In The News

A New Day for a Divided Peninsula

Shim Jae Hoon January 16, 2008
Since taking control of North Korea, Kim Jong Il has isolated his nation, devastated its economy and pursued a nuclear-weapons program that has alarmed the world. In attempting to dissuade the Kim regime from its self-destructive ways, South Korea opted for what became known as a “sunshine policy,” promoting engagement, patience and ample aid. But South Koreans grew weary of shoveling billions at...

An Empowered Middle East – Part II

Humphrey Hawksley January 14, 2008
The Middle East has great economic potential, with rich resources, a young population and a location central to three continents. But the regional quest for enhanced prosperity requires stability, trust and security. Subsiding violence in Iraq contributes to regional security, largely because of extra troops inserted by the US in recent months and a coordinated pragmatic approach from US...

The Globalization Backlash: Is America Slouching Towards Protectionism?

Gabor Steingart January 11, 2008
During their lifetimes, American adults have watched manufacturing jobs move from northern states to the south and then overseas, as auto, textile and now computer manufacturers chase after workers willing to work for low wages. Toshiba shifted a plant from Tennessee to Mexico, where workers assemble computers with parts from China for $8 per day. “Americans wouldn't have such a hard time...

World Food Stocks Dwindling Rapidly, UN Warns

Elisabeth Rosenthal January 10, 2008
Extreme weather events, a growing population, increasing affluence adding more meat to diets and diversion of grain crops for subsidized biofuels have led to depleted food reserves and soaring prices reserves. High oil prices add to the complications of transferring food aid to the most vulnerable developing nations. Wealthy nations can compensate by reducing tariffs and importing more grain,...

An Empowered Middle East – Part I

Pranay Gupte January 10, 2008
President George Bush’s trip to the Middle East comes at a time when Iraq is stabilizing and the oil-producing countries’ fortune is rising. Bush will visit Israel and Saudi Arabia, also making stops in Palestine, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirate and Egypt, perhaps even Iraq and Lebanon. Along the way he’ll witness results of US foreign policy – diplomacy, intervention and some neglect. A...

The Globe’s Most Important Relationship

Morton Abramowitz January 8, 2008
China, Japan and the US may not enjoy the most comfortable of partnerships, considering each nation’s competitive streak and occasional differences over trade, global governance and security issues. But the partnership works and is improving, with the potential for resolving many regional and global problems, explains Morton Abramowitz, former US ambassador and senior fellow at the Century...

Redder Than the Real Thing

Ian Williams January 7, 2008
To secure Chinese favor, the United States has devalued Taiwan’s quest for democracy. America’s official stance is pro-China, despite the inequality and injustice propagated by the Chinese government, says the author. Ironically, the superior form of governance is the form practiced by Taiwan, and that is the European-style social democracy, which America should appreciate more, logically...