In The News

Afghanistan's Post-NATO Future

Harsh V. Pant May 18, 2012
A newly signed strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and the United States stipulates that NATO troops will largely withdraw by the end of 2014 with Afghan security forces taking the lead in securing the nation. The US will provide limited training and counterterrorism support for the next decade, but will be leaving a to-do list for major powers in the region, especially rivals...

China’s Aid Emboldens Cambodia

Sebastian Strangio May 16, 2012
Attendees to the 20th Summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Phnom Penh, could not miss the warm welcome for another visitor – billboards and flags honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao. The visit was no coincidence, argues journalist Sebastian Strangio, based in Phnom Penh. A steady flow of loans and investment in Cambodian projects signals rising Chinese influence and possible...

India’s Broken Schools, Cloudy Future

Julissa Milligan, Sadanand Dhume May 9, 2012
India’s preponderance of youth has long been considered a “demographic dividend.” But a broken education system fails to equip graduates for jobs in a fast growing economy. Thanks to lopsided emphasis on elite schools and neglect of early education, India has fallen behind in competency in basic skills, along with flexibility, creativity and passion for lifelong learning. The country prepares...

France Says “Non!” to Austerity

Jonathan Fenby May 7, 2012
Global markets are seized with new uncertainty as French voters rejected austerity measures, electing François Hollande, the Socialist candidate, as president. The win, if backed by French legislative elections in June, could send the European Union back to the drawing board for plans on rescuing debt-strapped Greece and resolving the eurozone crisis, reports author Jonathan Fenby. Election...

Scandal Erodes China’s Soft Power

Frank Ching May 4, 2012
China invests billions on Confucius Institutes and CCTV broadcasts to spread Chinese language, culture and perspectives on world news. But China’s harsh authoritarian rule, exposed by a few incidents or individuals attracting global attention, can undermine efforts to build soft power through a stream of crafted messages, reports journalist Frank Ching. Recent events highlight internal struggles...

A Plague on All Houses

Pranab Bardhan May 2, 2012
In China, India and the United States – political leadership is trapped in systems of governance that reinforce power, encouraging short-term gain with grave long-term costs. Complex policies mask dysfunction, curtail innovation that threatens the status quo, and ease corruption for those in the know. Dysfunctional government is unleashing inequality and dangerous populism in all three nations,...

Asia Caught Between Rivals China and US

Jean-Pierre Lehmann April 30, 2012
As European and US economies continue to drag, many analysts see China and Asia as a whole rising as dominant global players. But international political economist Jean-Pierre Lehmann points to the ambiguity of this prowess. Asian nations increasingly rely on China as an economic partner while increasingly counting on the United States for security. Vietnam, Australia, Japan and others...