In The News

Tremors of Global Insecurity Reach Shangri-La

Kesang Sherpa September 27, 2004
As the South Asian nation of Nepal has seen, the forces of globalization may be both a blessing and a curse. While open borders helped to develop trade, manufacturing, and tourism as the country's economic pillars, a Maoist insurgency has devastated the country in recent years. Amidst this social and financial crisis, Nepali workers overseas now bear the onus of supporting Nepal's...

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Signs Agreement in Bishkek

Valentinas Mite September 25, 2004
Since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the Bush administration's strategic interest in Central Asia has grown significantly. The region now represents another arena in which the "war on terror" must be waged. Yet the growing influence of the US in Central Asia has alarmed Russia and China, who consider the region their backyard. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),...

Running Out of Reasons to Say "No" to Turkey

Philip Robins September 24, 2004
Having inducted ten new members into in May, the European Union (EU) will soon consider Turkey’s case. The EU first granted the candidacy in December 1999, and Turkey immediately set out to meet the accession criteria. In 2002, however, the EU responded to Turkey’s concerted reforms by delaying a decision for two more years. The membership debate commenced within the last six months, leaving the...

Germany Lobbying for UN Seat

September 24, 2004
This past Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer joined his counterparts in Brazil, Japan, and India in announcing their intention to seek permanent UN seats. Germany's case to join the five permanent members on the Security Council seems compelling: According to Fischer, Germany, in addition to providing substantial funding, contributes the second-largest number of troops to UN...

Still No Votes in Leipzig

Jonathan Freedland September 22, 2004
When Bob Dole was running for US President, he once dismissed a Finnish reporter's questions of by saying, "No votes in Leipzig." Dole's sense of geography may have been lacking, but his sense of who was important to his campaign was, at the time, perfectly on target: Only American voters' opinions would count come Election Day 1996. Back then, only Americans bore the...

The Day Civil Society Got its Nose Bloodied in Hanoi

David Koh September 21, 2004
Attendees of the Asia-Europe People's Forum in Hanoi received the cold shoulder by the Vietnamese government in early September. Visitors and journalists alike were denied access to the non-governmental conference by the host nation. Yet according this Straits Times commentary, the rude awakening should not come as a surprise. Vietnam has slowly reformed since the mid-1980s, only recently...

Muslim World's Brush with Democracy Turns into an Embrace

Jonathan Power September 20, 2004
Contrary to popular Western belief, free elections in largely Muslim states would not lead to domination by violent terrorist regimes, argues columnist Jonathan Power in this Khaleej Times article. Indonesia and Turkey are shining examples of Muslim nations that have used the democratic system to oust militants and put stable moderates in office. With an increasingly freer media, the governments...