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...

Europe Divided Over Immigration, Work Ethics

Pallavi Aiyar June 5, 2014
Immigration, transfer of new technologies and evolving work ethics have put entire industries in flux. This has stirred anti-immigration fervor in some communities as demonstrated by big gains of far-right parties in the European Parliament elections. Author Pallavi Aiyar analyzes the forces of globalization transforming the diamond-cutting industry in Antwerp. Once dominated by Jewish merchants...

The Great Backlash

Nouriel Roubini June 4, 2014
Nationalism, populism, isolationism and xenophobia are emerging and gaining traction even in the world’s most advanced countries in response to the 2008 global recession. Economist Nouriel Roubini, writing for Project Syndicate, reviews global political trends and draws parallels with those in Europe just before the Second World War. He points to the rise of nationalist governments in Asia and...

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-...

The Global Pivot to China

Jean-Pierre Lehmann May 27, 2014
The United States is not alone in its pivot toward Asia. The Asia Pacific region is a center of bustling potential and security pitfalls. And China is the center of that region, notes Jean-Pierre Lehmann, international political economist. The United States claims its pivot is not intended to contain China, but other Asian nations seek such security. China is a lead trading partner for Japan and...

US Tech Firms Could Feel Backlash in China After Hacking Indictments

Paul Mozur and Carlos Tejada May 21, 2014
The United States indicted five Chinese military officers for cyber-espionage of major US companies. “The U.S. move on Monday adds to growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over cybersecurity issues that are creating obstacles for U.S. companies in the nearly $324 billion Chinese information technology market,” report Paul Mozur and Carlos Tejada for the Wall Street Journal. Chinese...

Up to 21 Dead, Doctor Says, As Anti-China Riots Spread in Vietnam

May 15, 2014
China tugged a massive drilling rig to the disputed waters in the South China Sea, which led to confrontations between Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard vessels. Peaceful protests deteriorated into riots and violence in Vietnam with thousands setting fire to foreign factories believing them to be Chinese-owned.More than 450 companies reported damage, despite Vietnam’s strict controls. Taiwanese...