In The News

Foreign Policy Goes Local

Rodrigo Tavares October 11, 2013
Cities and states no longer wait for national leaders to forge foreign partnerships, and diplomacy moves swiftly with less formality at the subnational level. “Today, many private intelligence firms, think tanks, and NGOs have better access to quality sources than experienced diplomats do,” suggests Rodrigo Tavares, head of the São Paulo State Government’s Office of Foreign Affairs. “And the...

End of Silk Road as FBI Shuts Down Illicit Website

Stuart Pfeifer, Shan Li, Walter Hamilton October 7, 2013
Since the days of the Roman Empire, traders traveled a network of routes winding from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Silk Road. A young entrepreneur relied on the name in launching an internet site in 2011 that peddled illegal drugs, and other products and services. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation closed the site and arrested Ross William Ulbricht. The Los Angeles...

China Intensifies Internet Crackdown

Jamil Anderlini September 16, 2013
The hopes of political reform raised after the Chinese Communist Party elected Xi Jinping last year have been dashed amidst an intensifying crackdown on the internet. An article in an influential party journal described online criticism of the party and government as “defamation.” At the same time an influential internet personality, Charles Xue , who boasted 12 million followers on China’s...

South Korea: New Beacon for Refugees

Steven Borowiec September 12, 2013
Countries that attract refugees tend to be prosperous and demonstrate respect for human rights. Such nations process refugee applications with care, determining that newcomers are not spies or troublemakers. South Korea stands out as a beacon for refugees. The country borders dysfunctional and impoverished North Korea, with its repressive regime, and is the first among East Asian nations to...

Why Is Prosperous China So Anxious?

Orville Schell September 5, 2013
China, like other countries, seeks economic success and global respect. The country has accomplished so much in a few short decades – massively expanding the economy, reducing poverty and developing impressive infrastructure. Yet Chinese leaders exude anxiety, suggests author and long-time China observer Orville Schell. Fearing public discontent and unrest, the Chinese Communist Party resists...

Communities Should Continue to Benefit From Mobile Revolution

Sifiso Dabengwa September 2, 2013
Mobile-phone operators are between a rock and a hard place, juggling protections for customers who seek free communications while satisfying demands from controlling governments, explains Sifiso Dabengwa, CEO of MTN, a multinational telecommunications firm based in South Africa. “On the one hand mobile connectivity is touted as the lifeblood of socio-economic development in the underdeveloped...

New York Police Label Mosques as Terrorist Organizations

Adam Goldman, Matt Apuzzo August 30, 2013
The New York Police Department secretly labeled mosques as “terrorism organizations,” to allow surveillance, reports the Associated Press. “Designating an entire mosque as a terrorism enterprise means that anyone who attends prayer services there is a potential subject of an investigation and fair game for surveillance,” write Adam Goldman and Matt Apuzzo. “Before the NYPD could target mosques...