In The News

Economic Nationalism Rises in Indonesia

John Berthelsen June 5, 2012
In Indonesia, as foreign investors express interest in a project – purchasing a bank or building a port – the government steps in with new regulations that thwart the deal and reinforce state-controlled enterprises. Taxes discourage exports of raw materials, minerals or palm oil, and encourage refining inside Indonesia. While globalization and foreign direct investment have fueled Asia’s...

Oil and Gas in Islam’s Faultline

Jamsheed K. Choksy, Carol E. B. Choksy May 25, 2012
Conflict over oil and gas reserves, sectarian rivalries and foreign involvement interconnect as sources of instability in the Persian Gulf–Arabian Peninsula, argue Iran specialists Jamsheed K. Choksy and Carol E. B. Choksy, both at Indiana University. With Shiites accounting for 15 percent of the world’s Muslims, policymakers often overlook their concentration in the Persian Gulf region. There...

Afghanistan's Post-NATO Future

Harsh V. Pant May 18, 2012
A newly signed strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and the United States stipulates that NATO troops will largely withdraw by the end of 2014 with Afghan security forces taking the lead in securing the nation. The US will provide limited training and counterterrorism support for the next decade, but will be leaving a to-do list for major powers in the region, especially rivals...

China’s Aid Emboldens Cambodia

Sebastian Strangio May 16, 2012
Attendees to the 20th Summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Phnom Penh, could not miss the warm welcome for another visitor – billboards and flags honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao. The visit was no coincidence, argues journalist Sebastian Strangio, based in Phnom Penh. A steady flow of loans and investment in Cambodian projects signals rising Chinese influence and possible...

Ending Isolation – Part I

Philip Bowring April 23, 2012
The West uses sanctions to encourage authoritarian governments to meet global norms. In this two-part YaleGlobal series on the efficacy of sanctions, authors examine the experiences of two countries. In the first of the series, Hong Kong-based journalist Philip Bowring argues that sanctions can have diminishing impacts, if not lifted once reform has begun. Since a 1988 coup by army generals in...

Global Warming Is Real and Has Consequences – Part II

Pavin Chachavalpongpun April 6, 2012
Climate-change naysayers claim that shifting from fossil fuels to alternative energies is unnecessary or too costly for economies. Yet, the cost of climate change is clearly evident. Manufacturers are considering moving from Thailand and other countries threatened by flooding and other forces related to climate change, according to Pavin Chachavalpongpun, associate professor at the Centre for...

India Not Shining Any More

Ashok Malik December 20, 2011
The world’s largest democracy wages constant battle against entrenched special interests and the lure of socialistic protectionism. The most recent skirmish was on India’s plan to allow limited foreign direct investment in the retail trade. Critics rallied, raising doubts about the government’s ability to protect small traders against giants like Walmart, Carrefour and other foreign retailers....