It is also likely to enrage the Chinese authorities, who deny that they censor the Internet and are accustomed to having major foreign companies adapt their practices to Chinese norms.

Sorry, but censorship is not a “Chinese norm.” It is a strategy that authoritarian regimes deliberately use to impede collective action for political change. The slippery use of “norm” smacks of a common problem in sloppy cultural argumentation. Sure, culture matters. Culture is useful, for example, when categorizing actors’ exogenous preferences without time to probe them more deeply. Sometimes culture manifests as a norm, or an ‘informal’ rule of interaction (i.e. an institution). Used in this way, “norm” implies that the rule is highly particular – that it has characteristics identifying it with one or another society. But, in China, we are dealing with neither culture nor norm. Plenty of actors in plenty of societies have used censorship and control: President Tandja in Niger, Stalin in Russia, and Woodrow Wilson in our own country.

Hats off to Google for dumping its search query censorship, which the company began in 2006 to curry business favor with the regime. (H/T to the UN Wire.)

- Threats by candidate Obama to renegotiate NAFTA;

- Passage of the “Buy American” act in the 2009 Stimulus Bill requiring domestic goods be used for projects (the Senate slightly lessened the restrictions, but kept the provision in tact);

- Passage of the $410 billion spending bill that included language to prevent Mexican-licensed trucks from traveling beyond commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico border;

- Energy Secretary Steven Chu says that U.S is open to imposing a carbon tariff on countries that do not limit carbon and greenhouse gas releases.

The responses have not been pleasant, as you can imagine.

The E.U. threatened to sue the U.S. through the World Trade Organization for the Buy American act.  Forunately, they backed down after the provision was weakened.

Mexico imposed approximately $2.4 billion dollars of tariffs on 90 unnamed, American-made, agricultural and industrial products.

China warned that attempting to place a carbon tax on their goods would start a trade war. 

Even Canada told us to back off.  They likewise let us off the hook after the provision was amended.

Hopefully, the recent events are all talk.  I doubt it, though, as it seems a protectionist surge seems to be cresting in the U.S.  As more Americans lose their jobs it will become (and is becoming) politically unpalatable to allow U.S bailout money to end up outside the U.S.  Maybe in the absence of an organized, world-wide effort to stabilize the financial markets, it makes sense to concentrate our money at home.  But with a globalized economy it’s unlikely that we will bounce back from this crisis unless other countries do as well.

According to the New York Times, a neighboring democracy won’t let Mugabe bust opposition heads:

South Africa’s High Court on Friday barred transport of the ammunition, rockets and mortar bombs across South Africa from the port of Durban to landlocked Zimbabwe, after an Anglican archbishop argued that the arms were likely to be used to crush the Zimbabwean opposition after last month’s disputed election.

The 77-ton shipment from China was worth $1.245 million. Inflation notwithstanding, Zimbabwe’s dictator has missed out on a lot of guns.

The Times also said Zimbabwe’s state news, “deep in a long editorial,” hinted at a “national unity government.” If I have found the right article, the suggestion is quite near to the top. Here is the first mention:

The [International Crisis Group] report suggests that a negotiated way forward for Zimbabwe need not necessarily exclude President Mugabe, and should that inclusion be part of a genuinely negotiated agreement that aims at reconciliation and renewal, the Euro-Americans “should not hold back”.

On my way over to find the editorial, I noticed on the front page of the site that the ZEC has started releasing election results:

Zanu-PF retains Goromonzi West
ZANU-PF has retained Goromonzi West House of Assembly and Senate seats in the first batch of poll recount results released last night while the Sadc observer team says it is satisfied with the vote recounting process currently underway in 23 constituencies.
FULL STORY

These developments raise several questions.

Is Zimbabwe moving toward a pacted democratic transition or a Kenya-style band-aid solution?¹ Mugabe is an old man, and the rest of the editorial could be read as celebrating his legacy. Will he tap a successor or negotiate his way out?

Is the regime’s repressive capacity dwindling? The coincidence of the “unity government” announcement and failed Chinese arms shipment suggest it might be. If so, what is the opposition’s capacity to get concessions from Mugabe?

In blocking the weapons, is South Africa nudging the country toward democracy, or is this an isolated attempt to maintain social peace?

1. Kenya now has a 40-member cabinet: 20 members from the ruling party, 20 from the opposition.

Today over 10,000 monks and civilians marched towards the Shwedagon Pagoda, the holiest Buddhist site in the city and assembly point for recent demonstrations. The group was met by military trucks and soldiers.

Security forces also fired tear gas at columns of monks trying to push their way past barricades sealing off the Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar’s holiest shrine and the starting point of the mass marches against decades of military rule.

At least two witnesses saw the bloodied body of a monk being carried away after security forces stopped a procession. It was not clear what his condition was.

According to the article, the government began to round up opposition leaders prior to today’s march and the government has reportedly moved Aung San Su Kyi from her house arrest back to prison.

An important note at the end of this article:

China — the closest the generals have to a friend — has remained silent apart from calling for national reconciliation and a “democracy process that is appropriate for the country” at an Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney earlier this month.

China is also responsible for this situation. Their economic agreements with the junta of Burma have undercut international sanctions imposed on the regime. The international community has been somewhat successful in linking issues important for China (ie – Olympics) to pressure China on other fronts. This should continue here. Short of a military invasion, China really is the only country that has much leverage on the junta.

Looking to get involved? Check out the US Campaign for Burma.

The BBC notes that Mugabe’s government has proposed a new general communications bill that will require internet providers in Zimbabwe to install technology that would enable the monitor e-mail and web-traffic. Furthermore, the legislation will empower the government to monitor phone calls and postal mail.

Many human rights activists in Zimbabwe are concerned that this new law will be used against opposition and human rights groups. While it is probably safe to assume that Mugabe regularly taps the phones of his opponents, the government is gaining access to internet monitoring technology developed by China. While the BBC article (and this article) reports that there are likely ways that internet and e-mail communication may circumvent the government’s monitoring, this is another important example of China’s growing influence and support to other autocratic regimes by providing cheap loans or aid, selling internet technology, or investment into industries in other countries which China deems important for assuring its access to crucial resources.

Turkish President Urges Constitutional Reform Referendum

Turkish President Sezer called for a referendum to decide if the Turkish president should be popularly elected. Currently, the president is elected by the parliament. Turkey recently faced a constitutional crisis as the secular opposition parties boycotted parliament to prevent the quorum necessary to elect the presidential candidate of the AK Party.

The president previously vetoed similar reforms passed by the parliament, but he is unable to veto it a second time. It is not certain when this referendum will take place.

Hamas Consolidates Control of Gaza Strip

After days of military struggle between Hamas and Fatah forces, it appears that Hamas has gained control of the Gaza Strip. Life seems to be returning to normal as the violence has waned as Hamas consolidates power. Hamas has taken control of most of the security posts and intends to control the Rafah crossing into Egypt. This will potential provide Hamas with a more reliable transport route to weapons and material.

Palestinian President Abbas announced the dissolution of the coalition government, but Hamas announced that it would dismiss the president’s “hasty actions” and proceed with governing and would seek to continue to cooperate with Fatah.

Glenn Kessler of the Post sees this rise of Hamas as an example of the failure of Bush’s strategy for the Middle East. So far it seems the US will not seek to become engaged in the crisis and well adjust to the new reality of a Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. It seems the Bush Administration will continue its strategy of bolstering Hamas while attempting to strangle off Hamas. How’s that working so far?