In The News

Mate-in-Vietnam Marriages

Chong Chee Kin July 21, 2002
The increasing interconnectedness of different societies and ease of travel has produced many interesting opportunities for the innovative entrepreneur. This article describes the dealings of a company that, for a hefty sum, will bring Singaporean men to Vietnam for a week-long trip in which they can select, meet and marry a young Vietnamese woman. – YaleGlobal

Falungong’s Signals of Defiance of China

Jason Leow July 10, 2002
Using relatively cheap technology, followers of Falungong were able to interrupt the World Cup Finals and the anniversary of the Hong Kong handover broadcast on Chinese state television. Their purpose was to counteract state propaganda that has branded Falungong as an evil cult. While most of the interruptions were in rural China, which often receives TV programs celebrating China’s modernization...

RI's 'Madrasah' Producing Techno-illiterates

Mochtar Buchori July 3, 2002
Mochtar Buchori contrasts the difference between political and cultural madrasas. The political madrasas, which are found mainly in Pakistan and Afghanistan, teach Islamic fundamentalism. However, the cultural madrasas, found in Indonesia with some supported by the government, teach respect for Islam along with a liberal education. Buchori argues that the challenge for Indonesia is to increase...

Managing Terrorism: An Indonesian Perspective

Matori Abdul Djalil June 4, 2002
Matori Abdul Djalil, the Minister of Defense of Indonesia, argues for a multilateral approach to fight terrorism in an address before the Asian Security Conference. He also notes the worry that this war will be seen as battle between the Western and Islamic world. Djalil places the war against terrorism as one priority in many for Indonesia. In the post-Suharto period, fostering democracy and...

The War on What?

Thomas Friedman May 8, 2002
With the end of the Cold War, the United States shifted its policy of supporting any regime that would repel communism to supporting the expansion of democracy. This policy change helped overthrow the Indonesian military dictator, Suharto, and strengthen a budding democratic system. New York Times columnist, Thomas Friedman, writes that Indonesians now are worried that the newest US policy shift...

An Age-Old Quest Could Be at an End: Chinese Hail Viagra

Elisabeth Rosenthal April 23, 2002
Traditional Chinese medicine has several treatments for curing impotence, or simply for stimulating more sexual energy. Two years ago, however, Viagra was made legal and introduced in China with immediate success. There are certain parts of China where Viagra is sold almost everywhere – including candy stores and soda stands. However, as Viagra’s demand grows, so does the production of imitation...

Japanese Computer Is World’s Fastest, as U.S. Falls Back

John Markoff April 20, 2002
Japan recently unveiled a supercomputer so powerful that it would take the 20 fastest American supercomputers combined to rival it. The innovation has shocked U.S. computer scientists who have dominated the supercomputer-building scene for the last decade. Some believe the reason that the Japanese model was able to outstrip American models was the focus behind its production. The Japanese...