In The News

The Times of India: Warm Words for Modi in Washington

Nayan Chanda July 5, 2017
Foreign leaders are discovering that they avoid criticism from the US president by praising Donald Trump and avoiding serious debate on topics of disagreement like climate change. A meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the latest US “transactional approach to foreign policy,” explains Nayan Chanda, founding editor of YaleGlobal Online in his column for the Times of India. “Trump...

The Korea Herald: Gloomy Outlook for Joint Olympics Team, With NK IOC Member’s Skepticism

Jung Min-kyung July 3, 2017
President of South Korea Moon Jae-in has been in office for two months and in terms of sports is fulfilling expectations to initiate a more cooperative tone in his country’s interactions with North Korea. Moon “wishes to restore inter-Korean dialogue through cross-border cooperation for the upcoming winter games,” reports Jung Min-kyung for the Korea Herald. The situation reflects a marked change...

Middle East Review: Iraq and a “Road to the Sea”?

Seth J. Frantzman June 22, 2017
Iraq is a Shia-majority nation and its neighbor Iran is more than 90 percent Shia. Dozens of Shia militias known as popular mobilization units are securing Iraq by controlling territory taken from the Islamic State. The units have established a strategic corridor linking Tehran and Syria. This extends Iranian influence in the region, explains Seth J. Frantzman for the Middle East Review of...

Reuters: Saudi King Empowers Young Reformer Son

Stephen Kalin and William Maclean June 22, 2017
The king of Saudi Arabia changed the line of succession, replacing his nephew with a 31-year-old son. “Mohammed bin Salman's appointment may make Saudi policy more hawkish against long-time enemy Iran and other Gulf rivals such as Qatar, increasing volatility in an already unstable region,” reports Reuters. “Outside Saudi Arabia, that rapid advance and the sudden changes to longstanding...

EurasiaNet.org: Moscow’s Perennial Quest for Recognition

Igor Torbakov June 13, 2017
US intelligence agencies point the finger at Russia for attempting to intervene in US and other democratic elections, but the shenanigans won’t increase Russian influence. “The rise of Donald Trump’s administration in the United States was supposed to be a boon for Russia,” explains Igor Torbakov of Uppsala University. “Instead, it has become a source of profound disappointment for the Kremlin.”...

Project Syndicate: Brexit Strategy for a Weak UK Government

Ngaire Woods June 12, 2017
By calling for a snap election, Prime Minister Theresa May weakened rather than strengthened her hand in approaching negotiations with the European Union over Brexit. Negotiators have less than two years to reach a deal or request an extension. So far, Britain is making three elementary negotiating mistakes, explains Ngaire Woods for Project Syndicate. The country’s leaders have framed the...

The Guardian: UK General Election Result to Impact Brexit Talks

Jon Henley June 9, 2017
Political leaders in democracies need solid support before embarking on sweeping policy changes. In Britain, Theresa May miscalculated in calling for a general election to strengthen her hand before Brexit negotiations. Instead, the snap election, with a greater turnout by young voters, resulted in a hung parliament. The country remains divided over how to proceed on Brexit - in the 2016...