In The News

Why the Ukraine Crisis Should Be a Concern, As We Mark the Centenary of WWI

Ailish O'Hora January 31, 2014
Protesters have turned out in Kiev, opposed to their president moving toward alignment with Russia. Ukraine, a former Soviet state is deeply divided over its political future, and remains a major concern for Europe. Of course, there are economic reasons – much of the gas supplied by Russia to Europe traveling through the country. But Ukraine also represents strong political divisions lingering...

China’s Rise Leads India and Japan to Wary Embrace

Harsh V. Pant January 30, 2014
Japan and India are forging closer ties, in part because of shared interests as Asian democracies but also to counter China’s assertive rise and prepare for a decline in US security spending. Harsh V. Pant of King’s College points out that “changing geopolitical realities are now forcing Delhi to acknowledge significant convergence between its own regional interests and that of longstanding US...

Venezuela's President Blames Soap Operas for Crime

Fabiola Sanchez January 28, 2014
Once the United States ended its love affair with late afternoon soap operas, a result of women joining the workforce and television turning to talk shows, South America filled the void with telenovelas. Some creators and analysts credit the popular long running storylines with reducing birthrates, increasing awareness of women’s rights and reflecting society’s increasing violence. Venezuelan...

What AAP Should Know

Nayan Chanda January 27, 2014
Recently the Delhi law minister from the newly elected Aam Aadmi (Common People) Party led a mob to harass African women suspected of illegal activity. In the process he and his supporters uttered racist words. Video clips from a decade ago also show another leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, poet Kumar Vishwas, making racist remarks. Such racism is foolish and ignores the ancestry of Indians as of...

Of Aam Aadmi Party and the Aam Aadmi

Nayan Chanda January 24, 2014
In India, the Aam Aadmi Party, or Common Man’s Party, has shaken the establishment. A successful appeal to many can rely on promises of quick fixes and protection of special interests. “While AAP has plenty of positive attributes and is doing important work in terms of promoting transparency and accountability, not everything it stands for is necessarily in the country’s long-term economic...

Leaked Records Reveal Offshore Holdings of China’s Elite

Marina Walker Guevara, Gerard Ryle, Alexa Olesen, Mar Cabra, Michael Hudson, Christoph Giesen January 23, 2014
A report from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists exposes secret offshore accounts among family members of high-ranking Chinese politicians and business leaders. The report is based on 2.5 million leaked files from two firms that assist with high-wealth trusts and banking. “As the country has moved from an insular communist system to a socialist/capitalist hybrid, China has...

Going the Distance

David Remnick January 22, 2014
President Barack Obama is a man with strong opinions but cautious about imposing those on others. The first quality irritates his opponents and the second frustrates supporters. David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker, profiles Obama and tackles the array of issues confronting any president. Depending on luck and which issues are pursued, Obama still has potential for presidential greatness. Yet...