In The News

China Pivots to the Middle East and Iran

Debalina Ghoshal July 7, 2016
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action implemented in January ends Iran’s nuclear-weapons activities and encourages cooperation on civilian nuclear programs and investment. Though six countries signed the agreement with Iran, China is emerging as a principal beneficiary. “The West struggles to improve relations with Iran, a major market with 77 million people, as many hesitate to risk violating...

Wolf-Pack Terrorism: Inspired by ISIS, Made in Bangladesh

Saroj Kumar Rath July 5, 2016
Ongoing political squabbles and vendettas do not stop terror, and militants will use such differences to drive a wedge into societies. “Ongoing conflict between the two major political parties, Bangladesh National Party, which considers itself custodian of Bangladeshi nationalism, and Awami League, which regards itself as the sole guiding force of Bangladeshi liberation, has left the field open...

The UK Will Survive, But Europe Won't

Sławomir Sierakowski June 27, 2016
Voters in Europe and the United States are increasingly lulled by the wild promises of populists who seek change and destruction of global institutions masterminded by elites. “The economy has gone global, but politics is still a national process,” writes Sławomir Sierakowski. “This disconnect has created the sense, among ordinary citizens, that democracy – the people’s will – has been undermined...

Post-Withdrawal Britain: Why the Swiss Model Wouldn't Work for the UK

Christian Teevs June 14, 2016
British voters favoring leaving the European Union suggest that the country’s status could be similar to that of Norway and Switzerland. But the United Kingdom, with a population of 65 million, is not Norway or Switzerland, with 5.5 million and 8.5 million people, respectively. To access the EU market, the British would likely join the European Economic Area, like Norway, and could not escape...

Ambition and Chinese Hostility Push India Closer to the US

Harsh V. Pant June 7, 2016
Narendra Modi, on his fourth visit to the United States as India’s prime minister, makes a case for strengthening ties between the two nations. The relationship centers on trade, defense cooperation and concerns about China. “Indian moves towards the United States are driven in large measure by China’s openly hostile acts vis-a-vis India,” explains author Harsh V. Pant. “The Modi government’s...

Modi in America: Strategic Convergence Alone Won’t Deflect Scrutiny on Treatment of NGOs and Minorities

Nayan Chanda June 6, 2016
The United States fought a war in Vietnam to prevent the expansion of communism, and more than 40 years later, the two countries are strengthening ties to curb Chinese expansionism. The United States lifted a ban on arms sales to Vietnam but human rights concerns could still block transactions. US President Barack Obama, during his visit to Vietnam, insisted that human rights reinforce rather...

Obama's Pivot to Asia Is Working

Doyle McManus June 3, 2016
The Obama administration’s pivot to Asia, starting in 2011, has drawn both criticism and praise. Doyle McManus argues the pivot is working well. “Almost every country in the region is clamoring for a closer relationship with the United States,” he writes. “The United States does have one asymmetric advantage of its own: its ability to forge stronger alliances with China’s worried neighbors.” The...