In The News

China Trades Up in Latin America

Jill Richardson June 6, 2014
Since 2000, China has become a strategic economic actor in Latin America, the top trader for Brazil, Chile and Peru. Chinese exports to Latin America have grown in volume and valuation, especially in manufacturing and electronics, but China’s huge influence comes with a cost, including volatility in the commodities markets, reports Jill Richardson for Foreign Policy in Focus. China’s trading...

Twitter to Take India Election Innovations Global

Aditya Kalra June 3, 2014
Twitter became a key tool for politicians and media companies during the world’s largest democratic elections in India, and “Now, with polling due in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and the United States later this year, the San Francisco-based company plans to take its India lessons abroad to expand its foothold in the political arena and increase its user base,” reports Aditya Kalra for...

The Legacy of Tiananmen Square

Johan Lagerkvist June 3, 2014
China’s communist leaders orchestrated a steady march towards great power status, accompanied by rewriting history and erasing tragic moments. Author Johan Lagerkvist reflects on the 25th anniversary of what has come to be known as Tiananmen Square massacre and points out how “the mindset behind the tragedy – unswerving support for China’s rise, with no toleration for criticism, questions or...

The Way Forward

Nayan Chanda June 2, 2014
India’s citizens are greeting new Prime Minister Narendra Modi with great expectations to revive a lagging economy. Modi’s decisive win was based on a pro-business, pro-development, pro-growth agenda. “Ironically, one policy measure that is all ready to be implemented and could prove a game changer for the country is also the one that the BJP election manifesto is dead set against — FDI in multi-...

Euroskepticism Triumphant

David R. Cameron May 29, 2014
Less than half of registered voters turned out for election of members in the European Parliament, but those who did boosted representation of parties that oppose the continent-wide governance. David R. Cameron, director of the Yale Program in European Union Studies, analyzes election results for the EU’s only directly-elected body. Moderate majority parties lost seats and more extreme parties,...

Timor-Leste: Lessons of a Failing State?

Loro Horta May 22, 2014
Timor-Leste shares the island of Timor and a bloody history with Indonesia. The former Portuguese colony was part of Indonesia from 1976 until 2002, when it was declared an independent state. The country’s small population is less than half of 1 percent of that in neighboring Indonesia, and one quarter died in fighting for independence. Despite great natural resources, the country has since...

Gujarat Model of Foreign Policy: Let Economy Be the Driver

Walter Andersen May 20, 2014
The parliamentary victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party in India were decisive. Narendra Modi will take the oath as prime minister later this month, and economic growth and nationalism will be likely drivers of Indian foreign policy, notes Walter Andersen, an expert on the BJP who heads the South Asia Program at the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. As the...