In The News

New Violence, Old Problem

Neil MacFarquhar June 6, 2004
The last two terrorist attacks on Saudi Arabian soil left over two dozen people dead, including 25 foreigners. In both attacks, the corpse of a Westerner was dragged behind a car in apparent celebration. As gruesome as this sounds, writes Neil MacFarquhar, it is only a symptom of the times in Saudi Arabia. The ruling House of Saud, he says, officially maintains that the terrorists responsible...

Beijing's Social Contract is Starting to Fray

Minxin Pei June 3, 2004
Marking the anniversary of Beijing's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protest movement 15 years ago, China scholar Minxin Pei writes that the Chinese Communist Party's hold on power is not sustainable. The regime has been fortunate, he says, to have achieved such unprecedented economic growth and prosperity since 1989. But the party's 'neo-authoritarian' development...

Back to the Soeharto Years?

May 31, 2004
The Indonesian government has recently taken a hard-line stance in dealing with foreign non-governmental organizations in the country, shutting down one and “closely monitoring” the actions of 19 others. The rationale for the shutdown is based on claims by Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency that the NGOs, through reports on political freedoms, human rights and other issues, aim to...

Cannes, a k a Asia West

A. O. Scott May 21, 2004
At this year's prestigious Cannes Film Festival, it may be easy to forget you're in France, not the Far East. With the plethora of entrancing Asian films being screened, says movie critic A. O. Scott, one could be forgiven for walking out of the Palais des Festivals and thinking the sea outside is the Pacific Ocean, not the Mediterranean. A full six out of 19 films in the competition...

Some Chinese See Positive Lessons in Iraqi 'Torture Gate'

Anthony J. Spires May 14, 2004
To China, which has repeatedly faced American pressure to respect human rights, the international condemnation of US abuses in Iraq may seem like an ironic role reversal, writes China scholar Anthony J. Spires. While the Chinese government and official media have relished “returning the favor” by calling on the US to respect the Geneva Convention, Chinese internet bulletin boards - a proxy...

Berg's death augurs ill for Arab societies

May 12, 2004
In the past few weeks, the world has been stunned by the evidence of US and coalition troops abusing Iraqi prisoners in their custody. Now, the world is shocked once again with a video of the beheading of an American civilian by anti-US Iraqi insurgents. As the editorial in one of the Middle East's most respected papers, the Daily Star of Lebanon puts it, "the barbaric and ultimately...

The Indians Are Comin’

Sanjeev Srivastava May 10, 2004
Global interest in Indian economic and cultural practices is swelling rapidly, from the labor outsourcing debate to Bollywood film exports. In the United States, India is a topic for newspaper front pages, Indian corporations are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and audiences gather for the country’s art. Delhi is creating regional alliances with China and Pakistan, and all systems are go...