David Kilgour
David Kilgour is a former MP and was
secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific,
Latin America and Africa.
David Kilgour's Latest Posts
Hong Kong nears an abyss
Distinguishing facts from propaganda during two months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong is difficult, but important realities now appear clear. The government of China solemnly agreed to special status for Hong Kong in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. It promised a “high degree of autonomy,” and declared that democracy, the rule of law and […]
Iran’s tumultuous history
An earlier movement to establish democratic national governance in Iran was derailed in 1953 when a U.S.-backed coup toppled the elected Mosaddeq government in a dispute over an oil company’s nationalization. The ensuing monarchy of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, which became increasingly autocratic, was overthrown by a revolution in 1979 that was […]
Turkey’s current crisis
Turkey has long been admired internationally for being a Muslim-majority democracy with an industrious people, strong economy and picturesque geography. Under their First World War hero and founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, modern Turks obtained full independence in 1923, and later the rule of law, universal literacy, separation of state and religion, equal rights for women […]
As the situation in Ukraine simmers…
When pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine were almost defeated in late August by Ukraine’s military, President Vladimir Putin sent thousands of Russian soldiers into Ukraine to turn the tide. He has now offered a ceasefire to Kiev, presumably because the tougher sanctions the West is now imposing are biting and because of the billions of […]
Seven steps to fixing the UN
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his 2007 acceptance speech to the General Assembly, noted: “The true measure of the success for the United Nations is not how much we promise, but how much we deliver for those who need us most.” Anyone’s hopes for the UN on key reform issues vary according to the […]
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