In The News

China’s Challenge in Africa: Avoid Blame of Neo-Colonialism

Gregory Chin July 9, 2014
As with most foreign-policy initiatives, South-South cooperation in Africa poses challenges. “Beijing is seeing growing assertiveness from political leaders across the continent,” explains China researcher Gregory Chin. Africans are wary about “neocolonialism” – major powers removing resources without contributing to the continent’s development. The African nations pose new questions about the...

Modi’s Brics Summit Challenge

Nayan Chanda July 7, 2014
Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the so-called BRICS, meet July 14-16. The theme for discussions: “Inclusive growth: sustainable solutions.” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is new to the summit; his “diplomatic skills in preserving India’s interests will …be tested as Xi attempts to turn Brics into a platform from which to advance China’s global agenda,” explains...

Ukraine Signs Landmark Agreement With EU

Michael Birnbaum June 30, 2014
Ukraine has signed an association agreement for trade with the European Union – despite threats from Russia, its neighbor to the east, including more intervention by militants, encouragement of separatists, higher tariffs and refusal to sell gas. A ceasefire remains in effect. “The document signed Friday was the same one that was rejected in November by Ukraine’s then-president, Viktor Yanukovych...

Ukraine's Empty Seat at Table Darkens Party for Putin's Ex-Soviet Bloc

Raushan Nurshayeva and Alexei Anishchuk June 26, 2014
The Eurasian Economic Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will begin in 2015, lifting trade restrictions among the three countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin states, “This document brings our countries to a new stage of integration while fully preserving the states’ sovereignty.” Putin makes no claims of attempting to recreate the USSR, though “he makes no secret that his dream is to...

Implications of Modi’s Victory for Indo-Sri Lanka Relations

Rajiv Kumar June 25, 2014
The decisive win of Narendra Modi as prime minister of India and a hands-on approach to foreign policy may prove a boon to India’s neighbors, suggests economist Rajiv Kumar in Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror. India showed little interest in the affairs of the surrounding nations in the past, Kumar contends. Strong factions within the country and conflicting interests prevented a solid, unified approach...

Will the European Union Crack?

Nayan Chanda June 16, 2014
Stagnation, unemployment, pessimism in democracies can motivate voters to endorse change. In India, voters embraced the growth policies of Narendra Modi while in European Parliament elections, extremists who oppose immigration and integration made gains. The similarities end there, suggests Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal in his column for Businessworld, and the trends in Europe expose “the...

Modi Doubles Down on the Neighborhood

Alyssa Ayres June 10, 2014
In anticipating India's foreign policy under newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many have focused on his pragmatic growth policy based on international trade and investment while wondering if he would first turn to East Asia. Early signals suggest that Modi will focus on building closer ties in the immediate region – with other member states of the South Asian Association of...