In The News

Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade

Sabrina Tavernise, Michael Slackman June 7, 2010
After winning a majority of Palestinian parliamentary seats in 2006, Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007, using the position to launch rockets at Israel. Since 2007, Israel and Egypt isolated Gaza with blockades by land and sea. But supporters of Palestinians from around the globe have also worked to test the blockade, collecting donations, including large funds from opponents to Israel based...

Deported Uighurs Highlight China’s Ties to Cambodia

Brendan Brady January 11, 2010
China’s use of its economic power to foster investment or effect policy has acquired a new dimension with the repatriation of Uighur asylum seekers in Cambodia. As a signatory to the 1951 international Refugee Convention, Cambodia is obligated not to return refugees that may face persecution. But its role in the repatriation to China of 20 Uighurs, who may face prosecution for their alleged...

China in Africa: Soft Power, Hard Results

Loro Horta November 13, 2009
The recent second China-Africa summit in Egypt and Beijing’s pledge of $10 billion in loans to the continent has brought into focus China’s growing investment in Africa, The responses have been diverse, not only from international observers, but also from individuals in the region. Building upon interviews from a broad range of Africans, Visiting Fellow at Nanyang Technological Unversity Loro...

US Immigration Policy Likely to Boost Population

Joseph Chamie July 30, 2009
Demographic trends, often ignored by policymakers, are clearly linked with the US’ immigration policy. If Congress and the Obama administration plan to implement an effective immigration policy, they need to understand how over time it will affect the country’s population figure. As demographer Joseph Chamie notes, policy makers should start by asking how large should the US’ population be....

‘Outsourcing’ Asylum Seekers The Italian Way

July 27, 2009
Italian authorities have cracked down on illegal immigration by patrolling the waters between Italy and Libya. If immigrants were allowed to reach Italian soil, they would be entitled to apply for asylum, a lengthy process that usually results in most applicants ultimately remaining in Italy, either legally or illegally. Hence, Italy has accelerated efforts to catch the migrants mid-journey,...

Immigrants Become Hostages As Gangs Prey On Mexicans

Joel Millman June 12, 2009
The September 11 attacks and tough economic times have created new twists on labor smuggling. As a result of 9/11, authorities have cracked down on illegal border crossings between the US and Mexico. The higher cost and risk to sneak across the border attracted larger criminal gangs, driving out the smaller labor smugglers that once facilitated such crossings. But the gangs themselves found that...

A Faltering Solidarity? EU Resists Eastern Bailout Pleas

March 4, 2009
The word “bailout” is not the exclusive property of American officials – it has been buzzing on the lips of leaders around the world as the crisis develops. The European Union has found itself in an especially tight spot since its member countries have experienced very different levels of economic hardship. While it is working towards a common recovery plan, the pressure is revealing old fissures...