th June
 * defence of gloomy columnists'' - My response to the charge of being called a ‘gloom-monger’ or, even worse, a ‘doomsayer’ all depends on what timeframe you are looking at – and whether you are worrying about politics or enthusing about technology - 24th May
 * America’s new shining path'' - One good aspect of next month’s Peruvian election is that both candidates have taken Brazil, and not Venezuela, as a model - 17th May
 * the thickets of the Arab spring'' - The Arab world is facing its best, but also its most dangerous moment in decades - 10th May
 * victory and end the ‘global war on terror’'' - The threat of terrorism has been hyped out of proportion - 3rd May
 * liberals are losing the battle'' - Middle-classes not the only forces set free by fall of Mubarak - 26th April
 * euro crisis, Italy and its playful premier'' - The EU could probably manage a Spanish bail-out if it were ever to happen but Italy is too big to bail - 12th April
 * 1989, but we are the Russians'' - Like the USSR, the US chose the honourable option in refusing to let its regional ally keep power through force – and now faces a loss of influence - 5th April
 * a last hurrah for the west'' - The war is likely to mark the end of liberal interventionism - 29th March
 * fainthearts and Gaddafi'' - With the Middle East in turmoil, further huge decisions loom. The temperamental divide between western leaders will continue to be crucial - 22nd March
 * nightmare: the voters’ revenge'' - Concern about the rise of extremist parties is making it harder for EU leaders to reach agreements. Governments feel they have no room for manoeuvre - 15th March
 * is a route to political truth'' - Fiction’s ability to give a voice to the voiceless explains why it needs a novel to convey the uprisings in Egypt and Libya - 8th March
 * for Libya to liberate itself'' - Military intervention could damage the chance for lasting peace in the region - 1st March
 * grubby Libyan lesson in realpolitik'' - Muammer Gaddafi of Libya may soon be deposed - 22nd February
 * on the revolution in Egypt'' - Egypt’s young, articulate, web-savvy demonstrators are just one social strand - 15th February
 * revolution will Egypt choose?'' - The actions of western leaders can still influence which of two rival narratives prevails - 8th February
 * is back - how awkward'' - The revolt against autocracy in the Arab world is both uplifting and alarming for global powers - 1st February
 * have all the thinkers gone?'' - Why does a list of contemporary intellectuals look so feeble? - 25th January
 * feels that time is on its side'' - Post-crisis, Americans are taking a less benign view of China - 18th January
 * disfigures the Tea Party'' - The radical right has fuelled the rage of US political debate - 11th January
 * globalisation on the retreat in 2011?'' - The threat to globalisation will grow unless and until there is a co-ordinated global recovery - 4th January



Articles: 2010

 * should give Assange a medal'' - Picture of US emerging from WikiLeaks is positive - 14th December
 * escape from Europe’s debt woes'' - Whole world has interest in Europe escaping financial labyrinth - 7th December
 * reaps a vintage European crop'' - Rich Chinese are bidding up the price of rare luxury goods to levels that make western rivals go pale - 30th November
 * Germany could kill the euro'' - If the Germans become convinced that their eurozone partners were simply impossible to deal with – and that therefore the whole single currency experiment could not work – they might decide to quit - 23rd November
 * Hollywood ending for Burma'' - But Suu Kyi’s release offers a rare moment of optimism - 16th November
 * G20’s seven pillars of friction'' - Discord between the US and China is one conflict among many - 9th November
 * may just be an interlude'' - The beliefs of the president still matter in foreign policy – as the world may rediscover, if Obama loses to a Republican in 2012 - 2nd November
 * can no longer plead poverty'' - The label of ‘developing country’ has become a shield with which China protects itself against vital political and economic changes - 26th October
 * France ignores the abyss'' - Gideon Rachman on European reform and the French protests - 19th October
 * as hell but not Mad Hatters'' - Tea Party movement stirring up US politics means different things to different people - 12th October
 * undeclared war in cyberspace'' - For advanced industrial nations, cyber-warfare is simultaneously a huge opportunity and a huge threat - 5th October
 * realities behind the cult of Lula'' - Lula and Mandela myths have something in common - 28th September
 * will not help the Roma'' - The only acceptable long-term solution to the Roma’s problems in Europe has to be education, training and employment - 21st September
 * 9/15 changed more than 9/11'' - The attacks on New York and Washington in 2001, horrifying as they were, did not shake US dominance of the global political and economic system. It was Lehman’s collapse that truly marked the end of the “unipolar moment” - 14th September
 * economists off their throne'' - The their claim to scientific rigour must be treated more sceptically - 7th September
 * hatred of Blair is over the top'' - His years will be remembered for more than Iraq - 31st August
 * the hypocrisy and talk Turkey'' - The rules must be changed if Turkey is to become a member of the EU - 24th August
 * lessons for Afghanistan'' - Should Nato withdraw troops much faster than currently envisaged – and refocus more tightly on counter-terrorism? - 27th July
 * nuclear choice can be cheap and scary'' - An adversary is likely to be as deterred by a chance of nuclear annihilation as by a certainty - 20th July
 * business sours on China'' - Corporate America is showing increasing signs of disillusionment with China - 13th July
 * Africa’s trial by World Cup'' - The tournament has revealed a more dynamic side to the South African government - 6th July
 * to the new world (cup) order'' - Let us enjoy the role that football plays in relations between global countries - 29th June
 * war as in sport, talent will test the men in suits'' - Lessons from the mutinies of John Terry and General McChrystal - 26th June
 * is having a midlife crisis'' - The Union is like a middle-aged man whose thoughts on the meaning of life have been interrupted by the realisation that he has not saved enough for his retirement - 21st June
 * and loathing across the ocean'' - The danger for Britain and the US of falling back on negative national stereotypes - 15th June
 * endures in two-system China'' - Beijing can deal with dissent with subtlety - 8th June
 * west re-examines the rat race'' - The idea that public policy should concentrate on the promotion of happiness, rather than wealth, is gaining strength - 1st June
 * gas will change the world'' - Could this be the answer to energy security? - 25th May
 * death of the European dream'' - The world is watching the EU’s economic crisis with fascination and horror - 18th May
 * fear that now unites Britain and Europe'' - Events in the UK and Brussels may be a foretaste of a new political era - 15th May
 * is unprepared for austerity'' - The growth in the size and power of the EU fed a dangerous sense of complacency - 11th May
 * nuclear-free world? No thanks'' - In a world genuinely free of nuclear weapons, war between big powers would once again become thinkable - 4th May
 * fear and loathing of Obama'' - The Americans are right to insist on a settlement freeze - 27th April
 * erupts for a volcanic exile'' - Wealth and privilege has made babies of us all - 20th April
 * Tories point to isolation'' - The party has little in common with mainstream conservatism in the US or in Europe - 6th April
 * euro’s big fat failed wedding'' - The euro looks like an unhappy marriage between incompatible partners - 30th March
 * bounce changes the world'' - Success on healthcare reinvigorates the president’s standing abroad - 23rd March
 * or not, China’s rise is real'' - Beijing is emerging as a geopolitical rival to Washington - 16th March
 * edges from America towards China'' - An uncomfortable strategic choice lies ahead - 9th March
 * Reagan ruined conservatism'' - Traditional conservatives disdain populism and respect knowledge. What went wrong? - 1st March
 * threatens more than the euro'' - The crisis could put the entire European project into reverse - 23rd February
 * Mexico is the missing Bric'' - A country of huge promise is held back by its cartels - 16th February
 * and lemons in Ukraine'' - Rather than tut-tut at dissipation of hopes, Europe’s leaders should look at own responsibilities - 9th February
 * the bottom fell out of ‘old’ Davos'' - Uneasily conscious of a shift of power to the east, western leaders are questioning ideas that used to underpin Davos. Dominant themes at last week’s World Economic Forum included a backlash against high finance and doubts about free trade. Is this a permanent change - 2nd February
 * nations turn into hoarders'' - Across the world, major powers are moving to secure access to energy, food and, in some cases, water. Faith in a trade-based system, with nations buying what they need on open, world markets, is giving ground to an effort by individual nations to secure supplies - 26th January
 * America and China will crash'' - US dogma has it that economic growth in China will lead to political liberalisation. So far, it has not – as the clash with Google has shown. Once this assumption is dropped, pressure will rise in the US to disengage - 19th January
 * could be good for America'' - If the US keeps running huge deficits, sooner or later the country will start flirting with bankruptcy. Oddly, it might be best if the crisis came sooner rather than later. For a surprising number of countries, running out of money has been the prelude to national renewal - 12th January
 * is losing the free world'' - The Obama administration is facing an unexpected and unwelcome development in global politics. Four of the biggest and most strategically important democracies in the developing world – Brazil, India, South Africa and Turkey – are increasingly at odds with American foreign policy. The US has been slow to pick up on this development - 5th January



Articles: 2009

 * grim theme linking the year’s main events'' - The international euphoria that surrounded the election of Obama probably peaked on the very day of his inauguration. It has been downhill all the way since - 24th December
 * does not need a big shot'' - There are two problems with nominating an EU president. First is the job’s shaky legitimacy. Second is a lack of unity that bedevils efforts to create a European foreign policy. Both issues would be made worse by appointing Tony Blair - 27th October
 * small nations were cut adrift'' - In the aftermath of the Great Recession, the economic and political tide has turned against small nations. Look around Europe and it is the smalls that have fared worst - 20th October
 * must start punching harder'' - The notion that Mr Obama is a weak leader is spreading in ways that are dangerous to his presidency. The Nobel Peace Prize will not help. Peace is all very well. But Mr Obama now needs to pick a fight in public, and win it quickly - 13th October
 * plot to take over the world'' - The realisation that the G20 is Europe’s Trojan horse struck me at the G20’s last summit in Pittsburgh. The surroundings and atmosphere were strangely familiar. And then I understood; this was just a global version of a European Union summit - 6th October
 * tests the world’s collective will'' - For those western leaders who are hoping the UN will tackle the frightening global challenges identified in New York last week by Barack Obama, it is all very depressing. But if the UN is blocked or ineffective, then the search will be on for new forums and methods - 29th September (see: Iran: summary)
 * retreats to old certainties'' - Barring a huge upset, Sunday’s elections will see Angel Merkel returned as chancellor, at the head of yet another coalition government. So no change in Germany, then? It would be a mistake to believe that - 22nd September
 * makes gains in its bid to be top dog'' - Last week a Tibetan mastiff was flown into Xian airport in central China, where it received a welcome fit for an emperor. The dog was swept into town by a convoy of 30 Mercedes-Benz cars - 15th September
 * crude realities of diplomacy'' - Politicians know that voters will punish them if fuel prices soar, or if there are electricity shortages. But they also know that if they openly put the search for oil at the heart of their foreign policies, they are liable to be denounced as cynical and immoral - 8th September
 * continuity we can believe in'' - The new narrative is that the electoral triumph of the DPJ is Japan’s big chance to break with the years of stagnation. But the story of Japan over the past 20 years is by no means as dismal as much western commentary would have it - 1st September
 * braces for a Baltic blast'' - The intensifying crisis in the Baltics cannot be treated as a freakish local squall of little concern to outsiders. Bank failures or plunging currencies in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia could threaten the fragile prospect of recovery in the rest of Europe - 4th August
 * activists in denial'' - Most activists believe a failure to achieve an agreement in Copenhagen would be catastrophic. But they also know that, even if a deal is reached, it is likely to be ineffective. If they admit this publicly, they risk creating a climate of despair and inaction. But if they press ahead, they are putting all their energy into an approach that is unlikely to deliver - 28th July
 * the world need a United Nations army'' - The disjointed pirate hunting operation off Somalia and the inadequate forces inside the country show the UN needs to be able to deploy peacekeepers quickly, and that means keeping a force on permanent stand-by. It is time finally to bite the bullet and give the UN a permanent military capacity - 21st July
 * must be firm on foreign policy'' - Barack Obama’s charismatic aura is obscuring an uncomfortable truth. His foreign policy is in crisis: problems with Iran and Russia are merging into a single, nasty mess. The US president must be tough enough not to be panicked into macho gestures - 7th July
 * categorical imperative to twitter'' - When I told a friend I was thinking of writing a book, he said: “It won’t work unless you can summarise the argument in a sentence that fits on Twitter”. How stupid, I thought. But I was wrong – most great works of political philosophy can be summarised in this way - 30th June
 * for an Iranian revolution'' - What does it take to make a successful revolution? - 23rd June (See: Iran: summary)
 * could still win in Iran'' - In the short term, events in the country are depressing and alarming – a stolen election, violence in the streets, repression. In the long term, the weekend has provided heartening evidence that Iran, and the Middle East in general, need not be immune to the great wave of democratisation that has swept the world since the late 1970s - 16th June
 * but interesting in Strasbourg'' - Extreme-right and extreme-left parties could now account for about 15 per cent of the new European parliament, while hardline eurosceptics will be another noisy grouping. These diverse entrants will give the decorous proceedings a much needed shake-up - 9th June
 * and the limits of soft power'' - From North Korea to Guantánamo Bay, from Iran to Afghanistan, US president Barack Obama is confronting vexing issues that cannot be charmed out of existence - 2nd June
 * austerity does not come easily'' - Perhaps countries that have recent memories of real turbulence and hardship are better able to shrug off the consequences of a sudden economic setback. There would be a huge public outcry if the UK or US were to attempt Hungarian or Estonian style cuts - 26th May
 * democracy has an ugly side'' - Indian democracy is a wonder to behold. But do not be starry-eyed. It is marvellous that a country so large and so relatively poor can manage a peaceful, democratic transition. But some unappealing realities lurk just behind the beautiful facade - 19th May
 * lessons for a world crisis'' - The unfolding of the Hungarian crisis now looks like a microcosm of the world crisis. Fear of financial collapse is gradually giving way to worries about an unprecedented contraction in the economy – with all the social and political consequences that could imply - 12th May
 * for US to get on with ‘AfPak’ heads'' - The search for alternative leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan is understandable, but the US should resist the temptation to meddle - 6th May
 * ‘apologies’ are a strength'' - When the US president suggests that America has made mistakes in its dealings with Europe or the Muslim world, he is quite deliberately sending a signal. To his conservative critics, it is one of weakness. But mature democracies should not be afraid of open discussion - 5th May
 * closing of the Thatcher era'' - One of Mrs Thatcher’s most famous phrases was: ‘There is no alternative.’ As yet, no major political figure in Britain or the western world has really articulated a coherent alternative to the free-market principles inherited from Thatcherism. Until that happens, the Thatcher era will not be definitively over - 28th April
 * the veil on our war aims'' - We are not in Afghanistan to fight for women’s rights. We are there to prevent the country ever again becoming a base for attacks on the west - 14th April
 * - right man, wrong time'' - On his European tour, Mr Obama cemented the impression that he is an unusually gifted and intelligent politician. But that does not mean he will succeed - 7th April
 * spurns the beloved Obama'' - The Continent’s leaders have a huge interest in fostering and fanning the new American internationalism represented by Mr Obama. Instead, they seem to be doing their utmost to pour cold water on it - 31st March
 * importance of empty words'' - It will be tempting to laugh, if and when the communiqué from the London G20 summit contains the familiar pledges to avoid protectionism. But it is probably important that world leaders at least promise to follow the path of virtue – even if they know that they may sin - 24th March
 * in Afghanistan is a long shot'' - The new conventional wisdom is that there is no military solution. Western leaders instead talk about a “comprehensive approach” that includes economic development, improved government, regional diplomacy and peace feelers to the Taliban - 17th March
 * Aretha Franklin doctrine'' - Barack Obama and R-E-S-P-E-C-T - 10th March
 * crafted sentiments help to court Congress'' - Pundits argued over whether Gordon Brown got as many standing ovations as Tony Blair when he addressed Congress . . . because what really matters to the British is whether Americans still love them - 5th March
 * is yesterday’s creed'' - Plans for a political union in Europe were always crazy. But the four freedoms already established by the EU – free movement of goods, people, services and capital – are huge and tangible achievements. It would be terrible to see them rolled back - 3rd March
 * Iran? Decision time is here'' - On Friday, the FT reported that “Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb”. It is time for the Obama administration to launch a last big push to head this off – and for the rest of the world to line up in support - 24th February
 * 2012: a dystopian dream'' - Elected president on a ticket of populism and nationalism, Palin starts taking congratulatory phone calls. First is Prime Minister Lieberman of Israel, then President Putin. As for China, she is not speaking to them . . . - 17th February
 * Obama offers change for Israel'' - As Israelis prepare to go to the polls, anybody looking for something to break the bloody deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians needs to look outside Israeli politics. The best hope – slim though it may be – is the Obama administration - 10th February
 * globalisation goes into reverse'' - Intellectually, world leaders are convinced of the need to keep markets open. Politically, they are under pressure to respond to voters who are angry, frightened and demanding protection. Recent developments suggest angry citizens will take priority - 3rd February
 * Europe melts at the edges'' - Unlike the grumpy Brits, southern EU nations associate Brussels with good government. Yet if the EU itself does not become the target of political unrest, some other part of the political system is bound to come under pressure - 27th January
 * – the man is the message'' - On Tuesday when he gives his inaugural address, the new president will be able to stick to the beautifully delivered generalities that have inspired so many people in the US and around the world. Once he is in office, all that will change - 20th January
 * L and its fearful future'' - Those of us born in the west have never really experienced hard times. We have had decades of peace and prosperity. But perhaps Generation L – as in ‘lucky’ – has just had the luxury of an extended holiday from history, which is coming to an end - 13th January
 * self-defeating Gaza offensive'' - Ending the blockade in return for a ceasefire remains the best option for both humanitarian and strategic reasons. But the longer the bloodshed goes on, the more both sides in the conflict will be sucked into a logic of revenge and retaliation - 6th January



Articles: 2008

 * we will remember from 2008'' - Will the election of Obama or the collapse of Lehman prove the more significant event? That depends whether you believe history is shaped by the actions of remarkable individuals or by ‘vast, impersonal forces’. I am opting for the vast, impersonal forces - 23rd December 2008
 * economy hits the wall'' - It is now clear that, far from being immune to the global financial crisis, China is very vulnerable. Its economy may not be hit as hard as that of the US. But as a poorer country – with a less resilient political system – it could suffer worse - 16th December 2008
 * now for a world government'' - For the first time since homo sapiens began to doodle on cave walls, there is an argument, an opportunity and a means to make serious steps towards a world government. Europe already has a government for 27 countries. Could the model go global? - 9th December 2008
 * from the Mumbai tragedy'' - Full of rich foreigners and the local elite, smart hotels are prestige targets for terrorists. The only long-term solution is to strengthen the civilian politicians who realise that Pakistan’s past support for jihadist movements has backfired - 2nd December 2008
 * America’s new declinism for real?'' - There is a new acceptance in America of the constraints on US power. America has been through phases of “declinism” before. But there are still reasons for thinking the latest version may be more soundly based than its predecessors - 25th November 2008
 * Obama a Middle East ‘splitter’?'' - Would-be Middle East peacemakers can be categorised as ‘lumpers’ seeking a ‘comprehensive peace settlement’ that links together all the problems in the region, or ‘splitters’ who want to deal with all the problems separately - 18th November 2008
 * Bretton Woods sequel will flop'' - The more voices around the table at the summit on the way the gobal economy is governed, the harder it will be to reach agreement - 11th November 2008
 * for the first blue president'' - The fact that Obama would be the first black president has obscured the significance of his political colouring. If he wins, he will be the first northern, urban liberal to win the presidency since the culture wars broke out in the 1960s - 4th November 2008
 * plans for the world'' - Will dropping the ‘community method’ in favour of action by national governments lead to a sustained effort to roll back Brussels’ power - 21st October 2008
 * crisis is redefining our leaders'' - In a crisis, Gordon Brown and George W. Bush’s manners are transformed – one for the better and one for the worse - 14th October 2008
 * overshoots its limit'' - Ideas become fashionable and get pushed to their logical conclusion, as their backers succumb to “irrational exuberance”. Then comes the crash - 7th October 2008
 * and the US are in the same boat'' - For all the increased and justified confidence in both countries, China and India are both still very vulnerable to a downturn in the US - 30th September 2008
 * to the nuclear club, India'' - A US-India nuclear deal allowing India to buy nuclear material for civil use and – critics fear – to make more nuclear bombs – is inevitable. But it is the right decision - 23rd September 2008
 * opinion counts in America’s poll'' - The next president will want to do some burden-sharing and will have to turn to the Europeans first of all - 16th September 2008
 * cold war and appeasement'' - The west needs to find other ways of protecting political freedom in the new nations that Russia has in its sights - 9th September 2008
 * a roll-the-dice commander'' - His instinct is always to take the radical option and to march towards the sound of gunfire - 2nd September 2008
 * Obama looks vulnerable'' - A dark cloud of anxiety hovers over the Democratic party convention. A horrible truth is beginning to dawn on the delegates. Barack Obama is not the “once in a generation” political genius they thought they had discovered. On the contrary, he is a weak candidate for the presidency - 26th August 2008
 * The lure of the great cliche of China - Do not be surprised if the arguments about the future of the country aired alongside the Olympics have a familiar ring to them. Ever since the Tiananmen Square uprising of 1989, pundits have essentially been debating the same questions - 29th July 2008
 * Back Obama for commander-in-chief - The American economy is in a mess. The US is involved in two draining wars. The Republican party is deeply unpopular. The McCain campaign is in chaos - 22nd July 2008
 * American journalism, still a model - Rupert Murdoch’s arrival at The Wall Street Journal is being greeted by American journalists with roughly the level of enthusiasm with which the Romans greeted Alaric the Visigoth - 15th July 2008
 * When peace and justice collide - As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, the International Criminal Court is facing its own indictment. Its critics charge that its work is often counter-productive and politicised - 8th July 2008
 * How Obama can avoid the Carter trap - It is rarely a good sign when you begin to re-live your childhood. Of late, I have found myself drifting back to the 1970s with disturbing frequency - 1st July 2008
 * Paths out of Zimbabwe's dead end - Tragedy is traditionally meant to provoke pity and fear. But the world is in danger of reacting to the Zimbabwean tragedy with different emotions: resignation and relativism - 24th June 2008
 * Ireland's bold blow for democracy - I was at a lunch at the Danish embassy in Brussels in 2001, when a diplomat strode in and whispered something nasty into the ambassador’s ear. The ambassador pulled a face and told his guests the bad news: the Irish had voted to reject the European Union’s Nice treaty - 17th June 2008
 * A Choice of Enemies - This account of US engagement with the Middle East gives a sense of the pressures and trade-offs facing American presidents - 15th June 2008
 * Respect for the law is in Russia's interest - A burglar breaks into your house, ties you up and starts loading your possessions into a bag labelled “swag” - 10th June 2008
 * We cannot go on eating like this - It is all very awkward. China and India are getting richer. And it appears their new middle classes want all the things we want: cars, washing machines, even meat - 3rd June 2008
 * On Israel and the campaign bus - Dealing with accusations of anti-semitism or anti-Israeli sentiment is draining and time-consuming for a presidential candidate. It is easier to chuck a controversial adviser under the bus. But America’s absolutism on the Middle East is reducing its influence - 27th May 2008
 * Irrelevance, Europe's logical choice - “In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland... - 20th May 2008
 * The oily truth about America's foreign policy - With the oil price heading upwards and President George W. Bush heading for Saudi Arabia, as part of a Middle Eastern tour, it is time to accept the truth. The pursuit of oil is fundamental to US foreign policy - 13th May 2008
 * Why McCain's big idea is a bad idea - American presidents are meant to have big ideas about the world: a “new frontier”, an “alliance for progress”, a “war on terror” - 6th May 2008
 * Do not panic over foreign wealth - It sounds like something from a political thriller by Michael Crichton. Arab sheikhs and Chinese communists amass billions of dollars. They wait for a moment of financial weakness in the US. Then they use their massive “sovereign wealth funds” to buy large stakes in strategic US firms. They secure places on the board. Then, at a crucial moment, they... - 29th April 2008
 * The hit that no one can afford to miss -Why is the American presidential election such compelling viewing? Because it combines the formats of the games show, the talent contest, the television series and the sporting contest - 22nd April 2008
 * Power and Russia's back yard - In Winston Churchill’s memoirs, he records a meeting with Stalin in October 1944: “The moment was apt for business, so I said ‘Let us settle our affairs in the Balkans... - 16th April 2008
 * The political threats to globalisation - If you had to define “globalisation” with an image, what would it be? A container ship from China stuffed with toys and T-shirts? A programmer tapping at a keyboard in Bangalore? A plane circling gloomily over Heathrow airport? - 9th April 2008
 * Olympic torch threatens to scorch China - The Olympic torch’s journey to the Beijing Olympics is threatening to turn from triumphal progress into marathon humiliation. Protesters are rushing like moths to the Olympic flame - 1st April 2008
 * Spain, Italy and identity politics - There is a well-established pecking order of prejudice in western Europe. The British look down on the French, the French look down on the Italians, the Italians looks down on the Spanish, the Spanish look down on the Portuguese - and everybody fears and ridicules the Germans - (comment & analysis) 18th March 2008
 * The real problem with Power - Some people are too open for their own good. That was certainly how I felt after interviewing Samantha Power last week - 11th March 2008
 * Medvedev will not declare cold war - Nikita Krushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union in 1956, told the western world: “We will bury you.” Now Dmitry Medvedev, the newly elected president of Russia, has come back with a revised offer: “We will buy you.” - 3rd March 2008
 * Obama and the art of empty rhetoric - Even his most bitter opponents grant Barack Obama one thing – he makes great speeches. The senator from Illinois is generally held to be a competent debater and an electrifying orator - 26th February 2008
 * Why politics will not fix Pakistan - 18th February 2008
 * Too soon to give up in Afghanistan - With his fancy hats and fluent English, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan cuts a dashing figure on the international stage. But, while Mr Karzai is a regular at Davos, he keeps a low profile in Afghanistan itself... - 11th February 2008
 * US optimism can benefit all - Here is a proposal for the next American president. The US should take the lead in setting up a massive, publicly funded research project to tackle climate change - 4th February 2008
 * The battle for food, oil and water - Soccer crowds in England like to abuse match referees by chanting: “You don’t know what you’re doing.” If protesters had been able to get near the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, they could justifiably have aimed the same chant at the world leaders who assembled in the Alps - 28th January 2008
 * Let us not lose faith in democracy - President George W. Bush’s “freedom agenda” has run into the Middle Eastern sand. The president himself will be the last to recognise this - 21st January 2008
 * Hillary Clinton and the thrill of political power - Western politicians routinely say that they are motivated by a “desire to serve” and they are routinely disbelieved. With her near-tears in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton briefly managed to puncture that scepticism – and, perhaps, to swing the US presidential election back in her direction - 14th January 2008
 * Barack Obama’s message to the world - Barack Obama is in favour of hope, unity and change. If only his rivals would agree to campaign on a ticket of despair, discord and stagnation, the electorate would have a real choice - 7th January 2008



News & updates:

 * Economist journalist joins the Financial times - Gideon Rachman joins financial broadsheet as chief foreign affairs columnist - Journalism.co.uk, 4th May 2006

References:


Links:

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_Rachman