In The News

Crunchtime for Global Tax-Avoidance Push

Paul Hannon September 29, 2015
Multinational corporations earn revenues in wealthy markets but file income reports from off-shore financial hubs. The Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation is working with representatives of near 50 countries on a new set of rules to prevent multinational corporations from dodging tax payments. “If the rules work as planned, they will help ensure big companies pay tax on profits...

Is ASEAN Losing Its Way?

Amitav Acharya September 24, 2015
The charter for the Association of Southeast Asia Nations emphasizes economic growth and principles that support cooperation, renunciation of the use of force, mutual respect for members, and rejection of external interference or coercion. ASEAN’s track record for peaceful resolution of disputes through consensus may be at risk as unity erodes, warns author and researcher Amitav Acharya. Members...

We Should Have Seen This Refugee Crisis Coming

Rana Novack September 23, 2015
Conflict combined with high rates of fertility, poverty, failed governance and lack of opportunity is behind the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Africa. The world’s developed economies should have prepared, argues Rana Novack in an opinion essay for Wired. “Predictive analytics provides the ability to extract meaningful information from vast amounts of data allowing us to identify patterns...

Putin’s Plan: Moscow Handles Syria, US Looks After Iraq

Raghida Dergham September 21, 2015
Policymakers in the West had anticipated immigration to bring terrorism to their shores, but the reverse has occurred. Hundreds of thousands refugees flee homes in the Middle East and parts of Africa to escape brutal extremism and failed governance. Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to intervene on behalf of the Assad regime in Syria while the United States assists Iraq. US President...

China Wins the Gray Zone by Default

Denny Roy September 18, 2015
China employs a “gray zone” strategy as a rival to the United States, argues Denny Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center – employing measured, often indirect aggression while not overstepping boundaries that trigger military retaliation. US military expenditures are about triple those of China’s, yet “Beijing demonstrates its skill at finding ways of advancing the Chinese strategic agenda –...

The King and ISIS

Daniel Benjamin September 15, 2015
The United States and Saudi Arabia disagree on many issues including a deal to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for an end to sanctions. “Papering over differences is one of diplomacy’s finer and more useful arts,” writes Daniel Benjamin for Foreign Policy, adding that Saudi Arabia may pose more challenges for the US than Iran does. “Saudi Arabia’s energetic propagation of Wahhabism –...

What Will Jeremy Corbyn's Impact Be on Key Issues the UK Faces?

September 14, 2015
Jeremy Corbyn will lead the United Kingdom’s Labour Party with near 60 percent on the first vote. Conservatives remain in power and anticipate confronting a divided opposition. Corbyn is on the record for opposing inequality, austerity programs and war in the Middle East – and described as “passionate about foreign affairs.” Writers for the Guardian assess the Labour leader’s position on issues,...