In The News

An Unlikely Marriage

Nayan Chanda August 20, 2009
The notion that China and America have fused into one economy, termed “Chimerica”, is now likely a chimera, according to the co-creator of the phrase, economic historian Niall Ferguson. This does not mean the two countries are not ineluctably linked; perhaps even to the degree that loosening the ties might precipitate unforeseen, but negative consequences. But it does call into question the idea...

New Configuration of Obama’s Asia – Part I

Harsh V. Pant July 21, 2009
On her first visit to India, charismatic US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton sought to reassure India that the Indo-US friendship remains strong. But there is no mistaking that the warmth generated thanks in part to George W. Bush’s recognition of India as a de facto nuclear power is absent, according to King’s College professor Harsh Pant. While the reasons for this cooling are many, the...

Minilateralism

Moisés Naím July 1, 2009
A multilateral approach is frequently invoked as the way to solve many of the world’s problems. But Moses Naim, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, argues that traditional multilateralism has failed to resolve the major global problems of the past decade. The most recent example of a successful international accord on a vital issue was the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994....

Obama’s Middle East Challenge – Part I

Fawaz A. Gerges June 16, 2009
With President Obama’s ground-breaking speech in Cairo and the turbulent Iranian election, the Middle East is witnessing a quickening tempo of history. In the first of this two-part series on Obama’s Middle East challenge, Middle Eastern Studies professor Fawaz A. Gerges analyzes Obama’s speech, which he thinks could prove to be a pivotal moment in Middle East politics. At the least, it shows a...

“We All Have to Think Multilateral”

May 8, 2009
R. Nicholas Burns, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, analyzes President Obama’s ongoing challenges, including building a strong relationship with India and fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in this interview with Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal. He also stresses that the complexity of transnational issues is going to require an “unprecedented level of...

Despite Setback, Asean Has Important Role

Simon Tay April 27, 2009
After a threat by rioting protesters led to the cancellation of the Asean – Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Summit, there have been fresh concerns about the relevance of the regional grouping. But Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, argues that despite the recent setback, Asean’s role as a hinge for regional cooperation makes it too important to be...

China Steps Up to World Stage, Cautiously

François Godement April 24, 2009
Though commentators were expecting China to approach the G-20 as an Asian Goliath, what they got instead was the traditional cautious dragon. As Asia specialist François Godement argues, such reticence to playing a bigger part on the global stage should not come as a surprise. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t some unexpected events. President Hu Jintao meeting...