THE HINDU EDITORIAL : NOVEMBER 16, 2017
THE HINDU EDITORIAL : NOVEMBER 16, 2017
a) Azzurri, fading: on the crisis in Italian football
A month ago, when Holland failed to make it to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was none of the shocked despair that hangs over Italy’s non-qualification following its defeat to Sweden in the two-legged play-off. Football in the Netherlands is facing its worst crisis and its fans have perhaps become used to under-performance. Since 1982, the team has failed to make it to the quadrennial extravaganza on four different occasions. Dutch footballers were always expected to thrill but not necessarily to win. Even the legendary Johan Cruyff didn’t bag football’s most coveted prize. But Italy is different. The Azzurri have always found a way, regardless of the circumstances. Italy went into the 2006 World Cup with a match-fixing scandal raging back home; it ended up lifting the trophy. Another scandal erupted ahead of the 2012 European Championship, but Italy emerged a worthy runner-up to Spain. Four years later, Italy went in with arguably its weakest squad ever but still outwitted reigning champion Spain and lost to Germany in the quarter-finals only on penalties. This is what makes the four-time champion missing out on the World Cup, for the first time since 1958, astounding. It is true that the qualification process left very little margin for error, with only the group topper earning a direct entry. Clubbed alongside Spain, Italy was always expected to come second and be in the playoff. Once there, it was unlucky to draw Sweden, the toughest of opponents. But even so, its performances have been truly worrying. Italian football has been stagnant for quite a while. In recent times the national team has even registered draws against novices such as Haiti and Luxembourg. There have been no credible replacements in sight for the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Alessandro Nesta. Only manager Antonio Conte’s brilliance saved the country at the 2016 Euros. There is such a dearth of emerging talent that in the first leg against Sweden, seven of Italy’s starting 11 were older than 30. Supporters even sought comfort in the team’s unblemished record at the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan, causing Pirlo to remark, “I’ve never seen a goal scored from the stands.” There is much to be blamed on current manager Giampiero Ventura. He repeatedly ignored players who were adept and schooled in modern-day tactical methods. Midfielder Jorginho, who has been excellent for Napoli, was only handed his debut against Sweden while forward Lorenzo Insigne, the most creative of the lot, was an unused substitute because the formation that Ventura used didn’t suit his best player. But history suggests Italy isn’t alone. Both Germany and France underwent similar turbulence before emerging stronger with a complete overhaul of their footballing structures. What Italy needs is similar soul-searching.
b) An itinerary in search of a strategy: on Trump’s East Asia tour
Parsing Donald Trump’s statements and Twitter posts through his 12-day, five-nation tour of Asia — the longest for a U.S. President in 25 years — to decipher a new American strategy towards the region can be taxing unless the idea is to cherry-pick and substantiate pre-existing notions.
‘Terrific’ China
One can read resistance to China’s expansive ambitions in euphemisms such as ‘freedom of navigation’ and condemnation of ‘predatory’ economic practices, used along with America’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and free trade. When you read them alongside the U.S.-Philippines commitment to “share best practices” to prevent illegal drug use, which is a “problem afflicting both countries”, and Mr. Trump’s desire to be friends with the “short and fat” ruler of North Korea, the emerging picture could appear confusing, if not outlandish. In his interactions with reporters as he travelled back, Mr. Trump gave an overview of the “terrific” tour and the new friendships that he has developed, how he enjoyed the unprecedented reception in Beijing, conversations with the “terrific” President Xi Jinping and the special honour he received at the Forbidden City. What topped the list of achievements for him were the business deals — he put the figure at $300 billion and hoped that it would exceed $1 trillion in the coming months, though the actual numbers remain unclear. He said security partnerships with these Asian partners have also been enhanced. Ahead of his travel, the White House had said his speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit in Vietnam would elucidate his vision for the Indo-Pacific region, a term that the Trump administration has started using in a clear acknowledgment of India’s prominence. Administration officials had been emphatic that his speech would demonstrate the U.S.’s continuing commitment to the region. His speech did not live up to the build-up, and may have actually added to the nervousness among traditional U.S. partners. Recalling the U.S.’s historical ties to the region, Mr. Trump said it is time the terms of engagement between these countries and the U.S. changed. In his reckoning, the U.S. has been taken advantage of by all countries and global institutions, particularly the World Trade Organisation (WTO). But he would not blame other countries or their leaders for this situation; it was all the fault of the U.S. administrations that preceded him. “Those days are over,” he declared. He was there “to offer a renewed partnership with America,” the basis of which would be “bilateral trade agreements with any Indo-Pacific nation that wants to be our partner and that will abide by the principles of fair and reciprocal trade… I call it the Indo-Pacific dream.”
What does he mean?
The U.S. has trade deficits with all the five countries that Mr. Trump visited and he told four of them that the U.S. would not tolerate this — putting China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam in the same basket on this count. In the case of the Philippines, which has a small surplus with the U.S., the relationship is less about trade, he said, but more for “military purposes… it’s called the most prime piece of real estate from a military standpoint.” What are the implications of Mr. Trump’s statement that “those days are over?” First, America offers these countries technology, capital and access to its market. Second, America offers a security guarantee and a predictable world order based on multilateral trade and security pacts. China has also been a beneficiary of this system, and the rise of China has added additional buoyancy for neighbouring countries. The friction between China and its neighbours heightened as Beijing’s ambitions grew after the 2008 financial crisis. Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea started to gravitate more towards the U.S., which was itself alarmed by the assertiveness of China. The Obama administration announced the Pivot to Asia strategy in response. Kurt Campbell, an Obama official who is credited with drafting the policy, described it as “a multifaceted approach that will involve a strong security component, working with allies, working constructively with China, a commercial dynamic that is about not shipping U.S. [jobs], but U.S. exports and services to Asia; a commitment to building institutions to multilateralism; bringing other partners into Asia, like Europe, working closely with Europe.” Like Mr. Trump, Barack Obama also wanted to open the Asian markets for American companies, but there was a broader blue print at play. Mr. Trump has knocked it down to a one-point agenda: buy our goods and services. His statement that countries in the “region [should] be strong, independent, and prosperous, in control of their own destinies, and satellites to no one,” is a call for ending multilateralism. More than a newfound respect for the autonomy of these countries, it reflects American disinterest. Mr. Trump also told his Asian hosts that they were free to pursue their interests solo, as he would pursue his. He hinted that America is washing its hands of any leadership role, making it clear that it could cut a deal with China on its own, regardless of its potential impact on other countries. China is the biggest trading partner of South Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Speaking after Mr. Trump at APEC, Mr. Xi presented a case for multilateralism and open trade. China is also willing to offer technology, capital and market access, on its terms under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Security concerns
Now, what is America offering for the security of these Asian partners? Mr. Trump asked them all to join hands with the U.S. in stopping North Korea’s nuclear adventurism. But that apart, he told Japan, Vietnam and South Korea to buy “our weapons”. “We make the best,” he told them and cited how Saudi Arabia was using them effectively. In one Twitter post during the tour, he also gave a carte blanche to the Saudi Arabian regime to chart regional politics. Mr. Trump’s “Indo-Pacific dream” may not appear to be much of a dream for most countries in the region. In 2006, Mr. Trump had said he was waiting for a housing market crash, and boasted about his ability to profit from a falling market. Conflicts in Asia, in the west and the east, could appear to be good opportunities for profit from the realtor’s perspective. We may be looking for a strategy that does not exist, perhaps. American economist Lawrence Summers, now a Harvard professor, and a key player in the American-led globalisation over the last three decades, described the challenge before America: “…(we) confuse a strategy with a wish list. Our strategy is that it is very important that they open their markets, that it is very important that they cooperate with us on this security issue… Well, that is a good wish list… And I do not think we as yet have a strategy for thinking about the management of the global economic system that is appropriately respectful of the scale and achievements of the Chinese economy.”
WORDS/VOCABULARY
1) Despair
Meaning: the complete loss or absence of hope.
Example: “a voice full of self-hatred and despair”
Synonyms: Desperation, Distress
Antonyms: Hope, Joy
2) Extravaganza
Meaning: An elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production.
Example: “an extravaganza of dance in many forms”
Synonyms: Spectacular, Display
3) Coveted
Meaning: Yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).
Example: “I covet one of their smart bags”
Synonyms: Desire, Crave
4) Raging
Meaning: Continuing with great force or intensity.
Example: “the stream could become a raging torrent in wet weather”
Synonyms: Violent, Strong
Antonyms: Calm
5) Erupted
Meaning: Break out suddenly and dramatically.
Example: “fierce fighting erupted between the army and guerrillas”
Synonyms: Happen, Arise
6) Outwitted
Meaning: Deceive by greater ingenuity.
Example: “Ray had outwitted many an opponent”
Synonyms: Outplay, Outsmart
7) Reigning
Meaning: (of a quality or condition) be the dominant feature of a situation or place.
Example: “confusion reigned”
Synonyms: Prevail, Exist
8) Astounding
Meaning: Surprisingly impressive or notable.
Example: “the summit offers astounding views”
Synonyms: Amazing, Shocking
9) Clubbed
Meaning: Combine with others so as to collect a sum of money for a particular purpose.
Example: “friends and colleagues clubbed together to buy him a present”
Synonyms: Collaborate, Ally
10) Stagnant
Meaning: Showing no activity; dull and sluggish.
Example: “a stagnant economy”
Synonyms: Inactive, Slow
Antonyms: Active, Vibrant
11) Novices
Meaning: A person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.
Example: “he was a complete novice in foreign affairs”
Synonyms: Beginner, Learner
Antonyms: Expert, Veteran
12) Dearth
Meaning: A scarcity or lack of something.
Example: “there is a dearth of evidence”
Synonyms: Lack, Scarcity
Antonyms: Abundance, Surfeit
13) Unblemished
Meaning: Not damaged or marked in any way.
Example: “her body was perfectly formed and unblemished”
Synonyms: Impeccable, Flawless
Antonyms: Flawed, Corrupt
14) Underwent -past of undergo
Meaning: Experience or be subjected to (something, typically something unpleasant or arduous).
Example: “he underwent a life-saving brain operation”
Synonyms: Experience, Undertake
15) Turbulence
Meaning: A state of conflict or confusion.
Example: “political turbulence”
Synonyms: Turmoil, Conflict
Antonyms: Peace, Calmness
16) Overhaul
Meaning: Overtake (someone), especially in a sporting event.
Example: “Jodami overhauled his chief rival”
Synonyms: Overtake, Outstrip
17) Decipher
Meaning: Succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something).
Example: “visual signals help us decipher what is being communicated”
Synonyms: Discern, Perceive
18) Cherry-pick
Meaning: Selectively choose (the most beneficial or profitable items, opportunities, etc.) from what is available.
Example: “the company should buy the whole airline and not just cherry-pick its best assets”
Synonyms: Choose
19) Substantiate
Meaning: Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
Example: “they had found nothing to substantiate the allegations”
Synonyms: Prove, Vindicate
Antonyms: Disprove, Refute
20) Euphemisms
Meaning: A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Example: “the jargon has given us ‘downsizing’ as a euphemism for cuts”
Synonyms: Substitute, Understatement
Antonyms: Dysphemism
21) Condemnation
Meaning: The expression of very strong disapproval; censure.
Example: “there was strong international condemnation of the attack”
Synonyms: Censure, Criticism
Antonyms: Praise, Plaudits
22) Afflicting
Meaning: (of a problem or illness) cause pain or trouble to; affect adversely.
Example: “his younger child was afflicted with a skin disease”
Synonyms: Trouble, Bother
Antonyms: Comfort
23) Outlandish
Meaning: Foreign or alien.
Example: “three wise, outlandish kings”
Synonyms: Weird, Strange
Antonyms: Ordinary, Commonplace
24) Unprecedented
Meaning: Never done or known before.
Example: “the government took the unprecedented step of releasing confidential correspondence”
Synonyms: Unmatched, Unrivalled
Antonyms: Normal, Common
25) Forbidden
Meaning: Not allowed; banned.
Example: “a list of forbidden books”
Synonyms: Prohibited, Unauthorized
Antonyms: Legal
26) Enhanced
Meaning: Intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.
Example: “his refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation”
Synonyms: Increase, Intensify
Antonyms: Diminish, Mar
27) Elucidate
Meaning: Make (something) clear; explain.
Example: “work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter”
Synonyms: Explain, Clarify
Antonyms: Confuse, Obscure
28) Emphatic
Meaning: Expressing something forcibly and clearly.
Example: “the children were emphatic that they would like to repeat the experience”
Synonyms: Vehement, Firm
Antonyms: Hesitant, Tentative
29) Demonstrate
Meaning: Clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence.
Example: “their shameful silence demonstrates their ineptitude”
Synonyms: Reveal, Indicate
Antonyms: Hide
30) Reckoning
Meaning: A person’s opinion or judgment.
Example: “by ancient reckoning, bacteria are plants”
Synonyms: Opinion, Evaluation
31) Implications
Meaning: The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
Example: “the implication is that no one person at the bank is responsible”
Synonyms: Suggestion, Inference
32) Buoyancy
Meaning: A cheerful and optimistic attitude or disposition; a high level of activity in an economy or stock market.
Example: “there is renewed buoyancy in the demand for steel”
Synonyms: Happiness, Strength
Antonyms: Depression, Pessimism
33) Friction
Meaning: Conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions.
Example: A considerable amount of friction between father and son”
Synonyms: Discord, Disunity
Antonyms: Harmony
34) Gravitate
Meaning: Move towards or be attracted to a person or thing.
Example: “young western Europeans will gravitate to Berlin”
Synonyms: Move, Head
35) Assertiveness
Meaning: Confident and forceful behaviour.
Example: “she has difficulty standing up for herself, even when assertiveness may be warranted”
Synonyms: Resolution, Confident
36) Multifaceted
Meaning: Having many different aspects or features.
Example: “his extraordinary and multifaceted career”
Synonyms: Versatile, Various
Antonyms: Same, Similar
37) Multilateralism
Meaning: The principle of participation by three or more parties, especially by the governments of different countries.
Example: “the president affirmed his commitment to multilateralism”
38) Destinies
Meaning: The hidden power believed to control future events; fate.
Example: “he believed in destiny”
Synonyms: Future, Fortune
39) Adventurism
Meaning: The willingness to take risks in business or politics; actions or attitudes regarded as reckless or potentially hazardous.
40) Carte blanche
Meaning: Complete freedom to do something.
Example: The landlord has given her carte blanche to redecorate the living room.
Synonyms: Autonomy, free hand.
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