In The News

Analysis: Iran Deals May Not Herald Rapid Changes

Adam Schreck January 18, 2016
The terms of a nuclear agreement with Iran are being implemented, followed by a prisoner exchange, planning for an order of Airbus planes, and release of frozen Iranian assets, but the Associated Press warns that rapid change is unlikely. “It will take time for the economic benefits to trickle down to ordinary Iranians, but the goodwill from the deal could translate into electoral gains for...

Why Le Pen Just Lost Her Best Chance to Win French Election

Gregory Viscusi December 14, 2015
An anti-immigrant, anti-EU party did not fare well in France’s regional elections – despite predictions that coordinated terrorist attacks on Paris could swell support for the National Front, explains reports Gregory Viscus for BloombergBusiness. Candidates in the regional races must win 10 percent in the first round of voting to proceed to the second round. For the second round, though two other...

Diaspora's Influence in India’s Domestic Politics

Dilip Hiro November 17, 2015
Huge crowds attending receptions for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York’s Madison Square Garden, Dubai’s Sport City and most recently London’s Wembley Stadium displayed spontaneous enthusiasm and patriotic pride with images broadcast to India. In reality, months of meticulous planning by the Overseas Friends of BJP preceded these extravaganzas, explains author Dilip Hiro. The...

Surge in Protectionist Measures Blamed for Sapping Trade

William Mauldin November 13, 2015
Global trade is in decline in terms of value and volume. “On average G20 exports have fallen 4.5% since world trade peaked in value in October 2014,” notes a report from Global Trade Alert. Countries resort to protectionist measures to preserve growth and jobs. William Mauldin writes about the report for the Wall Street Journal: “India, Russia and the U.S. have imposed the most ‘trade-distorting...

Big Win by Turkey’s AKP Signals Vote for Stability

Chris Miller November 3, 2015
Turkey’s Justice and Development Party, also known as AKP, won 317 seats in the General National Assembly with Sunday's election– more than expected and more than the 276 needed for a majority, but not enough to change the constitution directly. The results confounded pollsters since AKP failed to win a majority in June elections or form a coalition government. “Confronting renewed conflict...

Trudeau’s Challenge: Global Climate Strategy

Terence Corcoran October 21, 2015
National leaders must respond quickly to global events and challenges. A priority for Canada is the UN climate conference that opens November 30 in Paris, suggests the Financial Post. G20 and Asia Pacific Economic Summit meetings follow in November. Voters handed a decisive win to the Liberal Party. Justin Trudeau will be sworn in as prime minister; the party holds five times the number of...

Small Burundi Could Ignite Big Conflict

Itziar Aguirre August 11, 2015
Burundi, landlocked, poor and one of Africa’s smallest nations, battles corruption and ethnic tensions. The re-election of President Pierre Nkurunziza, in defiance of the nation’s constitutional limit of two terms, may compound the challenges. “Ethnic violence could spread, threatening foreign aid, foreign investment and the credibility of international peacekeeping in Africa and destabilizing...