In The News

Amber Light From the Party

Pierre F. Landry October 29, 2007
Transfer of power in Chinese politics is both undemocratic and uncertain. The Chinese Communist Party's highest leading body is the National Congress, which meets every five years to set policy and choose new leadership. But most decisions are finalized in secretive negotiations well before the meeting. The leadership lineup that emerged with the 17th Congress is not one of "monolithic...

The Globalization Index 2007

October 26, 2007
In the seventh annual assessment of the progress of globalization, Foreign Policy magazine and consulting firm A.T. Kearney rank the 20 most globalized nations in the world and seek to explain some of the recent shifts. Using data from 2005, they compared states along four dimensions: economic integration, personal contact, political engagement and technological connectivity, with particular...

The Next Steps For Burma

Amitav Acharya October 26, 2007
Western nations have tightened economic sanctions and ASEAN has expressed "revulsion" at Myanmar's repression of non-violent protests. Concrete actions must now follow the outrage. UN efforts to encourage talks on the country's constitution and renew humanitarian poverty relief, while positive, do not go far enough, argues Amitav Acharya, professor of global governance. Such...

China and India: Same Globalization Road, Different Destinies

Scott B. MacDonald October 24, 2007
Some analysts suggest that China and India are on a path to perpetual cooperation. Both are populous Asian nations experiencing high rates of economic growth with more exposure to international market forces. However, diverging political and economic ambitions could drive the two powerhouses into increasing rivalry over markets, natural resources or strategic partners, suggests Scott MacDonald, a...

Beware, Constitutions Can Change Your Life

Philip Johnston October 23, 2007
Constitutions are not boring documents. Instead, they outline rights for citizens, directing leaders and giving continuity to problem solving. A constitution "defines our liberties and the relationship between people and the state, the governed and the government," writes Philip Johnston for the Telegraph, in an essay that addresses concerns about such a document for the EU. Membership...

Surviving the Great Capital Flood

Simon Johnson October 23, 2007
Countries must set policies to handle global conditions, and one condition is large piles of money in some parts of the world. The countries and investors that hold large chunks of capital search for good investment opportunities – and increasingly the capital flows to emerging economies rather than developed nations. With the help of strong economic and political institutions, countries on the...

Bad Neighbor

October 22, 2007
International criticism of the Myanmar military junta for violent repression of recent protests includes US and EU sanctions and a UN Security Council condemnation. But the junta shows no signs of ending its brutal and rigid control. Neighboring states like China, India and the member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the largest economic partners of Burma, renamed...