In The News

New Bush Policy Not to Affect Ties with Pakistan

Anwar Iqbal January 24, 2005
In his inauguration speech from last Thursday, President Bush echoed the theme of his first term in linking US foreign policy to the spread of freedom and democracy. Bush spoke forcefully throughout, declaring the end of tyranny to be the ultimate goal of the United States. Despite the tone of the speech, top Bush officials have assured foreign leaders that it marks no change in relations with...

Post-election America Is a Deeply Divided Nation

January 24, 2005
President George Bush’s inauguration last week ushered in a second term that seems poised for deep divisions in both the domestic and foreign arena. The Pew Research Center has released the results of polling about US public opinion in the wake of 9/11 and a highly contentious election. The survey showed a remarkably partisan voting population. Despite the tight race, the report concludes that...

On Screen, Tackling Europe's New Reality

Alan Riding January 19, 2005
In Germany, the popularity of a movie about Turks living in Hamburg may signal a new national multiculturalism. Film has played a similar role in other European countries, making ostracized immigrants sympathetic to those who'd ignored or hated them. "Head-On", directed by Fatih Akin, is not the first Turkish-German movie to be made, but it is the first to find such sweeping...

Chinese Cell Phone Breaches North Korean Hermit Kingdom

Rebecca MacKinnon January 17, 2005
International interest in Northeast Asian affairs has focused primarily on the stalemate between Pyongyang and Washington. Across North Korea's northern and southern borders, however, business and technology - particularly in the telecommunications industry - are booming. With Chinese telecom companies setting up relay stations near the border, an increasing number of North Koreans may now...

Subcontinent Raises Its Voice

David Crystal November 30, 2004
Ten years ago, the United States was the country with the largest English-speaking population. Today, India has taken over that status. With roughly a third of its population – or more than 300 million – possessing English language capability, India has more people speaking the language than the US and UK combined. Indian English, however, is not entirely the same as British or American English,...

The Ukrainian Divide

Keith A. Darden November 29, 2004
In the turmoil over the rigged elections in Ukraine, there is a growing danger of a new divide emerging between Russia and the West. Yet, contrary to many newspaper comments, this divide was not inherent in the elections which were more a referendum on the corrupt regime of Leonid Kuchma. However, according to Keith A.Darden, a Yale University specialist on Ukraine, the ill-judged attempt by...

Grassroots Versus Globalism

Janadas Devan November 12, 2004
When India's ruling party suffered a surprising defeat in April elections, a myth that had been woven through the nation came unraveled. Though the Indian government had beamed optimistically about its robust economic growth and burgeoning urban middle class, most Indians remained in rural areas mired in poverty. The losing BJP party had failed to reconcile the major paradox of globalization...