In The News

‘Outsourcing’ Asylum Seekers The Italian Way

July 27, 2009
Italian authorities have cracked down on illegal immigration by patrolling the waters between Italy and Libya. If immigrants were allowed to reach Italian soil, they would be entitled to apply for asylum, a lengthy process that usually results in most applicants ultimately remaining in Italy, either legally or illegally. Hence, Italy has accelerated efforts to catch the migrants mid-journey,...

New Configuration of Obama’s Asia – Part II

Shen Dingli July 23, 2009
China and the US are planning their first combined Strategic and Economic Dialogue against the backdrop of a severe financial crisis and a growing concern over global warming. Such engagements thus provide ample opportunities for collaboration as well as the managing of conflict, according to Shen Dingli, Director of the Center of American Studies at Fudan University. While China and the US...

New Configuration of Obama’s Asia – Part I

Harsh V. Pant July 21, 2009
On her first visit to India, charismatic US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton sought to reassure India that the Indo-US friendship remains strong. But there is no mistaking that the warmth generated thanks in part to George W. Bush’s recognition of India as a de facto nuclear power is absent, according to King’s College professor Harsh Pant. While the reasons for this cooling are many, the...

Muslim Nations Told To Help Uighurs

Ary Hermawan July 10, 2009
China’s Uighur population may now have a new ally in its struggle against the Chinese government; Islamic groups within Indonesia are calling upon all Muslims to set aside ethnic differences and aid the Uighurs, scores of whom have been killed in recent clashes. Several organizations within Indonesia have already called upon the Chinese government to stop the violence and have urged international...

An Ethnic Struggle in China Goes Global

Dru Gladney July 9, 2009
Recent clashes between indigenous Uighurs and Han Chinese in Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang province highlight the growing difficulty Beijing faces with regard to minority rights. It also highlights how even a small group with global connections can bring the world spotlight on their cause and embarrass a big power, writes Dru Gladney, an expert on China’s minorities and President of the Pacific...

Minilateralism

Moisés Naím July 1, 2009
A multilateral approach is frequently invoked as the way to solve many of the world’s problems. But Moses Naim, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Policy, argues that traditional multilateralism has failed to resolve the major global problems of the past decade. The most recent example of a successful international accord on a vital issue was the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994....

Zimbabwe’s Slow-Burning Crisis Could Affect Africa

Donald Steinberg June 30, 2009
Zimbabwe was in world headlines when its opposition politician Morgan Tsvangirai was mercilessly beaten by government thugs. But now his joining a unity government has pushed the country to the background, even though Zimbabwe remains in dire straits. Deputy President of the International Crisis Group, Donald Steinberg analyzes the reasons for this lack of interest and argues that paying...