To recycle a few of the conversations in this blog, I wanted to bring up two subjects.  One of the posts dealt with the potential power of international courts (an ICC with teeth) and the other with a possible secession vote looming in the Sudan.

I am a firm believe, by virtue that I studied Economics, that economic sanctions are the true teeth within the UN. In fact, these kinds of sanctions could be motivating the rather uncommon and unorthodox rapidity of voting for a new constitution in Madagascar.  The AU and aid donors took a stand in front of a coupe carried out two years ago.  So, two questions come to mind:  why aren't sanctions used more often?  and do we only use sanctions on countries that are not economic heavyweights?

The second subject of this post is simply to update the readers about the possible secession of southern Sudan from Sudan.  I would make a crack about post-colonial studies getting a boost from this one...but...oops, I already did.  In all seriousness, I am not quite sure what to make of this and cannot wait to see how it plays out and if it will indeed be beneficial to southern Sudan.