In The News

How a Palestinian State Could Reward Israel

Suhail Khalilieh September 14, 2011
Palestine is poised to request that the UN General Assembly endorse its bid for statehood at the meeting beginning 20 September. Despite Israeli opposition, about 60 percent of UN members have expressed approval for the bid. The US is attempting to negotiate a delay and has threatened to veto the bid. With statehood, Palestine would become party to many international agreements overseen by the...

Taking It to the Streets

Nayan Chanda September 14, 2011
Inspired by protests in the Arab world, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in August to support one man’s fast. India is already the world’s largest democracy, and the goal of these protesters is reforming democracy to expose and end pervasive corruption. Government employees at every level routinely demand extra fees, small and large, simply to do their job. Favoritism, bribes and...

Democratic Hysteria

Pranab Bardhan September 8, 2011
Democracy requires an educated and well-informed citizenry, and to paraphrase former US President Thomas Jefferson, a nation cannot expect to be both ignorant and free, living in a state of civilization. Two intelligent leaders, Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh, are being sidelined by ignorant and passionate debates, observes economist Pranab Bardhan in an essay for Project Syndicate. In a quest...

Japan's Political Dysfunction

Todd Crowell September 2, 2011
Analyzing the rapid turnover in Japanese prime ministers in the Asia Sentinel, Todd Crowell questions whether constitutional changes imposed during the US occupation of Japan after World War II could be the cause. General Douglas MacArthur organized a constitution that retained the monarchy and relied on a parliamentary form of government. Crowell contends the powerful House of Councilors, which...

India’s Anti-Corruption Movement Wins – For Now

Ashok Malik September 1, 2011
Anna Hazare organized his public fast in New Delhi to strengthen anti-corruption legislation that was already winding its way through India’s parliament. Widespread public support, in particular among the middle class and youth, attracted immediate global attention and stunned India’s political establishment. After 12 days, the government capitulated, and Hazare ended the fast. But India’s...

Band Aid

Michael Holman September 1, 2011
The absence of a government role compounds the heart-wrenching crisis in East Africa. Aid agencies, not African governments, are leading famine-relief efforts in East Africa, writes Michael Holman for the UK magazine Prospect. Drought and famine are threatening the continent’s most troubled nations, including Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan. “But this does not justify Africa’s absence from the...

Saving the Environment for 9 Billion – II

Chandran Nair August 30, 2011
Those who care about the life of future generations recognize that today’s unbridled economic growth is unsustainable, and the world must prepare for 9 billion inhabitants by 2050, contends Chandran Nair in the second article of a two-part YaleGlobal series. Asia cannot afford to mimic the American lifestyle and would be wise to ignore western encouragement for greater consumption in pursuit of...