In The News

Holy Smokes! The Saudis are in Bahrain

Rami G. Khouri March 18, 2011
Protests for reform toppled governments in Egypt and Tunisia, and continue to pressure governments throughout the region. But regimes in Libya, Iran and Bahrain are fighting back. Writing for the Daily Star, Rami G. Khouri notes that entry of Saudi and Emirati troops into Bahrain to assist a Sunni regime in subduing Shiite protests raises many concerns: The intervention could heighten Shiite-...

Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers

Keith Bradsher, Hiroko Tabuchi March 16, 2011
In a disaster, society often depends on a few courageous individuals who risk their lives to stabilize equipment and minimize damage. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan battered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, adding new dangers to operations that had already carried ample risks. Most staff was evacuated, but a small crew volunteered to stay behind, working with flashlights and last...

The World’s Responsibility to Protect Libyans

Ramesh Thakur March 14, 2011
The Gaddafi family unleashes fierce firepower on citizens who could no longer endure a corrupt, brutal reign. The international community is obligated to act swiftly under the responsibility to protect principle, argues Ramesh Thakur, professor of political science and a member of the R2P commission. In 2005, world leaders reached unanimous agreement that the United Nations would honor the...

Painful Price of Forging a Democratic Era

Roula Khalaf March 11, 2011
Libyans protesters want to remove a leader in place for more than 40 years, yet unlike Egypt or Tunisia, Libya confronts civil war rather than a peaceful transition, explains Roula Khalaf, Middle East editor for the Financial Times. Muammar Gaddafi unleashes military attacks on his own people, seeking to retain his grip over Libya’s oil and economy. In Tunisia and Egypt, leaders had relatively...

Don’t Look for Jasmine Revolution or Tea in China

Frank Ching March 7, 2011
From the start, the plan sounded like public performance art or a prank to emulate the Jasmine Revolution sweeping the Middle East: Anonymous online messages called for rallies at 2 pm Sunday in China’s busiest shopping districts: No angry signs or shouts needed, protesters could participate by “strolling, watching or pretending to pass by.” Organizers thus hoped to turn every shopper into a...

New Migrants Flock to Italy, Intensifying Immigration Debate

Elisa Cozzarini March 1, 2011
European nations like Italy entered security agreements with dictators in North Africa, including arms transfers, which slowed the waves of immigration over the past decade. As these dictators lose control and thousands of citizens flee north for Europe for a better life, managing immigration once again emerges as a priority for Italy. Some analysts argue that right-wing politicians raise fears...

Could ASEAN Drift Apart?

Geoff Wade February 25, 2011
The motto of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” But the economic powerhouse to the north – China – directs more attention to ASEAN’s mainland members in the Greater Mekong subregion than its maritime members. The subregion comprises of five member states: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand as well as the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and...