Notations On Our World (Weekly Edition): Our Weekly #OutsiderWall On the Week That Was....

 

We present an "Outsider Wall" for the week with curated material from the Economist, The Financial Times, The Washington Examiner, France24, and AUSA.   The situation in Afghanistan continues to present profound challenges as the Taliban is working on forming a government and as COVID rages on in the World.    China continues to assert its' stance as the emerging power in spite of continued challenges.

 Our team has also been assessing the ongoing situation in Iran and its' relations with the United States and the World.    We have also been assessing the aftermath of climate change especially as two Hurricanes hit the United States at the same time.

Please enjoy this selected curation for the week:

Economy What next for the rich in a post-pandemic world? Wealth accumulation has coincided with persistent inequality — and even banks are concerned SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 by Stefan Wagstyl

World Mohsin Hamid on Afghanistan — and the case against wars As the latest calamitous foreign intervention ends, the Lahore-based novelist warns against a pivot to a new conflict SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 by Mohsin Hamid

EUROPE

Proposals for an EU army re-emerge after Afghan pullout – but many remain ‘hard to convince’

European dismay over President Joe Biden’s precipitous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has renewed calls for an EU military force. But while proponents of “strategic autonomy” say the fall of Kabul should serve as a wake-up call, others do not see an existential threat and are content to remain as junior partners to US military might. World Canadians turn on Justin Trudeau over early election The prime minister is being punished in the polls for seeking another term during a Covid surge SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 by Kareem Shaheen in Montreal World After Angela: how one woman shaped a generation — and Europe As Merkel prepares to step down after almost 16 years in power, what do young Germans make of her legacy? SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 by Guy Chazan

Biden relies on popularity of Afghanistan withdrawal to overshadow the execution President Joe Biden is staking Democrats’ political fortunes on voters caring more about the fact U.S. troops have left Afghanistan than how they departed: a picture of chaos at the Kabul airport and some Americans left behind. Read the full story here. World The Biden doctrine will allow America to focus on bigger goals Opponents of the withdrawal from Afghanistan are blocking foreign policy changes the US desperately needs AUGUST 30, 2021 by Stephen Walt Political thought The threat from the illiberal left Don’t underestimate the danger of left-leaning identity politics Charlemagne After Afghanistan, Europe wonders if France was right about America Emmanuel Macron argued the US could not be relied upon. He may have had a point Update your calendar The future of meetings How to get employees, clients and investors into a room Buttonwood Sustainable investing faces the beginnings of a backlash Ever keen to hold companies to account, virtuous investors now confront tricky questions Chaguan Xi Jinping Thought, for children China rolls out new textbooks on the supreme leader’s political philosophy It’s all connected, man From Congo to the Capitol, conspiracy theories are surging Covid and the internet are fuelling a global boom in bonkers beliefs The Economist Asks: Katie Kitamura How can war criminals be brought to justice? We ask Katie Kitamura, the Japanese-American author of “Intimacies”