In The News

Students Shun Native Tongue

Liu Qing November 11, 2005
As China becomes a market economy and an increasingly influential world power, Chinese students are showing a great interest in acquiring proficiency in the global lingua franca, English. University graduates are honing their skill in English in order to make themselves more attractive to prospective employers. But as Shanghai writer Liu Qing points out, this emphasis on English has emerged at...

China Spending Billions to Better Universities

Howard W. French October 27, 2005
In its latest bid to rise to great power status, China is spending billions of dollars to transform its universities by wooing top scholars and building cutting-edge research facilities. Yet despite China's astounding expansion of education – the number of undergraduates and PhDs in China has increased fivefold in the past decade – many educators lament the dearth of academic debate in...

China, India Superpower? Not so Fast!

Pranab Bardhan October 25, 2005
Every day, countless commentators prophesize the ascendance of the world's next superpowers, China and India, the two "Asian giants" shaking off their ancient slumber and rising to the call of the 21st century. According to popular punditry, their place in the firmament of globalization's success stories is already guaranteed. Yet economist Pranab Bardhan argues that a much...

Islam Dot Com

Injy El-Kashef October 20, 2005
Internet real estate has a growing niche market, one that stands to transform the nature of religious dialogue the world over. Websites devoted to the study and discussion of Islam have increased in numbers in the last two decades. From humble beginnings at the start of the internet boom, today, sites like Ramadan.co.uk and Islamicity.com feature reminders and tips for religious holidays, modern-...

Don't Tell Anybody It's Africa Calling

Nayan Chanda October 4, 2005
Six hundred years ago, France exported slaves from what is today Senegal. Now, the West African country imports jobs from its former colonial master – causing panic in France, but bringing hope to workers at home, writes YaleGlobal editor Nayan Chanda. More and more French call center companies now outsource to Senegal, where they can conduct business at a fraction of European operating costs....

Making Education the Focus of Gulf-Europe Ties

Dr. Christian Koch September 28, 2005
The annual ministerial meetings of the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council have, in recent years, been mostly oriented towards addressing pressing security and trade concerns. Over recent years, the dialogue between the two regions has mostly dealt with Iran’s nuclear program, human rights issues in the Gulf, the training of Iraqi security officials and expanding economic ties. But, according to...

In Germany, Harder Line Looms

Ian Johnson September 16, 2005
Following the London bombings and communal violence in the Netherlands, Europe's relations with its Muslim citizens have grown increasingly strained. Governments are now turning a sterner eye towards Islamic organizations within their borders, hoping to nip domestic Islamic radicalism in the bud. In Germany, attorneys have launched an investigation into the dealings of the Islamic Community...