NORTH AMERICA

General Info	US	Canada	Mexico
GDP	$8.9 trillion US	$658 billion US	$694.3 billion US
GDI*	6	1	49
Population	270,311,756	30,675,398	98,552,776
Leader	President Bill Clinton	Premiere Jean Chretien	President Ernesto Zedillo
Government	Federal republic; strong democratic tradition	Federation with parliamentary democracy	Federal republic operating under a centralized government; long time one-party democratic rule
Economy	Strong market-oriented economy	Strong market-oriented economic system	Free market economy with a number of state-owned enterprises
Main Trading partners	Canada, Mexico, EU, Japan, China (Most Favored Nation Status)	US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China , France, Mexico, Taiwan	US, Canada, Japan, Western Europe, South Korea, Brazil, Chile
Current Issues	Upcoming national elections, trade talks with China	Secessionist movement in Quebec, high unemployment	Chiapas secessionist movement, modernization of its economy, backlash of Mexican finanical crisis of 1994-1995
Embassy	http://www.state.gov/	http://canada.gc.ca/main_e.html	http://www.quicklink.com/mexico/ingles/ing.htm

*GDI: United Nations Gender Development Index (GDI) indicates the relative equality between men and women based on quality of life factors. The numbers rank the countries from 1 (the highest level of equality between genders) to 164 (the most inequality between genders).

Policy Positions	US	Canada	Mexico
Conflict and Cooperation International Crime: Drug Trafficking & War Crime Tribunals	major problems with drug production, transit, drug-related money laundering, and domestic usage will support tactics to control drug trafficking; supports prosecution of war criminals	problems with domestic drug production, drug-related money laundering, usage, and transit supports prosecution of war criminals	major problem with drug production, drug-related and transit; will support tactics to control drug trafficking generally supports prosecution of war criminals
Human Rights Humanitarian Aid & Intervention	very critical of countries that abuse HR 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 industrializing country must address HR issues, especially with Chiapas secessionist movement as LDC cannot afford to contribute toward aid or intervention
World Health Global Population & Malnutrition	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition	as LDC, cannot afford to contribute to WH programs, has urban population problems; cultural norms influence birth control policy
Global Environment Global Warming & Sustainable Development	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)
International Economics Trade & Security	disputes with EU over beef and banana exports; supports WTO and free market trading; trade policy in part influenced by NAFTA membership	disputes with EU over beef exports; supports WTO and free market trading; trade policy in part influenced by NAFTA membership	as LDC, supports UNCTAD, but also benefits from NAFTA pact with the US and Canada

General Info	Argentina	Brazil
GDP	$348.2 billion US	$1.04 trillion US
GDI*	48	56
Population	36,265,463	169,806,557
Leader	President Carlos Saul Menem	President Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Government	Republic; democratic	Federal republic; in transition to democracy with strong military influence
Economy	Free market economy in place after decades of state-run economy	Establishing free market economy after decades of state-run economy
Main Trading partners	Brazil, US, Chile, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France	Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market): Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, EU, US, Japan
Current Issues	high unemployment rate, economic reforms for long-term development, increasing problem of drug trafficking through ports, neighboring disputes with Paraguay regarding extradition of former Paraguayuan coup leader General Lino Oviedo	Transition to democracy and capitalism, recent financial crisis led to increased borrowing from IMF; huge gap between rich and poor
Embassy	http://www.embajadaargentina-usa.org/	http://www.brasil.emb.nw.dc.us/embing6.htm

Policy Positions	Argentina	Brazil
Conflict and Cooperation International Crime: Drug Trafficking & War Crime Tribunals	increasing problems with drug trafficking through ports support for prosecution of war criminals varies	has domestic drug production and use problem with cannabis important transshipment country increasingly used by Andean traffickers would like to minimize drug trafficking; support for prosecution of war criminals varies
Human Rights Humanitarian Aid & Intervention	being criticized for not extraditing former Paraguayuan coup leader General Lino Oviedo has minimal resources to contribute toward aid or intervention	as an industrializing country must address HR issues, especially with indigenous people and the disparity between rich and poor people has enormous number of street children criticized for its unwillingness to extradite criminal suspects
World Health Global Population & Malnutrition	does not have population or malnutrition problem at home is willing to contribute to WH programs, though has limited resources and cultural norms do influence policy	disparity between rich and poor people has enormous number of street children cultural norms influence birth control policy; as LDC, cannot afford to contribute to WH programs, has urban population problems portion of own population suffers from malnutrition due to economic gap
Global Environment Global Warming & Sustainable Development	some problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment) due to transition from state-run economy signed but has not ratified Kyoto Protocol	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
International Economics Trade & Security	trade policy in part determined by membership in Mercosur (Southern Common Market); attempting to rebuild following long-term state-run economic policy relies in part on international economic assistance	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

	Germany	UK	France	Russian Federation
GDP	$1.74 trillion US	$1.24 trillion US	$1.32 trillion US	$692 billion US
GDI*	17	11	7	53
Population	82,079,454	58,970,119	60.9 million	146,861,022
Leader	Chancellor Gerhard Schröder	Prime Minister Tony Blair	President Jacques Chirac	President Boris Yeltsin
Government	Federal republic; social democracy	Constitutional monarchy; social democracy	Republic; social democracy	Federation; democracy
Economy	Free market economy	Free market economy	Free market economy	Moving from central-planned economy to free market economy
Main Trading Partners	EU, US, Southeast Asia, Japan, China	EU, US	EU, US, Japan, Russia	US, EU, Japan, Eastern Europe
Current Issues	recent adoption of EU currency	Northern Ireland peace process	immigration issues, recent adoption of EU currency	transition from communist system to democracy and capitalist economy, corruption, organized crime
Embassy	http://www.germany-info.org/f_gic/index_ge.html	http://www.britain-info.org/bis/consular/ny/ny.stm	http://www.info-france-usa.org/	http://www.russianembassy.org/embassy.html

	Germany	UK	France	Russian Federation
Conflict and Cooperation International Crime: Drug Trafficking & War Crime Tribunals	domestics involved in drug production, transit, and usage will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking supports prosecution of war criminals	domestics involved in drug production, transit, drug-related money laundering, and usage will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking supports prosecution of war criminals	transit point for Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking supports prosecution of war criminals	drug-related problems due to increasing organized crime domestic drug consumption problems; transit point for many different illicit drugs internationally support for prosecution of war criminals varies
Human Rights 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 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 cannot afford to contribute humanitarian aid or efforts toward intervention
World Health Global Population & Malnutrition	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition	as country in transition, cannot afford to contribute to WH programs portion of own population suffers from malnutrition
Global Environment Global Warming & Sustainable Development	major proponent of environmental programs very willing to become involved internationally	generally willing to contribute to environmental programs	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)
International Economics Trade & Security	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	EU critical of HR violations in other countries, shapes policy EU increases economic security and international bargaining power	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	as country in transition, is dependent upon international aid attempting to build trade relations in post-communist era

	Nigeria	Kenya	Algeria
GDP	$132.7 billion US	$45.3 billion US	$121 billion US
GDI *	133	122	96
Population	110,532,242	28,337,071	30,480,793
Leader	General Olusegun Obasanjo	President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi	President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Government	Federal republic: in transition from military state to democracy	Republic: democracy	Republic: Democracy, but has strong military influence
Economy	State-run in transition to free market economy	combination state-run/free market economy	State-run with some aspects of free market economy
Main Trading Partners	US, EU, Japan	Uganda, UK, Tanzania, Germany, Netherlands, US, UAE, Japan	Italy, US, France, Spain, Germany
Current Issues	transition from military state to democracy, growth and development, corruption, crop damage due to weather conditions, Nigerian troops defending legitimate Sierra Leone government against rebel attacks	transition to capitalist economy, corruption, crop damage due to weather conditions, growth and development, problems with illegal weapons shipments and arms dealers, ethnic conflicts with Somali people living in Kenya	internal political conflicts, transition from communist, military state to democracy, growth and development
Embassy	http://www.info.usaid.gov/regions/afr/nigeria.html	http://kenyaembassy.com/	http://www.arab.net/algeria/algeria_contents.html

Policy Positions	Nigeria	Kenya	Algeria
Conflict and Cooperation International Crime: Drug Trafficking & War Crime Tribunals	increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America and heroin from Asia support for prosecution of war criminals varies due to cultural differences	some domestic problems with production and use of marijuana transit country for heroin from Asia and methaqualone from India support for prosecution of war criminals varies due to cultural differences	transit country for international drug flow support for war criminals varies due to cultural differences
Human Rights Humanitarian Aid & Intervention	as LDC cannot afford to contribute toward humanitarian aid or intervention as West African leader, often leading regional intervention	as LDC cannot afford to contribute toward humanitarian aid or efforts intervention	religious conflict causes human rights violations as LDC cannot afford to contribute toward humanitarian aid or intervention
World Health Global Population & Malnutrition	as LDC, cannot afford to contribute to population programs cultural norms influence policy minimal nutritional requirements are not met nationally	as LDC, cannot afford to contribute to population programs cultural norms influence policy minimal nutritional requirements are not met nationally	as LDC, cannot afford to contribute to population programs cultural norms influence policy minimal nutritional requirements are not met nationally
Global Environment Global Warming & Sustainable Development	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 LDC, problems with sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)
International Economics Trade & Security	in transition from state-run economy to free market economy part of West African trading bloc relies on international economic assistance	relies heavily on tourism part of East African trading block relies on international assistance	in transition from state-run economy to free market economy political turmoil causes economic instability suffered from 1980’s drop in oil prices relies on international economic assistance

	China	Japan	India	Pakistan
GDP	$4.25 trillion US	$3.08 trillion US	$1.534 trillion US	$344 billion US
GDI*	93	13	128	131
Population	1,236,914,658	125,931,533	984,003,683	135,135,195
Leader	President Jiang Zemin	Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto	Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (may change after September elections)	Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Government	Communist	Constitutional monarchy	Federal republic: democracy	Federal republic: democracy with strong military influence
Economy	State-run	Free market economy	Free market economy	Free market economy
Main Trading Partners	Hong Kong, US, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Netherlands , Taiwan, Singapore	US, EU, Southeast Asia, China	UK, US, Hong Kong, Germany, Belgium, Germany, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia	EU, US, Hong Kong, Japan, China
Current Issues	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	economic sanctions, growth and development, increasing ethnic and tribal violence, border dispute with India
Embassy	http://www.china-embassy.org/	http://www.embjapan.org/	http://www.indianembassy.org/	http://www.pakistan-embassy.com/

Policy Positions	China	Japan	India	Pakistan
Conflict and Cooperation International Crime: Drug Trafficking & War Crime Tribunals	major transshipment point for heroin from Asia growing domestic drug abuse problem varying support for prosecution of war criminals for cultural reasons	will support tactics to reduce drug trafficking to minimize domestic drug use varying support for prosecution of war criminals for cultural reasons	world's largest producer of opium for the pharmaceutical trade an undetermined amount of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets major transit country for illicit narcotics produced South Asia illicit producer of hashish and methaqualone varying support for prosecution of war criminals for cultural reasons	illicit producer of opium and hashish for the international drug trade center for processing Afghan heroin major transit country for heroin from Asia varying support for prosecution of war criminals for cultural reasons
Human Rights Humanitarian Aid & Intervention	HR is Western-dominated, go against Asian values difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed	HR is Western-dominated, go against Asian values as industrialized country can afford to guarantee and advocate HR	HR is Western-dominated difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed	HR is Western-dominated being criticized for human rights violations against women with tribal "honour killings" difficult to protect human rights where growth and development is needed contributed troops to Somali relief in 1991-2
World Health Global Population & Malnutrition	government has worked arduously to limit population growth in China generally meets nutritional needs	generally willing to contribute to WH programs that address global population and malnutrition recently passed birth control legislation	population growth problem, lacks resources to make necessary changes cultural norms influence policy minimal nutritional requirements are not met nationally	as LDC cannot afford to contribute to population programs minimal nutritional requirements are not met nationally
Global Environment Global Warming & Sustainable Development	as LDC, has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment	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)	as LDC, has difficulty subscribing to sustainable development (development that does not destroy the environment)
International Economics Trade & Security	heavily relies on trade with US has trade agreements with Southeast Asian and Pacific Rim countries	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	part of South Asian trading bloc relies on international economic assistance political turmoil recently caused domestic strikes