• Upcoming national elections
•  trade disputes with EU

• Secessionist movement in Quebec
• high unemployment

• Chiapas secessionist movement, modernization of its economy, backlash of Mexican financial crisis of 1994-1995

International Drug Trafficking

• major problems with drug production, transit, drug-related money laundering, and domestic demand/consumption
• relies on military approach to addressing "the drug war"
• supports tactics to control drug trafficking

• problems with domestic drug production, drug-related money laundering, transit, and domestic demand/ consumption
• supports tactics to control drug trafficking

• major problem with drug production, drug-related and transit; will support tactics to control drug trafficking
• generally supports tactics to control drug trafficking

Humanitarian Aid & Intervention

• very critical of countries that abuse HR, but pressured by MNCs to take a "trade improves human rights" approach to trade relations
• may be willing to intervene depending on issue
• is criticized for relations with China and for own policy on capital punishment

• critical of countries that abuse HR
• may be willing to intervene depending on issue
• critical of US for capital punishment policy

• as an LDC is criticized for HR violations, especially in industry and in regard to the Chiapas secessionist movement
• as LDC is generally a recipient of aid and/or intervention
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

Global Population

• generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population 
• concerned with the spread of AIDS in relation to the growing population, asserts it is a security threat 

• generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population 

• as LDC, is generally a recipient of WH program benefits
• has urban population problems
• cultural norms influence birth control policy

Global Warming

• initiated the 1987 Montreal Protocol Treaty to control ozone-depleting emissions
• committed to Kyoto Protocol but not yet ratified
• the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels
• generally willing to support programs for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment)

• proponent of environmental conservation
• ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
• willing to support sustainable development programs

• major urban pollution problems; some commitment required through NAFTA membership
• as LDC, has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development without destroying the environment)

Sustainable Development & 
International Economic Relations

• generally supports WTO and free market trading, but also has many domestic critics of WTO policy
• trade policy in part influenced by NAFTA membership
• more willing to support programs for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment) when cost effective
• recently granted  "permanent normal trade relations" status to China

• generally supports WTO and free market trading, but also has many domestic critics of WTO policy
• trade policy in part influenced by NAFTA membership
• generally willing to support programs for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment)

• as LDC, supports UNCTAD, but also benefits from NAFTA pact with the US and Canada
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

General Info

• Transition to democracy and capitalism, recent financial crisis led to increased borrowing from IMF
• huge gap between rich and poor
•  major problem with children living in/off of the street

• A huge informal economic sector (this makes it difficult for the government to accurately determine its GDP
•  it also means the government is losing possible tax revenues from these informal businesses)
•  largely agrarian-based society
• corruption
• lack of sufficient infrastructure --such as roads, sewage, garbage disposal, communications, etc.

Brazil

Drug Trafficking 

• has domestic drug production and use problem with cannabis
• important transshipment country increasingly used by Andean traffickers
• would like to minimize drug trafficking

• illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; 
• important transshipment country for cocaine headed from the Andes region to the southern countries in South America, with some being exported to Europe and the US
• would like to minimize drug trafficking

Humanitarian Aid & Intervention

• as an LDC is criticized for HR violations, especially with indigenous people and the disparity between rich and poor people
• has enormous number of street children
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

• historically understands being subjected to human rights abuses, after being under an authoritarian military rule for almost four decades up until 1989
• has a large agrarian society who live at subsistence levels
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

Global Population

• disparity between rich and poor people
• has enormous number of street children
• cultural norms influence birth control policy
• as LDC,  is generally a recipient of WH program benefits 
• has urban population problems

• cultural norms influence birth control policy
• has a large agrarian society that lives at subsistence levels

Global Warming

• disputes over ownership and usage of rainforests in Amazon; problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment) due to transition from state-run economy
• did not participate in Kyoto Protocol

• overdependent on agriculture and land
• contributes to deforestation
• signatory of Kyoto Protocol
• generally supports projects to arrest global warming, but also contributes to the problem through its own deforestation rates

International Economics

Sustainable Development 
& 
International Economic Relations

• trade policy in part determined by membership in Mercosur (Southern Common Market)
• attempting to restructure economy following long-term state-run economic policy
• relies heavily on international economic assistance
• as LDC, supports UNCTAD
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• trade policy in part determined by membership in Mercosur (Southern Common Market)
• attempting to restructure economy following long-term state-run economic policy
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement due to domestic restraints

• recent adoption of EU currency
• trade disputes with US

• immigration issues
• recent adoption of EU currency; recent trade disputes with US

• transition from communist system to democracy and capitalist economy, corruption, organized crime

Drug Trafficking

• domestic problem of drug production, transit, and usage
• supports tactics to control drug trafficking

• transit point for Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine
• supports tactics to reduce drug trafficking

• drug-related problems due to increasing organized crime
• domestic drug consumption problems
• transit point for many different illicit drugs internationally

Humanitarian Aid
&
Intervention

• as EU member, committed to HR issues and intervention in particular cases
• critical of US for capital punishment and relations with China

• as EU member, committed to HR issues and intervention in particular cases
• critical of US for capital punishment and relations with China

• as country in transition, has own problems with HR abuses, especially with ethnic clashes
• has been under much criticism for activity in Chechnya
• cannot afford to contribute humanitarian aid or efforts toward intervention

Global Population

• generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population 

• generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population 

• as country in transition, cannot afford to contribute to WH programs

Global Warming

• major proponent of environmental programs
• very willing to become involved internationally

• generally willing to contribute to environmental programs

• as country in transition, cannot afford to contribute to environmental programs
• has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)

Sustainable Development 
& 
International Economic Relations

• EU critical of HR violations in other countries, shapes policy
• EU increases economic security and international bargaining power
• member of first round adoption of Euro monetary unit
• generally supports WTO and free market trading, but also has many domestic critics of WTO policy

• EU critical of HR violations in other countries, shapes policy
• EU increases economic security and international bargaining power
• member of first round adoption of Euro monetary unit
• generally supports WTO and free market trading, but also has many domestic critics of WTO policy

• as country in transition, is dependent upon international aid
• attempting to build trade relations in post-communist era
• as CIT, supports UNTAD's efforts in regard to international economic relations, but also wants to participate in WTO
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• civil disruption between government and rebel military groups has led to destruction of country's infrastructure and has disrupted the political and economic systems
• government has lost much tax revenue from destroyed businesses
• underwent IMF debt restructuring in 1998
• was stabilized by UN peacekeeping forces who also assured a fair election was held in 1999 for the presidency;  UN peacekeeping being phased out gradually

• transition from military state to democracy
• major internal conflict and strife
• issues surrounding growth and development
• internal corruption
• crop damage due to weather conditions
• Nigerian troops initiated efforts to resolve Sierra Leone disputes; now supporting UN peacekeeping intervention
• severe problems with the spread of AIDS

• extremely high rate of unemployment; no jobs for youth
• problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups, especially due to transition from apartheid system
• high rates of crime,  internal corruption, and gang-related violence
• severe problems with the spread of AIDS

Drug Trafficking

• no indication of a domestic usage problem
• no indication that the country is used for transport of illegal drugs
• may support efforts to arrest drug trafficking in exchange for domestic supports

• increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America and heroin from Asia
•  

• increasingly a transit route  for heroin and cocaine as well as methaqualone which comes from India via Eastern Africa
• major problems with drug production, transit, and domestic demand/ consumption

Humanitarian Aid & Intervention

• internal issues of rebel forces and political upheaval
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

• as regional leader of West Africa, has headed several  regional intervention operations
• internal issues of religious persecution between Christians and Muslims
• issues with children soldiers
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

• as country previously ruled by apartheid, understands the pressures of intervention on behalf of human rights
• still experiencing racial tensions 
• as regional leader of Southern Africa, has headed several regional intervention operations
• supportive of UN peacekeeping operations

Global Population

• as LDC, is more likely to be recipient of WH population programs, but does take a regional lead in addressing population issues
• CAR is of particular concern with the spread of AIDS in Africa in relation to the growing population, as well as surrounding high risk areas

• as LDC, is more likely to be recipient of WH population programs, but does take a regional lead in addressing population issues
• cultural norms influence policy (largely Muslim population)
• Nigeria is of particular concern with the spread of AIDS in Africa in relation to the growing population, as well as surrounding high risk areas

• South Africa is of particular concern with the spread of AIDS in Africa in relation to the growing population, as well as surrounding high risk areas
• as country in transition out of apartheid, is more likely to be recipient of WH population programs, but does take a regional lead in addressing population issues

Global Warming

• large exporter of timber, highly dependent on timber export for hard currency
• as LDC, problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)

• as LDC, problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)

• as country in transition out of apartheid, has problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)

Sustainable Development 
& 
International Economic Relations

• economic situation seriously affected by internal political  divisions
• relies on international economic assistance
• recently underwent debt restructuring by IMF
• as LDC, supports UNTAD's efforts in regard to international economic relations
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• in transition from state-run economy to free market economy
• part of West African trading bloc
• relies on international economic assistance
• subject to much criticism for crime rings being run out of Nigeria
• as LDC, supports UNTAD's efforts in regard to international economic relations
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• huge disparity between rich and poor people
• basically recovering from apartheid era where inequality produced labor at very low costs and under poor conditions
• part of Southern Africa trading bloc
• relies on international economic assistance
•  transition from state-run economy to free market economy
• as LDC, supports UNTAD's efforts in regard to international economic relations
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• trade talks with US

• crowding of habitable land area, aging of the population, budget deficit, whaling issues

• growth and development, border dispute with Pakistan, internal ethnic violence, recent elections

Drug Trafficking

• major transshipment point for heroin from Asia
• growing domestic drug abuse problem
• will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking to minimize domestic drug use
• has rigorous domestic program for combating illegal drug consumption

• will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking to minimize domestic drug use

• increasingly a transit route  for opium and illicit drugs to South Asia
• major problems with drug production, transit, and domestic demand/ consumption
• will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking to minimize domestic drug use

Humanitarian Aid & Intervention

• HR is Western- dominated, goes against Asian values
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

• HR is Western-dominated, goes against Asian values
• as industrialized country can afford to guarantee and advocate HR

• HR is Western-dominated; goes against Indian cultural values
• difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed

Global Population

• government has worked arduously to limit population growth in China

• generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population 
• recently passed birth control legislation

• population growth problem, lacks resources to make necessary changes
• cultural norms influence policy

Global Warming

• as LDC, has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment
• reliance on coal for fuel contributes to global warming

• hosted Kyoto Conference on Global Warming in 1995
• is willing to contribute to environmental programs

• as LDC, has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)
• losing ice cap source that feeds Ganges River

Sustainable Development 
& 
International Economic Relations

• heavily relies on trade with US
• recently received "permanent normal trade relations" status with the US
• has trade agreements with Southeast Asian and Pacific Rim countries
• awaiting membership in WTO
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC

• has trade agreements with US, Southeast Asian and Pacific Rim countries, and the EU
• economy greatly affects international global economy

• part of South Asian trading bloc
• relies on international economic assistance
• particularly objected to WTO negotiations regarding limiting children's labor
• understands need for sustainable development (development without destroying the environment), but difficult to implement as LDC