In The News

Out of the Cold: Burma and US Take Tentative Steps

David I. Steinberg November 4, 2009
Ever since Burma declared martial law in 1988, relations between it and the US have been strained. But as Burma expert David Steinberg writes, with the visit this week by Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell as well as a recent trip by Virginia Senator Jim Webb there are signs of a thaw. Still, such developments only suggest tentative steps in normalizing relations between the two countries...

Revolution in a Box

Charles Kenny October 23, 2009
Television ownership has increased rapidly around the world. But many people in developing countries are only getting access to TVs now. What is unique about today’s access for the heretofore underprivileged watcher is televisions now are receiving digital signals, which means less governmental control of content. On the other hand, that many of the most popular shows are produced in the United...

Germany’s Boring Election Masks Troubles Ahead

Bruce Stokes October 12, 2009
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s win in the recent German election could bring trouble for Berlin’s allies both in Europe and abroad. Though the elections were some of the dullest in history, according to commentator Bruce Stokes, the make-up of the new government – Christian Democrat and Free Democrat – is likely to lead to divisions with international allies over jumpstarting the economy and...

Will Japan Finally Get a Cabinet That Makes Policy?

Karel van Wolferen September 10, 2009
For all of Japan’s economic prowess and impact on the rest of the world, in one area the country has remained relatively diffident: foreign policy. While reasons for such a stance lie in Japanese public opinion, an important factor is Japan’s status as a virtual protectorate of the US. In the past, Japan rarely rocked the boat when it came to US geopolitical and strategic goals, creating a...

Obama’s Middle East Challenge – Part II

Dilip Hiro June 18, 2009
In this second part of a two part series on Obama’s Middle East challenges, author Dilip Hiro offers a pointed analysis of the Iranian election, detailing its flaws and its possible aftermath. Prior to the election, Iranian opinion polls suggested opposition candidate and former Prime Minister, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was leading incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Thus it came as a surprise...

Obama’s Middle East Challenge – Part I

Fawaz A. Gerges June 16, 2009
With President Obama’s ground-breaking speech in Cairo and the turbulent Iranian election, the Middle East is witnessing a quickening tempo of history. In the first of this two-part series on Obama’s Middle East challenge, Middle Eastern Studies professor Fawaz A. Gerges analyzes Obama’s speech, which he thinks could prove to be a pivotal moment in Middle East politics. At the least, it shows a...

The Congress Party’s Win

May 22, 2009
Indonesia should take comfort and guidance from the Congress Party’s recent success in India’s elections, according to this editorial from The Jakarta Post. As one of the world’s largest democracies, Indonesia has much in common with India not only historically, but also structurally. The similarities in ethnic and political diversity are striking. But Indonesia can learn a number of lessons from...