In The News

Bush Needs Decisive Change of Course

Fred Bergsten December 14, 2004
As US account deficits deepen and global oil prices escalate, President George W. Bush will face some serious challenges in his second term. According to economist Frank Bergsten, neither the US nor world economies can afford an extension of Washington's economic and energy policy status quo. A combination of strong domestic fiscal action - deficit reduction to enhance savings - and...

From Free Market to "Our Power"

Liam Salter December 13, 2004
Though enshrined in the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, clean sustainable energy looks a long way off in much of Asia. Demand for coal in India and China has risen exponentially in recent years, fuelling fears of an imminent pollution crisis. Efforts to steer Asia away from the "hard energy path" – reliance on traditional energy sources – have met with only gradual...

Central Asia: China's Mounting Influence

Jeremy Bransten November 24, 2004
From street markets to oil pipelines, China is extending its influence in Central Asian countries. As the Chinese economy booms, a major priority is securing natural resources to keep pace with demand. China and Kazakhstan have agreed to construct a regional pipeline, and in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, China has invested in hydroelectric projects. In addition to bolstering trade ties, Beijing...

Walking on Eggshells in Tehran

George Perkovich November 22, 2004
Iran's nuclear ambitions have once again returned to the headlines. Just days after the Mideast nation entered an agreement with the European trio – France, Germany, and the UK – US officials made allegations about Iran's continued weapons development. As those accusations remain unsubstantiated, writes nonproliferation expert George Perkovich, the focus of international attention...

Oil Supply I: The Arabs Look to the East

Michael Vatikiotis November 18, 2004
The relationship between Saudi Arabia and its allies in the West may never be as warm as it once was in the pre-9/11 era. Luckily for the kingdom, it sits on one-quarter of the world’s reserves of crude oil, and East Asia desperately needs oil to fuel its staggering economic growth. China’s efforts to satiate its unquenchable thirst for oil have spawned greater economic and political ties to the...

US Election and the World – Part IV

Zubeida Jaffer November 15, 2004
In the aftermath of the greatly anticipated US elections, observers worldwide are assessing the consequences of George W. Bush's reelection. Concluding its multi-part series, YaleGlobal gauges the African reaction to the landmark political event. Political analyst and journalist Zubeida Jaffer reports that most Africans are disappointed by the Republican triumph, but remain willing to...

Frustrations in Beijing

October 20, 2004
Because of geopolitical imperatives, Russia and China need each other's economic and political cooperation – all the more so, now that Putin is seeking to boost Russia's global influence in the US-dominated world order. According to this Japan Times editorial, however, recent speculation about a new Beijing-Moscow axis is exaggerated. The two governments sealed their relationship in...