Slaying the monster

The country reports gathered here have been written at a critical time: new threats of terrorism in countries such as Kenya, the intensification of regional conflicts and wars, the economic isolation of Russia, and a drift towards authoritarianism in many states. Alarming parallels in Japan are made between the rise of totalitarianism ahead of World War II and what is happening now in that country; and there is a sense many have that regional conflicts might spin even more out of control.