In The News

The NU Convention and Nonconventional Islam

Rizqon Khamami November 24, 2004
Throughout Indonesian history, Islam emerged with a unique eclecticism differing from that of Arab lands. In recent years, however, political Islam has been on the march, with violent consequences for the world's most populous Muslim country. Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nehdlatul Ulama (NU), now prepares for a crucial meeting regarding the interpretation of shariah,...

Wal-Mart Gives in to China's Union Federation

Richard McGregor November 23, 2004
The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart has always been resistant to unionization in its stores around the world. As its business in China expands, the chain store is pressured by China's official All China Federation of Trade Unions to establish union branches in its many stores. In a recent statement, Wal-Mart stated that the company would be in full compliance with Chinese law, and...

A Rampaging Market, but a Long Way from Global Power

Isabel Hilton November 13, 2004
Many observers in the West have in recent years greeted China's steamrolling economic growth with unabashed optimism and glee. Yet amidst predictions of imminent superpower-dom, China faces stark internal inequalities that threaten to derail its lofty aspirations. While much of its urban population enjoys the material advantages and growing freedoms of recent reforms, 900 million people...

US Election and the World – Part III

Arnold Zeitlin November 12, 2004
In the aftermath of the greatly anticipated US elections, observers worldwide are assessing the consequences of George W. Bush's re-election. In a multi-part series, YaleGlobal checks in with different regions, gauging the reaction to the landmark political event. To the extent one can ever generalize about a vast region of the world, a veteran observer of Asia, Arnold Zeitlin finds a large...

Australia Must Play the Peacemaker on Taiwan

Hugh White November 10, 2004
The current relationship between the United States and China is the strongest in 50 years, writes Professor Hugh White in The Sydney Morning Herald. Yet Taiwan remains a potentially potent flashpoint for conflict between the two superpowers. The United States is grateful to China for its support in the war on terror and for its regional leadership in organizing the six-party talks with North...

From Boom to Bloom

November 10, 2004
The lifting of millions of Chinese out of poverty constitutes one of the world’s greatest success stories in economic development. Yet behind the bold headlines touting this miracle remain problems that could undermine China’s success. The central government recently raised interest rates in order to prevent economic growth from overextending the country’s resources. And it has also committed...

Multilingual Broadcasting Gives Support to All Disaster Survivors

Eriko Arita November 4, 2004
Local government authorities in northern Japan are rushing to minimize damage in the aftermath of last Thursday’s magnitude 5.7 earthquake. Easing recovery for Japanese residents is not their only concern: Multilingual broadcasting of emergency information is the latest development for accommodating a growing population of foreign residents. Particularly in metropolitan areas, new efforts...