In The News

This is Freedom, Say Courageous Women Risking All for Democracy

Declan Walsh May 24, 2006
As Afghanistan falls back into violence at the hands of the Taliban, a small number of courageous women risk their lives for the cause of democracy. Emerging from a history that has notoriously treated women’s views, education and personhood as beneath consideration, several female politicians – including one 18-year-old – have come to prominence in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that prominence...

Pakistan’s Obedient Son

Susanne Koelbl May 17, 2006
Both the US and Afghanistan pressure Pakistan to capture suspected terrorists hiding along its borders. Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf and Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai once had strong ties, but the relationship is unraveling over the issue. Meanwhile warlords challenge Musharraf’s authority and promote domestic unrest, motivated by the desire for control of Pakistan’s rich natural...

Japanese Discovery of Democracy

Masaru Tamamoto May 10, 2006
Political, economic, military and historical forces can put civilizations into conflict, but also create a basis for affinity. Japan portrays its own democracy and China’s single-party Communist rule as diametrically opposed, thus qualifying China’s economic success and accounting for recent chilly diplomatic relations. Yet the high-profile WWII history question, thrown into relief by the...

Step 1 in Bolivian Takeover: Audit of Foreign Companies

Juan Forero May 9, 2006
Bolivia is taking steps to nationalize its natural gas industry, announcing plans to revise contracts with foreign energy firms and audit financial records. The multinationals have six months to negotiate new contracts or face takeover with compensation. Landlocked Bolivia has Latin America’s second largest gas reserves, which are largely undeveloped, with Brazil serving as the major market....

Sudan-Divestment Laws Draw Attacks From Fund Managers, Business Groups

Jane Spencer May 8, 2006
The UN accuses Sudan’s Khartoum government for the deaths of about 200,000 villagers in the Darfur region, and the US labels the atrocities as genocide. But a recent campaign to convince universities and public pension funds to divest any interests in companies with ties to Sudan has upset some business leaders. Pension-fund managers complain that such divestment policies or laws influence far...

A Setback for Democracy

Dilip Hiro May 4, 2006
Before the US-led invasion of Iraq, states throughout the Middle East had been loosening some controls, particularly in the economic and communication spheres. Increasing internet use and lively broadcasts from Aljazeera satellite TV gradually encouraged economic and political debate. But increasing debate did not automatically lead to representative government or elections. As chaos reigns in...

Immigrants Take to US Streets in Show of Strength

Randal C. Archibold May 3, 2006
US Congress is divided about how to control illegal immigration. In 2005, the US House of Representatives approved legislation to increase border security, making illegal immigration a felony along with providing assistance to such immigrants. The US Senate bill would give some illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. The US has about 11 million illegal immigrants. As long as Congress remains...