During the past decades, the United States of America has had a mixed relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Most recently, decisions by some UNESCO member states have led to increased congressional interest in U.S. funding of and participation in the organization. Established in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II, UNESCO aims to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among member states in the fields of education, science, and culture.

Relations between Japan and Africa have become geostrategic again. For a long time they were limited to trade, investment and aid, with Tokyo wanting to maintain a presence in certain markets and to have access to local commodity resources. In terms of investments and trade with Africa, Japan is much behind countries like the United States, France, India and China. But watch for Japan! Japan wants to transform its relationship with Africa from one of fonor-recipient to that of a business partnership and Tokyo is intent on tapping a burgeoning market.

Policy preferences across the EU member states are not homogeneous, on the contrary, enlargement has contributed to even larger distance among them . Consequently, it has become more difficult to reach negotiation agreement. Member states search for solutions to push their policy positions through. This results in increased tendency to search for allies during the preparatory phase of negotiations and to build coalitions in the Council negotiations in order to maximize the member states influence. Larger countries have more bargaining power in the EU Council negotiations, i.e.

The role Zagreb wants to play as a new member of the EU is still unclear. The Croatian elite has not yet begun to seriously discuss what the country wants to do in the Union. There are some ideas, but still poorly defined. Certainly, Croatia can provide Brussels with knowledge and advice on the Western Balkans, but the country refuses to claim the role of 'protector' of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of rapprochement.