In The News

Matteo Renzi, Scrapper in the Swamp

Joji Sakurai October 19, 2015
A challenge for Europe is that many talented, skilled young adults cannot find work. Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi would like to jumpstart the economy by “breaking it open to competition,” journalist Joji Sakurai explains for the New Statesman. Italy confronts “a struggle of allegiances versus globalisation; gerontocracy versus meritocracy; made-in-Italy quality versus stark economic...

China's Xi Lauds Britain for “Visionary” Openness, Prods Others to Emulate

Stephen J, Adler and Jason Subler October 19, 2015
China’s President XI Jinping praises Britain for strengthening commercial ties with China. “Xi's visit comes amid debate in Britain and many other Western countries over what is the best way to engage with a Communist-ruled China that has grown more influential economically and diplomatically, but which maintains stances in areas from human rights to the South China Sea that are often at...

The German Lynchmob: Islamophobe Movement Returns With a Vengeance

Maik Baumgärtner, Maximilian Popp, Jörg Schindler and Wolf Wiedmann-Schmidt October 15, 2015
Germany’s decision to open its borders to thousands of refugees from Syria has reinvigorated the political party of Pegida, also known as “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident.” Some supporters insist that they are not Nazis, but oppose a system that fails to embrace a strong and unchanging culture; others call the refugees “invaders” and are ready to blockade streets,...

Nepal's Constitutional Crisis Involves Giant Neighbors

Harsh V. Pant October 15, 2015
Nepal is undergoing a transition, putting forth a constitution after a decade of conflict, political upheavals and protests along with a devastating earthquake from which it has yet to recover. But the constitution, described as discriminating against ethnic groups that account for almost half the population, could pose more challenges. The country of 28 million people is nestled between two...

A Global Test of American Power

Gideon Rachman October 14, 2015
The United States can still wield great global influence in terms of political and military power. Many nations and US citizens, too, expect the United States to police the globe by guaranteeing borders, reassuring allies, guaranteeing freedom of navigation for trade. But use of such power is costly. Military power also does not guarantee territorial control or winning over populations as shown...

Narrow Court Ruling May Offer Room for Diplomacy on South China Sea Claims

Ashley Townshend October 13, 2015
The announcement is expected any day from the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on whether it has jurisdiction to rule on the Philippines’ case against China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. In the ensuing hearing, a narrow ruling against China’s “nine-dashed line” is the most likely outcome, suggests Ashley Townshend, a research fellow in the...

Crunchtime for Global Tax-Avoidance Push

Paul Hannon September 29, 2015
Multinational corporations earn revenues in wealthy markets but file income reports from off-shore financial hubs. The Organization of Economic Development and Cooperation is working with representatives of near 50 countries on a new set of rules to prevent multinational corporations from dodging tax payments. “If the rules work as planned, they will help ensure big companies pay tax on profits...