The future of Turkey, come together after Nice, can China play by the rules?, value of diaspora, Canada must guard against police racism

A roundup of global commentary for the Aug. 1, 2016 weekly magazine.

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Sertac Kayar/Reuters
Buildings which were damaged during the security operations and clashes between Turkish security forces and Kurdish militants are pictured in Nusaybin, a district of Turkey's southeastern province of Mardin on the Syrian border.

Daily News Egypt / Cairo

The future of Turkey

“On 15 July, a group of Turkish military leaders tried to carry out a military coup against the current Turkish president and his government...,” writes Sayed Ghoneim. “[I] believe that Turkey will not be able to achieve political stability and security before the complete elimination of [Islamic State] and the total abandonment of its support to the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkey also needs to have a clear stance towards Israel and the Palestinian cause, and determine its attitude towards Russia in exchange for its obligations to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and its alliance to the [European Union]. Finally, Turkey needs to develop a final strategy for the Cyprus and Armenian issue, as well as the Turkish communities in the Balkans. All of this requires many years, and a political party like the Justice and Development Party might not be able to achieve that.” 

The Daily Star / Beirut, Lebanon

Come together after Nice

“Irreligious and tragic, the killing of over 80 men, women and children in the southern French city is another gruesome reminder of the dangers faced by civilians worldwide – none more than here in the Middle East,” states an editorial. “For some time people have described the world as a ‘global village.’ Now, more than ever, this label needs to ring true.... This is why a centralized agency or institution should be created with a global anti-terror profile. Here nations could bank and share a vast quantity of information and expertise, each filling the gaps in knowledge for the other and creating a rich, accessible database that can combat the many-headed snake of terrorism.” 

The Straits Times / Singapore

Can China play by the rules?

“[In] an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China ... the tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the Philippines...,” Chua Mui Hoong writes. “In effect, the tribunal’s ruling dismissed China’s claim to sovereignty and rights over all of the maritime areas, land and waters, within the South China Sea as suggested in its nine-dash map.... The tribunal ruling is one step along the journey to nudge China into accepting international rules. Other countries’ responses to the ruling, and the way they respond to China’s indignation now, can turn China away, or help China come to terms with the rules of the game.” 

Kathimerini / Athens

Value of diaspora

“Hellenism has never been restricted within the borders of Greece and whenever the country has made an important achievement in recent history, it has been with the support of its diaspora,” Alexis Papachelas writes. “Today, however, there seems to be a great divide between us living in this crumbling country and the rest of the world’s Greeks. They can’t understand us and we can’t understand them. To Greeks who have done well in the United States, in Australia and in other parts of the world, Greece is one big paradox, a blessed country that has failed to tap into the gifts of its very creative people.... The diaspora could be of enormous help to Greece right now.” 

The Globe and Mail / Toronto

Canada must guard against police racism

“As racial unrest reignites south of the border, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become complacent in the belief that anti-black racism is not a threat, here in our own backyard...,” write Akwasi Owusu-Bempah and Anthony Morgan. “The dramatic racial lines along those who Canadian police forces target for carding and street checks is ... eerily reminiscent of the practice known in New York City as stop and frisk.... Canadian institutions and our leaders must demonstrate an honest and courageous commitment to acknowledging, naming and constructively responding to the manifestations of anti-black racism as they exist in Canada.” 

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