new internationalist
issue 211 - September 1990

Sparks from Eastern Europe - where will they fall ?

UNITED STATES Economic problems loom large for US. Huge deficit and tough competition from Germany and Japan.       AFRICA Aid for and interest in Africa dwindling. But one-party state systems threatened as popular demand for political plurality grows.     ETHIOPIA Mengistu regime in serious trouble. Soviet bloc has withdrawn support, army is demoralized and rebel groups are winning the war.     USSR Soviet economic reconstruction will take 50 years, experts say, and will cost billions of dollars. Will capitalism provide?     CHINA Heavy government repression. But ingredients for European-style revolution there - including nascnet ethnic unrest.     INDO-CHINA Pol Pot's dreaded Khmer Rouge at last ditched by US - but already poised to take over the country. US opens belated dialogue with Vietnam.     AFGHANISTAN Western support for Mujahedin rebels is waning. Victory against Soviet-backed government now unlikely.	CENTRAL AMERICA US invasion of Panama launches more aggressive policy towards Central America. Soviet approval counts for nothing.     LATIN AMERICA More industrialized countries like Brazil may find new markets in the East. But protectionism in the united Europe could be a threat.         SOUTHERN AFRICA Cuts in Soviet aid and support lead to more poverty and hunger in Mozambique and Angola.     INDIA / PAKISTAN Border tensions running high, not helped by arms race. Conditions ripe for war.     JAPAN New investment opportunities in the changed world but more hostility from the US. Japan's rearmament lobby may grow as a result.     PACIFIC Fearing regional instability Aotearoa / New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are increasing their defence budgets.

New Internationalist (NI) workers' co-operative exists to report on issues of world poverty and inequality; to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and the powerless worldwide; to debate and campaign for the radical changes necessary to meet the basic needs of all; and to bring to life the people, the ideas and the action in the fight for global justice.