In The News

How to Halt the Spread of Nukes – Part I

Bennett Ramberg November 9, 2009
A key element of US President Barack Obama’s foreign policy is nuclear disarmament, as evidenced by his personally shepherding the Security Council’s Resolution 1887, which seeks to halt the Bomb’s spread. However, according to nuclear proliferation expert Bennett Ramberg, this resolution does little to reduce nuclear armaments, and, most importantly, fails to tackle the issue of states that seek...

Out of the Cold: Burma and US Take Tentative Steps

David I. Steinberg November 4, 2009
Ever since Burma declared martial law in 1988, relations between it and the US have been strained. But as Burma expert David Steinberg writes, with the visit this week by Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell as well as a recent trip by Virginia Senator Jim Webb there are signs of a thaw. Still, such developments only suggest tentative steps in normalizing relations between the two countries...

Europe Must Stop 'Fetishizing' American Relationship

Gregor Peter Schmitz November 4, 2009
Globalization is shifting the balance of power in the world. A new report from the European Council on Foreign Relations argues that European nations need to stop concentrating so much on relations with the United States and instead set clear foreign policy goals for themselves. The report observes the many ways in which EU nations worry about perceived slights from Americans, becoming entangled...

Iran and the West at a Crossroad – Part II

Deepti Choubey November 2, 2009
Iran’s refusal to send its enriched uranium to Russia as part of a deal to ensure the Islamic Republic is not developing nuclear weapons could have serious consequences. According to Deepti Choubey, Deputy Director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Iran risks uniting the major powers against it as well, increasing the skepticism of the rest of the...

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...

China’s North Korea Conundrum: How to Balance a Three Legged Stool

Jonathan D. Pollack October 23, 2009
China is caught in North Korea’s tangled web. As US Naval War College Professor Jonathan Pollack notes, despite offering economic life-support and friendly relations, Beijing does not seem able to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions nor can it extricate itself from supporting the isolated regime. And Pyongyang is taking full advantage: recognizing that China cannot cut its lifeline without...

China, India Stoke 21st-Century Rivalry

Peter Wonacott October 23, 2009
As each day passes, India and China seem closer to butting heads openly over a number of issues including contested territory, strategic relations, and trade. China claims Indian province Arunachal Pradesh is part of Tibet while India accuses China of occupying Indian territory in eastern Ladakh. Increased militarization and tightened controls at the border help to keep tensions simmering. China...