In The News

A New Battlefield in Thailand

Bertil Lintner November 24, 2004
The beheading of a Buddhist village leader in Thailand's Muslim-dominated south has provoked worry across Southeast Asia. The murder committed by the Islamic separatists was believed to be in response to the deaths of 84 Muslims at the hands of Thai authorities. Although the level of violence is new, the conflict has a long history. In 1832, Thailand annexed the independent Muslim...

Thailand as an FDI Oasis

Arumugam Rajenthran November 18, 2004
Despite living in China's shadow during a regional recession, the Thai economy continues to grow. According to the Business Times, Thailand is emerging as a strong magnet for foreign direct investment (FDI) due to the Thai government's recent efforts to cultivate a business-friendly environment. Although Thailand has historically rated poorly in terms of intellectual property rights and...

The Looming Revolution

November 16, 2004
As the expiration of international textile quotas draws near, China emerges as a force to be feared by both rich and poor countries. Many believe that China, if unchecked, will soon have a global monopoly in textiles, forcing countries currently depending on textile exports into economic disaster. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan - China's main competitors - are hedging their bets. Indian...

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...

Galileo, Fusion Energy Propel India, EU "Strategic Partnership"

Siddharth Varadarajan November 9, 2004
In talks that were finalized on Monday, India and the European Union (EU) agreed to work together on the Galileo satellite global positioning system and on long-term fusion energy research. India has been careful to state that it will invest capital in proportion to the benefits that it receives from these projects, but the decision to collaborate is not simply a good money investment. By...

India's Pharma Ache

Yogi Aggarwal November 4, 2004
By mastering the process of reverse engineering, the Indian pharmaceutical industry has successfully produced generic drugs at low prices – crucial for providing affordable treatment to those in need. The government's impending adoption of Trips (Trade Related Intellectual Property in Services), a WTO measure, may significantly hamper the industry's success. If the Indian parliament...

Thailand Only Feeds Muslim Discontent

Philip Bowring October 27, 2004
When 84 unarmed Muslim demonstrators died in southern Thailand this week, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra commended the anti-riot forces for their excellent work. The Prime Minister made no apologies, instead blaming the victims for their own deaths. This callous response may have serious international implications, argues the International Herald Tribune. Thailand is an integral player in...