Michael Hirshman

Also by Michael Hirshman

• May 26, 2010

  UN 'Civilizations' Forum In Brazil Hopes To Reframe Debate Over Global Culture, Politics

  The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations will host its third-annual forum in Rio de Janeiro from May 27-29. The conference, titled "Bridging Cultures, Building Peace," will be attended by high-level dignitaries including President Lula da Silva of Brazil, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

• May 15, 2010

  Brazil Visit 'Last Chance' For Iran To Avoid UN Sanctions

  As the UN Security Council's old guard debate deeper sanctions against Iran over its contentious nuclear program, an influential nonpermanent member of the grouping is continuing to push for a diplomatic solution that will avoid further punishment.

• April 22, 2010

  Cuban Activists' Suffering Feeds Call For Change

  Civil society in Cuba, long-embattled, appears to be gaining new momentum following the death of a political prisoner and fresh support from the Catholic Church.

• April 17, 2010

  Afghans On Iran's Death Row Describe Their Plight

  Six Afghans apparently awaiting execution in an Iranian prison paint a grim picture of a bloodthirsty criminal justice system.

• April 15, 2010

  Rejoicing, Anger Over Proposed Name Change For Pakistani Province

  Pakistan's Pashtun community has sought for decades to rename the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

• April 14, 2010

  Russian President Visits Argentina

  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is set to make the first visit by a Russian president to Argentina, where he will be received by his Argentinian counterpart, Cristina Kirchner.

• April 02, 2010

  Putin Meets Venezuelan, Bolivian Leaders

  Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will hold talks with the presidents of Venezuela and Bolivia in Caracas as he makes his first-ever official visit to Venezuela, further deepening ties with South America's leading leftist regime.

• March 23, 2010

  With Mafia Arrests, Spain Turns Suspicious Eye On Post-Soviet Immigrants

  Recent arrests in Western Europe have underscored the extent to which people from the former Soviet Union are seen as dominating much of Europe's criminal underworld.

• December 02, 2009

  Brazil's Lula Seeks To Expand Ties With Ukraine

  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva is leading a delegation in Ukraine for the second day of a two-day visit intended to increase bilateral cooperation.

• November 27, 2009

  Gene Sharp: Theoretician Of Velvet Revolution

  In February last year, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry produced a broadcast about Americans it said were plotting against the regime. The video mentioned well-known names like Senator John McCain and financier George Soros. The video also mentioned a little-known academic: Gene Sharp.

• November 25, 2009

  Iran's President Gets Face Time With Chavez

  Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is in Venezuela for talks with President Hugo Chavez, another outspoken anti-American leader, on the final stop on his Latin America tour. After red-carpet receptions in Brazil and Bolivia, the Venezuela visit provoked more vociferous domestic opposition.

• November 05, 2009

  Blood And Velvet

  Some were peaceful and some were violent. Some were popular revolts and some were orchestrated within the Communist Party leadership. The revolutions of 1989 cast aside Europe's Cold War dictators, paving the way for democracy and the free-market reforms of the 1990s.

• October 28, 2009

  UN Conference Addresses Maternal Mortality

  The United Nations Population Fund this week is highlighting the problem of maternal mortality around the world. Of all the UN's development goals, the effort to reduce maternal mortality rates has seen the least progress in recent years. The lack of improvement is particularly striking in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq.

• October 21, 2009

  Vatican Appeals To Anglicans, Eases Conversion Process

  The Vatican has eased the process of conversion to Roman Catholicism for Anglicans. Appearing to follow the precedent of Catholic communities in the Middle East and Eastern Europe that follow different rites, the Vatican's move is likely to bring disenchanted Anglicans into the Catholic fold.

• August 27, 2009

  Venezuela's Very Own Khodorkovsky Case

  A Venezuelan businessman linked to the opposition, Egilio Cedeno, is being prosecuted in a case roundly criticized by independent observers. The situation contains parallels to the Russian prosecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and it reflects a breakdown of the rule of law in that country.

• August 26, 2009

  Karzai Widens Afghan Election Lead Amid Fraud Claims

  Afghanistan's incumbent president, Hamid Karzai, has increased his lead over his main challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, according to latest figures. The release of more partial results of the country's August 20 election comes as the issue of election fraud continues to dominate Afghan political debate.

• August 06, 2009

  Tensions Escalate Between Venezuela And Colombia

  Tensions between Venezuela and its neighbor Colombia have flared over a proposed deal in which Bogota would allow the United States to establish seven military bases on its soil.