In The News

Seeking Soft-Power, But Not By the Book

Jonathan Fenby October 26, 2009
China’s participation as the guest of honor at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair was filled with plenty of histrionics: walk-outs, gag orders, and a firing. There were, however, over 2000 copyright deals inked with various Chinese publishers. But beyond the sensational, the event shows China’s uneasy practice of soft power, according to author Jonathan Fenby. Beijing is striving to present itself to...

Revolution in a Box

Charles Kenny October 23, 2009
Television ownership has increased rapidly around the world. But many people in developing countries are only getting access to TVs now. What is unique about today’s access for the heretofore underprivileged watcher is televisions now are receiving digital signals, which means less governmental control of content. On the other hand, that many of the most popular shows are produced in the United...

Book Fair Defends Chinese Invitation

October 15, 2009
This year, China is the special guest at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s largest. Given China’s history and habit of censorship, its place of honor at an event celebrating the free flow of ideas has drawn criticism. Though this is not dissimilar from the outrage over past special guests like Turkey or the League of Arab Nations. The organizers of the fair, however, hope that this courtesy...

Entertainment the Key to Finding a Common Agenda for Africa

Mwaura Samora October 8, 2009
Reality television shows are popular across Africa, attracting young viewers and making celebrities out of the shows’ stars. The shows promote unity and integration across Africa and allow a new focus on continent-wide issues such as HIV. Supporters say the shows bring Africans together in a way that politicians have been unable to match. Critics, though, say the contestants neither represent...

WTD 2009 – Experts Discuss Role of Tourism in Globalization

Victor Nze October 6, 2009
Many believe globalization undermines cultural diversity through its tendency to homogenize. But this year's World Tourism Day (WTD) celebration included a debate over strategies to partner globalization with diversity through tourism. After all, the panel concluded, diversity can be an economic asset, as different communities serve as resources of “social wealth” that attract increasingly...

Globalization Putting A Premium On Overseas Studies

Joseph Yeh October 5, 2009
Most modern nations emphasize education as an engine of progress, and Taiwan is no exception – in fact, it is famous for the rigor of its system. Recently, however, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has encouraged students to leave their native classrooms for foreign schools. The Taiwanese government is expanding scholarship programs that support not just term-time study abroad, but internships and...

Asian Universities Court Students Nearby

Liz Gooch September 24, 2009
In an effort to attract promising students, Asian universities are offering an education in English at a fraction of the cost of Western institutions. Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong are all trying to attract international students with various points of interest: participation with Western universities, joint degree programs, and competitive prices. While many institutions are competing more...