In The News

US-Indian Deal Could Spark South Asian Arms Race, Markey Says

Jon Fox June 23, 2006
One provision of the US-Indian deal over nuclear weapons is that the US will provide India with a steady stream of nuclear fuel to power the nation’s nuclear reactors. Besides possibly being in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), this agreement could potentially fuel the arms race between India and Pakistan, neither of which has signed the treaty. The agreement would...

China’s Portuguese Connection

Loro Horta June 22, 2006
Patience is power, suggests a Chinese proverb, and that describes how China pursues diplomacy. The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) consists of eight states around the world, encompassing 230 million people – but is rarely regarded as a priority in global politics. Bucking conventional thinking, China diligently pursues diplomacy with the CPLP, foreseeing benefits such as new...

Young People's Protests Are Easy to Mock – But Ignore Them at Your Peril

Gary Younge June 19, 2006
Young political protesters mobilize around the globe, with successful protests conducted by younger, poorer and darker-skinned activists. Gary Younge, columnist for The Guardian, rejects nostalgia over May 1968, noting that the generation grew older and quickly embraced policies of fear and insecurity. Instead, he welcomes young achievements burgeoning in new ways: Chilean student walk-outs,...

Washington’s Tactical Error in Somalia

Jen Alic June 17, 2006
Naivité is not particularly helpful in the war on terror. When Somali warlords extended the tempting offer of capturing several fugitive Al Qaeda operatives suspected of hiding in Somalia, the US government funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cause. The cause turned out to be bloody conflict with Islamic militias who have emerged victorious, controlling Somalia and riding a wave of...

America's Image Slips, But Allies Share US Concerns Over Iran, Hamas

June 15, 2006
The Pew Global Attitudes Project has released results of its annual global public-opinion polls for 2006, and results show increasingly negative views toward the US. For its most recent release, the project conducted 16,710 interviews in 15 countries. The most significant reason for the slip in US popularity, in most cases, is the conflict in Iraq. Many respondents ranked this conflict – along...

Elections Expand Voting Rights for Foreigners, Younger Citizens

Cho Chung-un June 15, 2006
South Korea seeks to make the most of democracy by granting foreigners and young Koreans the right to vote in larger numbers than ever before in the country’s local elections. Integration of foreigners is a major concern throughout the world, but South Korea is the first Asian country to grant voting rights to foreigners who have lived in the country for three or more years. The move could prove...

China Hosts Summit to Rival US

Jonathan Watts June 15, 2006
China hosted an “A-list” gathering of international leaders, with a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Representatives included Chinese Presient Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The SCO, formed ten years ago, “is designed to promote peace and stability in a region that has become an increasingly important source of oil and...