Beijing Prepares for APEC 2014
Conna Walsh considers the challenges facing Beijing in anticipation of the upcoming APEC summit, and projects an increase in economic cooperation, despite ongoing territorial conflict in the region.
“Love Jihad” – Correcting Desire through Narrative
This Monday, a young Indian woman, from the northern province of Uttar Pradesh, retracted a statement made in August, which had accused a Muslim man of abducting, raping, and forcefully converting her to Islam for marriage. According to Thea Walsh, the notion of “love jihad” can be viewed as a nationalist ploy to promote a singular definition of belonging in Indian society.
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Banned Bombs in Ukraine
Richard Wang examines the use of cluster munitions by the Ukrainian government, and how the international community and Ukraine should respond.
Israel’s Personality Politics
Noah Tulsky considers the unique structure of the Israeli government, using a theoretical stature formed of Barak and Owen’s essays on the subject to duscuss the interplay of civic and military bodies in governmental functions.
Rebalancing India
Puneet Brar comments on Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, analyzing its likely effect of economic and political relations between the two countries.
Belated Justice
A new trial began this Friday for the two highest-ranking members of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, for their part in the Cambodian Genocide. Kwame Newton argues that, with many of the trials occurring so long after the crimes themselves, even the harshest rulings seem somewhat irrelevant.
New Alliance, Old Fear
A report released last week on the U.S.-Japan alliance, which seems to prescribe a more powerful and assertive Japanese military, has put China on high alert. Zihao Liu argues that, despite the lack of militaristic feeling in Japan, the vague and foreboding language of the report will likely reinforce China’s mistrust of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Battle for Kobane: A Test of International Effectiveness
With the Syrian border town of Kobane under siege for the past weeks, calls among the international community have been growing stronger for international intervention to support the town in its fight against IS militants. Chris Rodriguez looks at why Turkey is not likely to play any role in such an intervention, and why the U.S. should.
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One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Recent events in the southern province of Guerrero have revealed the hollowness of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s security strategy.
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