In this Pacific century the pendulum of economic power, and the political and military influence it brings, is swinging back towards Asia. But sudden shocks, harder to predict, will intrude on this slow rhythm. The Ukraine crisis is such a moment. Predicted by no-one, Russia's annexation of Crimea -- the first forcible transfer of European territory since 1945 -- and its subsequent destabilization of eastern Ukraine is already setting in motion forces that will be felt far beyond Europe.
Politics
