In The News

China's Crackdown on Nonprofit Groups Prompts New Fears Among Activists

Keith B. Richburg May 12, 2010
The purpose of a non-profit or non-governmental organization is to act for the public good, with no benefits for individual organizers. But China’s communist government is wary of competition in serving the public good, and recent reports suggest a tightening control over what Keith Richburg of the Washington Post calls a “freewheeling civil society sector.” During the past two decades, thousands...

Tuareg Activist Takes on French Nuclear Company

Cordula Meyer April 28, 2010
Areva, a largely state-owned French power giant, has extensive uranium mining operations in northern Niger. That uranium generates the majority of France's electricity, along with thousands of jobs in France and across Europe. Yet, left in northern Niger are millions of tons of radioactive waste that have contaminated groundwater and killed crops, destroying the nomadic lifestyle of the...

Crumbs from the BRICs-Man’s Table

April 7, 2010
As global recession enfeebles the rich world, big middle-income countries, led by the BRICs, (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have dramatically increased their economic interest in poorer countries, and by consequence, their influence. This has taken direct – aid, investment, and trade – and indirect means, and continues to increase rapidly: the growing drought of rich-world assistance to Africa...

Germany: Responsible for Europe’s crisis?

Cameron Abadi March 22, 2010
Germany’s economic policies have strengthened its domestic economy but weakened Europe’s less developed economies. Low prices, resulting from low wage increases, have made German products more competitive in the European market. Meanwhile, domestic consumption has shown muted growth, allowing imports to remain low. The result is a high trade surplus and one of the largest GDPs in Europe. But...

Beer Globalization in Latin America

Benjamin Dangl February 24, 2010
The global beer industry is experiencing a round of consolidation, including the recent takeover of Mexican brewer FEMSA by the Dutch Heineken. The growing concentration of brewing might in the hands of a few companies is a natural result of corporate globalization – today four companies control half of the world’s beer production globally. But this trend could also lead to “homogenization of...

Deported Uighurs Highlight China’s Ties to Cambodia

Brendan Brady January 11, 2010
China’s use of its economic power to foster investment or effect policy has acquired a new dimension with the repatriation of Uighur asylum seekers in Cambodia. As a signatory to the 1951 international Refugee Convention, Cambodia is obligated not to return refugees that may face persecution. But its role in the repatriation to China of 20 Uighurs, who may face prosecution for their alleged...

China ”Wants to Set Up Factories in Africa”

Tania Branigan December 7, 2009
China’s relationship with Africa has been criticized as one focused solely on procuring natural resources. But Beijing is trying to improve this image by potentially moving lower-value manufacturing facilities to sub-Saharan Africa in possible partnership with the World Bank. In the process, this step may help African states develop a manufacturing base and improve their economies. But Africa...