In The News

Revisiting the “Axis of Evil” – Part III

Shen Dingli August 5, 2008
For more than a half a century, nuclear powers have built enormous stockpiles of weapons in the hope that it would deter military challenges. The same nations have also strenuously tried to prevent others from breaking into the five-member club of nuclear-weapons power. This three-part series examines the US effort at containing three suspected aspirants, called the “Axis of Evil” by President...

Maliki Votes for Obama

Charles Krauthammer July 29, 2008
The US underestimated the difficulties of invading Iraq and how long the war would last. Now Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must prepare to deal with a new US commander in chief. By accepting Obama's campaign goal of removing US troops from Iraq sooner rather than later, Maliki indicates an opinion that the war has been won, with Al Qaeda defeated and Sunni-Shiite conflicts under...

Obama and the Illusion of Leadership

Jeremy Seabrook July 28, 2008
Europe is enthralled by Barack Obama, the Democratic presumptive nominee for US president. But columnist Jeremy Seabrook offers the reminder that real leadership requires more than charisma, humbleness or intelligence – and entails delivery of services and policy that improve communities and the world. A crowd of more than 200,000 turning out for Obama’s speech in Berlin demonstrates how global...

Beijing and Taiwan Try Their Hand at Détente

Sandra Schulz July 28, 2008
After the Communist Party took control of China in 1949, opponents fled to the island of Taiwan, dreamed of someday resuming control of China, set up a government that transformed from dictatorship to democracy, and established a solid and wealthy economy. Years of strict separation, suspicion and military tension followed, and the Communist government in China has since maintained that that...

Radicalization of a National Dialogue

Steven A. Cook July 25, 2008
The new millennium ushered in a period of stability for Turkey, and many observers expected the naton to join the European Union. But now the country is in political turmoil, as the Turkish Constitutional Court considers a ban of the ruling party, the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, to which the president and prime minister both belong. “The old establishment is seeking to regain its...

Angry Youth

Evan Osnos July 24, 2008
Chinese youth study global news reports about emerging problems in the US and Europe, along with growing concerns in the West about China’s growing clout. Demonstrating nationalism and extreme patriotism, the youth lash out at any who dare to criticize China or suggest that the country needs to be “contained, explains Evan Osnos for the New Yorker. Polls suggest that nine out of ten Chinese...

Fundamental Failures

Merle Lipton July 23, 2008
South Africa confronts many struggles: Unemployment is high, crime has increased dramatically, and the government fails to provide even the most basic security for its citizens. In terms of infrastructure, power failures are common and supply problems are foreseen in other critical areas such as water. Such problems have impacts on the entire region. For example, the African National Congress...