In 2004, under the auspices of the World Bank, a conference held in Shanghai titled, “Scaling up Poverty Reduction,” drew global attention to the lessons provided from four East Asian countries: China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea.[1] Over 600 participants met in China’s most-populated city to understand how the four countries have managed to improve indicators for poverty reduction better than any other developing country. The arguments presented outlined three common factors behind this achievement: high and sustained growth rates, the centrality of shared growth, as well as institutional learning and adaptation. In each of the four cases, the false notion … Continue reading
Category Archives: Asia
China’s Legal System and Its (Lack of) Rule of Law
A year ago, on April 3, Ai Weiwei was suddenly arrested at Beijing airport and was detained for over two months without any official charges being filed. Chinese authorities finally released Ai Weiwei on June 22, 2011 after three months detention based on charges of “tax evasion.” Now a year later, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has installed four live webcams in his Beijing home in direct protest to the treatment that he faced during his 81 days imprisonment and his one year of probation. When asked about his decision to place webcams in his home, Ai Weiwei told a news … Continue reading
The Precedence of State Interests and Memory of the “Century of Humiliation” in Shaping Chinese Foreign Policy
With the reemergence of China on the international stage, there has been a heated debate in elite and public circles in the U.S. about an emerging “Beijing Consensus.” While China has been compiling an extraordinary record of achievements, the West has stumbled catastrophically, especially in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007-09. The U.S., in particular, suffered great economic losses and was left stagnant, deeply in debt, and uncertain of its future. Along with recognition of China’s extraordinary economic progress, there is an increasing anxiety about potential Chinese expansionist intentions in East Asia and beyond, as well as … Continue reading
Support for Balochistan Independence Hurts U.S.-Pakistan Relations
A Congressional hearing on Balochistan, a main province in Pakistan, was highly controversial and could prove to alter US-Pakistan. Earlier this month, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, led the debate, which focused on human rights violations and Balochistani aspirations for self-determination. The Balochistan View Balochistan is a province that has called for independence from Pakistan since the 1960s due to issues such as human rights abuses, political disorder, and lack of economic development. The Pakistani government refuses, however, to grant autonomy because Balochistan is one of its largest provinces, constituting 44% of its total … Continue reading
The Dark Side of Alternative Energy
With the world’s gaze on the protests in the Middle East, no one foresaw a 23.6-meter high (about seven stories) tsunami triggered by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake descending upon Japan. No one even thought a tsunami of such size was conceivable, especially the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). TEPCO is the fourth largest electric company in the world and the owner of the leaking No. 4 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Tomioka, Fukushima (Northeastern Japan). This nuclear power plant began leaking after the tsunami severely damaged TEPCO’s defense system and thus, failed to cool down the heating … Continue reading
Jimmy Carter and North Korea
Last week, Former President and noted humanitarian worker Jimmy Carter traveled to Pyongyang alongside former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, ex-Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, and former Irish President Mary Robinson. Their goal was to promote a north-south dialogue on the Korean peninsula, revive a stalled denuclearization process, and assess food shortages. While this mission’s original intentions were pure, sending non-government affiliated entities who still hold soft political power into North Korea presents the perfect opportunity for the Hermit Kingdom to globally censure the United States whilst obtaining the aid it so desperately needs. Upon their visit to North Korea, … Continue reading