2013: Instability and hot spots remain

In 2013, the world economy recovered slowly, yet risks remain. In regard to politics, initial agreements concerning hot spots were reached but it will take more time to find comprehensive solutions. Moreover, terrorism is increasingly threatening world security.

Widespread protests, continuous territorial disputes

Last year, Iran and the P5+1 group reached an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, but countries in the Middle East and North Africa experienced political instability, economic downturns and social deterioration. Widespread protests demanding the dismissal of the governments continued in Syria and Egypt.

Demonstrations have also become frequent in Europe because people are angry about the austerity measures the governments imposed to deal with public debts.

Cambodia and Thailand experienced several political storms. The Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) accused the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of election fraud during Cambodia’s 5th National Assembly election. The CNRP launched several protests and boycotted the first session of the National Assembly obstructing the establishment of a new government and causing social disorder.

In Thailand, the opposition party launched waves of demonstrations demanding that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign.

Territorial disputes between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea continued. China’s unilateral establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea worsened its relations with Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Last year, tribal conflicts erupted in several African countries. One third of Africa’s 54 countries suffered from continuous conflicts. The African Union made several reconciliation efforts and it failed to solve the problem due to the complications of the crisis and difficulties in selecting negotiating partners.

Emergence of terrorism

In 2013, the world witnessed the strong recovery of Al-Qaeda terrorism which resulted in a series of bloody attacks killing thousands of people. Al-Qaeda proved its widespread influence. According to the US START institute, the wave of violence showed no signs of decline. Afghanistan and Syria are emerging as two key centers of global terrorism threatening the security of South Asia, West Asia and North Africa.

Hot spots in the world in 2013 also included terrorist bomb attacks in Boston, the US, the China’s Tianmen Square and a suicide bombing in a train station in Volgograd, Russia.

World economy recovers slowly

After five years struggling with the most serious crisis since the 1930s, the world economy saw signs of recovery last year, especially in the US, Japan and Europe. The Eurozone ended its recession after 6 quarters in a row. The US witnessed an encouraging growth rate that enabled the Federal Reserve System to end its economic stimulus programs. Japan’s economic reform program gained positive results.

The positive signs of some economies after the crisis made experts optimistic about a shift of the world economy, which they say is returning to the growth orbit.

However, IMF Director General Christine Lagarde said the world’s economic recovery is so slow that it is unable to generate sufficient jobs. The Eurozone is still an area of concern because many economies in the region have been unable to escape from difficulties. The US economy is not operating effectively due to declines in the federal budget.

2013 ended with many problems still remaining. It is hoped that in 2014, political disputes will be gradually resolved and the world’s economy will begin to recover more quickly.