In 1966, Robert F. Kennedy delivered a speech with this quote: ‘There is a Chinese curse which says “May we live in interesting times”. Like it or not, we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind.‘
On October 19th 2018, in the occasion of the 12th Asia-Europe meeting in Brussels, a Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) was signed between the European Union and Singapore, allegedly aimed at cutting tariffs, removing trade barriers and simplifying trade rules between the two parties. This document was complemented by an Investment Protection Agreement (EUSIPA) bound to replace 12 previous bilateral treaties between the two parties. With these proceedings, trade commissioners of both parties publicly conveyed their willingness to enhance businesses’ savings and safeguard consumer protection, social rights and environmental rules in the countries of the European Union as well as Singapore.
Whether the TPP raises RCEP’s future standards will depend on the success and international image of China’s capitalism, and on Washington’s regional influence.
[IT] Nonostante l’adozione di un’apposita Convenzione da parte delle Nazioni Unite nel 1948, l’impiego del termine ‘genocidio’ continua a generare confusione e ambiguità – non solo in ambito legale – come sottolineato da Marzia Ponso, ricercatrice e docente di Storia contemporanea presso l’Università degli Studi di Torino. Se la Convenzione riporta infatti una definizione ristretta, che esclude le vittime appartenenti a minoranze politiche, i tribunali penali internazionali degli anni novanta hanno fornito una ridefinizione più ampia del fenomeno. Se la distinzione rispetto al ‘democidio’ appare netta, il riconoscimento di molte tragedie storiche come genocidio risulta ancora foriero di scontri e divisioni profonde.
Stefano Ruzza and Giuseppe Gabusi (T.wai & University of Torino) discuss about Myanmar’s political transition in the article “Authoritarian resilience through top-down transformation: making sense of Myanmar’s incomplete transition”.
