In The News

Why the World Is Becoming the Un-Sweden

John Feffer June 15, 2015
Fifty years ago, academics predicted that that the two ideological systems of the Cold War would converge to include the best features of capitalism and collectivism, or a Swedish type of social democracy. They expected modernization to force governments to evolve. Today, many countries demonstrated a convergence, but with versions that incorporate the worst of both – ruthless forms of capitalism...

China’s Global Governance Challenge

Stephen S. Roach June 9, 2015
China is preparing for a broader role in leading Asia on economic development and world affairs. The nation has long been an active member of global organizations including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and others, and now is “engaged in global institution building of its own” with the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, or AIIB, writes Stephen S. Roach, author, former...

Russia’s Turbulence Could Drive Sustainable Development

Anastasia Okorochkova April 14, 2015
Falling oil prices and western sanctions have led to hard economic times for Russians. But lingering economic crisis can also allow a country new opportunity to regroup and reform, innovating and transforming the economy. Paradoxically, the long-running crisis could drive Russia to end its reliance on export of fossil fuels and embrace sustainability. “To do so, Russia must mobilize its...

Nations Line Up to Join China-Led Infrastructure Bank

Will Hickey April 9, 2015
The world’s most populous nation has a sizable sovereign fund and is on track to surpass the United States as the world’s largest economy. “The Chinese development model of technology transfer and infrastructure development, including highways, ports, railways, has brought millions out of poverty and into a middle class existence,” writes Will Hickey, of the School of Government and Public Policy...

Can Authoritarian Capitalism Outlive Lee Kuan Yew?

John Cassidy April 6, 2015
From 1959 to 1990, Lee Kuan Yew guided Singapore’s remarkable rise to an Asian economic powerhouse. The Singaporean prime minister trail-blazed the creation of an “authoritarian capitalist” model of economic development, soon followed by China. The model was built on western ideas favored by Lee including meritocracy, universal public education, and emphasis on science and technology.. But the...

The German Road: Congo Project Shows Pitfalls of Development Aid

Samiha Shafy March 25, 2015
From 2002 to 2011, Welthungerhilfe, a major German relief organization, invested in road construction for the Democratic Republic of Congo, National Road N2 is “613-kilometers (381-miles) long, stretching all the way to Kisangani, a city on the shores of the country's namesake: the Congo River,” explains Samiha Shafy for Spiegel Online. The goal was that a road stretching into the jungle...

Sri Lanka Tells China It Will Rethink Ties and a Major Port Project

Chen Qin and Huang Shan March 12, 2015
Foreign relations can shift with a new national government, and a key link in China’s plan for a maritime Silk Road winding through the Pacific and Indian oceans has been put on hold in Sri Lanka. The new government under President Maithripala Sirisena announced an environmental review for a proposed port and retail project in Sri Lanka. The deal included more than 1 million square meters of land...