In The News

Power of Information Technology Awaits Unleashing

William Mougayar July 1, 2004
With no conclusive outcome reached at the UN-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society, developing countries will continue to lag behind developed countries in the vital Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The author, William Mougayar, an independent scholar and management consultant, opines that the meeting should have focused on important issues such as network...

East Asia and Bumpy Sino-Taiwanese Relations

Jusuf Wanandi July 1, 2004
With the Taiwan’s presidential election over the issue of its relations with China has receded from the public attention. This inattention, a leading Indonesian commentator Yusuf Wanandi says, could lead to the eruption of a dangerous conflict between China and Taiwan, affecting the stability and prosperity of all of East Asia. He says that the Taiwanese President Chen Shui Bian has decided on...

Blair: NATO Lacks Sense of Urgency

Matthew Tempest June 30, 2004
With the handover of sovereignty to Iraq now officially complete, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is calling on NATO to step up to the plate. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Blair said today, the transatlantic alliance must act soon and show resolve to build a peaceful and democratic polity. Currently, he said, NATO "lacked the right sense of urgency" in these two hot spots. Lamenting the fact...

Gulf Security in a Globalizing World: Going beyond US Hegemony

Michael Kraig June 29, 2004
War and domestic political uncertainty have reigned in the Middle East during the past three decades. But one strategic reality has steadfastly evolved: the rise of the United States as an external guarantor of Gulf security. The continued presence of 138,000 US troops in Iraq after the formal handover of sovereignty is the latest reminder. However, while US military dominance may be...

Lessons on Globalization from India

Pratap Bhanu Mehta June 17, 2004
Is there an inherent contradiction between democracy and globalization? Some anti-globalization protesters might say yes. And their pro-free trade opponents might also agree. But upon careful consideration, writes philosopher and political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta, it is clear that the debate between democrats and globalizers is often too stylized. "The constraints on democracy, in...

The War on Terror Yet to Be Won in Southeast Asia

Zachary Abuza June 15, 2004
Since the much-hyped global ‘war on terror', the human rights situation in Southeast Asia has taken a turn for the worse. In the name of fighting Islamic terrorist groups in the region, says political scientist Zachary Abuza, governments are using state power to repress political opposition by targeting political dissidents and making widespread arrests without trial. Malaysia and Singapore...

Nations Vow Corruption Fight

Nancy San Martin June 9, 2004
At the recent annual general assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Quito, Ecuador, member nations agreed to improve the situation of democracy, human rights, and corruption in the Americas. In order to combat corruption, they pledged to deny refuge to corrupt officials from other countries and agreed to cooperate in the recovery of stolen funds. Further, the OAS'...