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The Diplomat: Central Asian States Step Up Afghan Diplomacy

January 24, 2018
Challenges in any of the landlocked Central Asian nations impact overall regional security. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are taking steps for regional diplomacy and reduced isolation for Afghanistan. Regional discussions on water management, energy cooperation, transportation links and trade are...

Too Late for North Korea Denuclearization

May 29, 2018
As US President Donald Trump tries to reschedule the summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un after having cancelled it, he must set realistic goals. The two sides kept talking, with Trump writing: “The world, and North Korea in particular, has lost a great opportunity for lasting peace and great...

Russia and China Test Arctic Boundaries

March 8, 2018
Climatologists estimate that at least one Arctic shipping route linking Asia and Europe will be reliably ice-free by about 2050. The region is said to hold 30 percent of the world’s natural gas resources and 13 percent of its oil, and there are security considerations, too. Two events in 2016...

Global Population of 10 Billion by 2100? – Not So Fast

October 26, 2011
As the world welcomes its 7 billionth person, the global fertility rate is about 2.5 children per woman. If maintained, that rate would lead to a global population of 15 billion by 2100. Pundits even fret about the most widely used scenario for global population – a UN projection based on about 2...

In Singapore, A Local Switzerland for Asia's Wealthy

January 11, 2008
Singapore’s authoritarian order and highly regulated environment attracts foreign investors who value banking secrecy. Coupling a pro-business stance with amenities that appeal to the wealthy, Singapore has become a haven for private banking. While suppression of free speech and artistic expression...

Foreign Affairs: How Sharp Power Threatens Soft Power

February 5, 2018
Authoritarian regimes strive to interfere with democratic governments via social media and other information warfare. Such interference can be regarded as “sharp power” as opposed to “soft power,” or government’s reliance on culture and values to enhance strength. “Over the past decade, Beijing and...

Indigenous Brazilians and Environmental Protection

February 7, 2019
Brazil, the world’s fifth largest nation in terms of territory, has more than 250 indigenous groups that make up less than 1 percent of the population, according to the country’s 2010 census. Many inhabit the Amazon River basin, the world’s largest river system with tracts of virgin rainforest....

Only China Can Do It?

May 19, 2020
The Chinese Communist Party relies on tone-setting exercises, designed to build appreciation for the authoritarian system and cast doubt on democratic systems. The country’s leaders seek international praise for their handling of the pandemic and reject criticism for delayed reporting and...
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