This issue of South Bulletin focuses on the WTO’s Doha negotiations. The Doha talks have missed many deadlines. The latest deadline is 2010, but it will most likely also be missed.

The Bulletin gives a brief report on the Stocktaking Exercise held at the WTO at the end of March. It was supposed to catalyse movement in the talks but instead became an occasion to confirm that there was nothing new in the impasse.

Another article analyses the “rise and decline” of the Doha talks, tracing the history from its controversial start in 2001 to the present impasse. On the way, the Doha programme lost its development goal and instead became an opportunity for developed countries to pressurise developing countries to open up their markets.

This latest issue of the South Bulletin focuses on some key question in the minds of many today:  Is the recession over?  Will we really have a global recovery?  What policies are needed to ensure the world does not slip into another recession?

The world economy is still weak and may remain so for some time because there is insufficient global “effective demand”.  For a real recovery to take place, there has to be a boost to global demand, without creating new financial bubbles.

The South Bulletin No. 44 (8 March 2010) carries a main article on the workshop held by South Centre on the current economic situation; Three eminent economists have warned developing countries not to be misled by reports that a global economic recovery is underway; Most developing countries are yet to benefit from recovery; And the South as a whole has to re-examine their development strategies in light of basic economic changes in developed countries.

This first issue of 2010 (dated 8 Feb 2010) focuses on the Copenhagen Climate Conference and After. 

The Bulletin not only analyses what happened at Copenhagen but more importantly on the Way Forward.

Out of the messy conclusion of Copenhagen must emerge a resumption of the UNFCCC Climate Talks so that there can finally be a successful outcome in 2010.