In The News

From Iran to Nigeria, Cheap Oil Means Perilous Politics

Fareed Zakaria February 10, 2016
Oil producing nations were long warned to diversify economies. The abrupt fall of oil prices from more than $110 to less than $30 per barrel in the space of a few years is influencing politics and foreign policy. Fareed Zakaria points out that Iran entered serious negotiations for an agreement on ending its nuclear program in summer of 2013. “Iranian officials were predicting that by 2015, Iran’s...

False Sense of Security

Nayan Chanda February 9, 2016
Few countries will be insulated from the slowdown of the Chinese economy, even those not intricately tied to the Chinese supply chain. “China did indeed stimulate its way out of the 2008 crisis but now it has to deal with overcapacity and debt,” writes Nayan Chanda, founding editor of YaleGlobal Online, in his column for Businessworld. “For India to be congratulating itself for not being part of...

Welcome to the Twenty-First Century

Joschka Fischer February 5, 2016
The world has many troubles including destabilized markets and low oil prices, high debt levels, terrorism and the ongoing refugee crisis for the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. The international order of the 20th century is shifting, and no suitable replacement is waiting in the wings. “Today, the Pax Americana that ensured a large degree of global stability has begun to fray – most...

It’s Both Unethical and Unhelpful for Governments to Strip Refugees of Their Assets

Tania Cheung January 20, 2016
Governments are debating mean-spirited policies to discourage refugees fleeing brutal conflict. “Denmark is debating a bill to allow authorities to seize cash and personal items valued over 10,000 kroner (just £1,000) from asylum seekers,” writes Tania Cheung for New Statesman. “Switzerland has followed suit, already acting to seize financial assets over 1,000 Swiss Frances (£690) from refugees....

Iran Nuclear Deal Fuels Tension With Saudi Arabia Inflaming New Conflicts

Mohammed Ayoob January 19, 2016
Iran has moved swiftly in implementing terms of an international nuclear deal, and the nation's rising stock in the international community has alarmed rival Saudi Arabia. “As the economy falters, the Saudi regime seems to take aggressive stances in the foreign-policy arena in order to impress its domestic constituency, relying on sectarian rhetoric to justify policies and expenditures,”...

Analysis: Iran Deals May Not Herald Rapid Changes

Adam Schreck January 18, 2016
The terms of a nuclear agreement with Iran are being implemented, followed by a prisoner exchange, planning for an order of Airbus planes, and release of frozen Iranian assets, but the Associated Press warns that rapid change is unlikely. “It will take time for the economic benefits to trickle down to ordinary Iranians, but the goodwill from the deal could translate into electoral gains for...

Nuclear Blackmail – Pakistan and North Korea Are Adept Practitioners of This Art

Nayan Chanda January 18, 2016
North Korea may be dramatic and Pakistan quiet, but both nations use nuclear weapons as diplomatic tools, suggests Nayan Chanda, founding editor of YaleGlobal Online, for the Times of India. “While North Korea has repeatedly defied the United Nations and tested its weapons to dramatically attract international attention, Pakistan has used its nuclear arsenal more quietly, as an indirect...