Among the silent ongoing conflicts in Southeast Asia, the Hmong problem in Laos remains as one of the longest unsolved crises in the region. Despite the magnitude of the bloodshed, the international community has not found a solution to the Hmong problem, and today many members of this ethnic are still struggling against governmental persecution.
Read MoreForeign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
Until recently, Hong Kong’s middle and upper classes lived in utopic ignorance regarding the welfare of foreign domestic helpers. However, news articles exposing the systematic abuse of foreign domestic workers published in recent years have opened Pandora’s Box.
Read MoreHakka Revivalism: A Story of Language Conservation in the 21st Century
In December 2017, Taiwan (Republic of China) became the first government to recognize Hakka as an official national language. For the Hakka, a ‘guest people’ without a homeland, preserving its language remains the most vital aspect of continuing the group’s culture, which has played such an indispensable role in shaping China and Southeast Asia in recent history.
Read MoreCyber Security and Warfare
The world has slowly descend back into a Cold War-era great power competition in cyberspace. The WannaCry attack is just one of the first consequences to be felt.
Read MoreThe Philippines: The Bastion of Southeast Asian Jihadism
Unfortunately, terrorism has become one of the major transnational threats of our times. The rise and expansion of groups like Al-Qaeda or ISIS, and the international scope of their attacks have harmed multiple societies, regardless of their location. However, Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant bastion for terrorists, and most specifically jihadists. Today, their safest haven in the region has become The Philippines, a country whose recent history has been marked by the attacks of different terrorist groups. However, what is the reason behind this geostrategic choice of Asian jihadists? What role does terrorism play in the Philippines today?
Read MoreDeal Maker? Trump’s ignorance regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict
Despite declaring that he will give brokering a peace deal “one hell of a shot,” Trump has instead almost surely erased any hope of finding a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict during his tenure.
Read MoreGlobal Security Issues: The Yemeni Ordeal
Can the silence of the United Nations Security Council be attributed to its role in the events in Yemen?
Read MoreKiribati: Where to go from Here?
As the issue of climate change continues to grow each year, low-lying coastal countries such as the pacific nation of Kiribati may become completely uninhabitable within decades. But then, where do the people go?
Read MoreThe United Nations' systemic failure to respond to humanitarian crises
Since the inception of the United Nations in 1945, the maintenance of international peace and security has been its top mission and central theme. However, recent history has proved that the organization, in its current form, is impotent at responding to massive abuses of human rights especially when it comes to genocides and ethnic cleansing.
Read MoreDetonating the South Pacific: Beaches, Bombs and the Movement for Denuclearisation
While 2017 has seen the resurfacing of the chronic nuclear question plaguing international affairs, it also brings forth a hopeful reminder — the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s stringent nuclear-free foreign policy. The South Pacific has proven that there remains a very real alternative to atomic diplomacy, and should be recognized for its efforts in advocating for communication and diplomacy rather than open atomic deterrence.
Read MoreMugabe’s Fall from Grace: A New Era for Africa
After 35 years of rule over Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship over the former British colony came to an unceremonious end November 21st after a military coup removed him from power.Though Zimbabwe’s economy is still in ruins and its population nursing wounds from Mugabe’s brutal crackdowns, this is no doubt a new era for the country and Africa.
Read MoreClimate Change: Actions Speak Louder than Words
We might know all the facts and all the necessary steps that need to be taken not to reach the 2°C threshold. But actually acting upon this knowledge is a whole different story. We need to understand the importance of nature and how people are affected by it: not just factually, but emotionally. In a globalized world, we need to extend our empathy to all corners of the earth. Climate change knows no circle nor national border.
Read MoreEgypt's Failed Counterterrorism Policy
This past Friday, Egyptians experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history. To many, this latest tragedy is yet another example of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s failed counterterrorism strategy.
Read MoreSaudi Arabia’s Dangerous Play in Lebanon
What sounds like the blurb on the back of a Tom Clancy book jacket is the actual series of events that has taken place over the past few weeks between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
Read MoreRailways and Subways: Chinese Technology in the United States and Abroad
China has traditionally invested in infrastructure projects in the developing world. Now, the superpower has turned its sights to a new recipient: the United States.
Read MoreSoul-Searching During the Fourth Industrial Revolution
A.I., Big Data, IoT, Cloud, 3D printing, Bio-engineering, Smart farming, Drones, Self-driving. All these big words signify the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). What is unique about the term is that it was pointed out in advance, unlike the former three.
Read MoreHas the Anti-Globalization Wave Reached New Zealand?
On October 26, Jacinda Ardern, the leader of the center-left Labour Party, was sworn in as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister. The same month also saw the election of populist-leaning governments in two other countries. How does the New Zealand general election fit into the context of anti-globalization?
Read MoreNATO’s Military Build-up in Eastern Europe: Necessary or a Prompt for Retaliation?
NATO’s military buildup in Eastern Europe is a pertinent issue that requires careful consideration from both sides to prevent the signaling of wrong intentions and aggravating tensions further.
Read MoreWomen As A Source Of Survival And Advantage: The Case For Saudi Arabia
When it comes to economic assets, Saudi Arabia has historically missed out on leveraging its most important reserve, the capacity and capabilities of women. Indeed, women are the key ingredient to bringing about true transformation to our country. Today, under the visionary HRH Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, we are seeing the beginnings of this take shape.
Read MoreProspects for Peace: Hamas and Fatah Reconcile
With shifting leader preferences, new international interest in securing a negotiated settlement, and worsening civilian conditions, will the new round of Palestinian reconciliation efforts finally lead to peace?
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