Our round-up of world events includes a look at the continuing humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Chinese government's crackdown on activists, and the new royal baby.
We get some help from foreign policy contributor Art Cyr, director of the Clausen Center for World Businessat Carthage College in Kenosha.
Syria and Egypt
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime continues to battle opposition groups, Cyr says Syrians have found that the Assad regime is remarkably durable. The protracted war has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands dead and millions of displaced Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, Al Qaeda operatives were reportedly behind a massive prison break in Iraq, and have been sending fighters into Syria as well.
Though the situation seems to be getting worse, Cyr says America should not get too heavily involved.
“Even though we want to overthrow them,” he says, “doesn’t mean the alternative would be any better.”
Cyr says Americans often see the world in terms of “good guys” and “bad guys,” which is not necessarily applicable to the Middle East.
China
The Chinese government has been cracking down on activists, who are protesting for a representative government. Cyr says the government is under tremendous pressure to be transparent, especially when working with foreign businesses.
As such, the government is trying to balance preserving control with opening up more than they have in the past.
England
The world practically waited with bated breath for the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge - but why do we care?
For the British at least, Cyr draws a reason from The English Constitution, written by Walter Bagehot, which states that citizens are drawn to the monarchy as an emotional attachment of politics. Even though England is governed by Parliament and other persons, this is most likely why the monarchy has survived for centuries.
Art Cyr is the Clausen Distinguished Professor of Political Economy and World Business and Director of the Clausen Center for World Business at Carthage College in Kenosha, and he joins us periodically to talk about foreign policy.
