Timor Leste: Ireland Fails to Tackle New Political Elite

As a small nation with a past marred by foreign colonial rule, Ireland often feels the need to express solidarity with small islands with a similar history in developing regions. So Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor and its role in post-independence violence triggered drumbeats in Dublin, even, or especially, among the Anglophile elites interested in asserting their Irish loyalties. I recall very vocal campaigning on this by people like David Norris.

As with the anti-war campaigners in the Viet Nam era, many of these leftist activists go all quiet after “liberation.”

There’s another example of this in recent RTE coverage of further violewnce in Timor Leste. A typical report does concede mystery over why the new government failed to take advantage of aid and assistance. The mystery is solved by the usual descent into simplistic sociology: give them employment – it’s the economy stupid.

It’s hard to deny that lack of opportunity among the young and economic deprivation are part of the story. Irish aid efforts directed there will be helpful.

However, the legacy of leftist ideology and revolutionary rhetoric, much ignored by Mr Norris, of course, must also be factored in. Thus, Irish foreign aid decision-makers would do well to supplement their Irish Times and RTE solidarity diets with alternative perspectives, such as this from political scientist Francis Fukuyama. perhaps we could then tackle the leadership in Timor about political pluralism, language policy and attitudes to economic freedom. And maybe Mr Norris might like to revisit the Timor theme from a broader perspective than “jusstiss” and anti-imperialism.

Swedish Minister Talks of NATO Membership

This is a cross-posting from my blog on Ireland and Europe.

Irish Defense Policy: White Paper Published

http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/document+id/93191A155924DAD5802570C8005065D3

Ireland in the International Arena: A Weekly Review

Ireland in the International Arena 1: February 8/ 2008

  

Chad

 Irish troop deployment as part of the EUFOR TCHAD/RCA mission has been delayed for a second time. The earlier hold-up was due to a lack of equipment and support. Once that was resolved, the sudden rebel onslaught on N’Djamena was a further obstacle. The Chadian Government has urged early EU intervention. France is backing President Déby. Some newspaper letter writers are questioning whether the mission should go ahead if its role might be supportive of French policy in practice. 

Lisbon Treaty

The Government continues to argue that the Treaty advances Irish and European interests. It insists on marginalizing the opposition as dominated by extremist parties, predicting a 2:1 victory in a likely May referendum. A number of EU states, including France, have recently ratified Lisbon through parliamentary means, having denied citizens a direct say on the document. Many supporters and opponents of the Treaty are pushing a strong anti-American line of argument in the debate.  

U.S. Election

As the Democratic Party primaries remain undecided, Irish media and political circles are openly backing Senator Clinton. There is little effort to establish constructive Irish links to the campaigns of Barack Obama or John McCain, both of whom still have reasonable chances for November at this stage. 

Ireland and the Palestinians

Liberal Senator David Norris is campaigning to highlight the humanitarian plight of Palestinians in Gaza, as Israel appears to punish them collectively for the extremist stance and terror attacks of Hamas. Norris insists that the EU should take a lead in the peace process, in spite of America’s decisive hand in influencing Israel. The EU is rather irrelevant to Israeli calculations because of the overtly pro-Arab stance of most of its members.

Taoiseach Embarks on Africa Tour

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern begins a series of visits to African states, ostensibly to promote Irish foreign aid and business. He will visit South Africa and Tanzania.  NGOs have asked him to comment on the situation in Zimbabwe. Mr Ahern has pointed to EU positions on the Mugabe regime and its rights violations.

IRISH FOREIGN POLICY blog

Welcome to this new platform for discussion and analysis of Irish foreign policy. There has been quite a growth in academic and medi attention to this area in the past 10 years. And yet, much of the analysis is not very deep. it amounts to saying that the principles underlying Irish foreign policy are fine if only Irish politicians would implement them in full. This blog will offer an opportunity for a more root-and-branch evaluation of Ireland’s sense of place in the world. Fundamental principles, as well as current practice, will be explored and challenged as never before. The aim is to help articulate new principles for an essentially new Irish foreign policy for the 21st century.

All are welcome to join this debate.