Posts From Havard Bergo

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Economics Latin America

Guantanamo creates problems for US-Cuba talks

The disputed territorial status of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay will impede efforts to renew diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba. Yet, agreement over the territorial lease

Asia Pacific Politics

Royal divorce signals power shift for Thai monarchy

Thailand’s Crown Prince is divorcing his wife shortly after several of her relatives were arrested in a corruption scandal. The move is seen as a power shift within the palace

Europe Politics

Snap elections in Sweden will battle over immigration

Last week the Swedish minority government dissolved the parliament and called the first snap election in over 50 years after their budget proposal was defeated. The crisis is not only

Asia Pacific Economics

Tibet’s Prime Minister cautiously welcomes investment

During a visit to Canada last week, Lobsang Sangay, the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile, encouraged foreign investments and tourism in Tibet. His government has officially given up the fight

Europe Natural resources and energy

Ukraine crisis hurts Arctic relations

Western sanctions spell serious disruptions for petroleum exploration in the Arctic, and threaten to undo decades of work to foster cross-border trade and relations in northern Norway. The crisis in

Economics Europe

Norwegian economy sees surprise growth

The Norwegian GDP recently posted surprisingly strong growth in the second quarter, defying the recurrent warnings of an imminent economic downturn. The Norwegian economy grew faster than analysts had predicted

North America Politics

Opinion: New assertive Canadian foreign policy

The last decade has seen a dramatic transformation of Canada’s reputation and assertiveness abroad. Recent comments from Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau highlight just how fundamentally its foreign policy discourse has

Asia Pacific Security

Ethnic violence hurts FDI in Myanmar

Communal violence between Buddhist and Muslim residents of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second biggest city, shows how ethnic tension remains a key obstacle to civil peace in the country. Mandalay was placed

Asia Pacific Politics

No promise of quick return to democracy after Thai coup

Last week’s military coup follows the traditions of Thai politics, where generals frequently intervene to end political paralysis. Yet, unlike Thailand’s many previous coups, this time there is no promise

Europe Politics

Norway woos China by refusing to meet with Dalai Lama

Norwegian-Chinese relations suffered when the Nobel Peace Prize was handed to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiabo. Now the government tries to normalize relations by refusing to meet with the Dalai Lama. As a small