Diplomatically Stuck in the Middle
Leadership is one of those things about which it is sometimes wise to be careful what you wish for.
Category: Political Economy
The Carefully Timed U.S. Visit by Vietnam’s Nguyen Phu Trong
The 7 July visit to the White House by Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong signaled just how far the United States and Vietnam have come in the past two decades in moving beyond their ‘difficult history’, as President Barack Obama put it after their meeting. The leaders discussed how they would advance ties between the two countries in areas ranging from economic and political relations to security and education cooperation.
Using the Power Bestowed Upon You for Good
It may seem that after several recent electoral defeats of prominent national dynasts, Asia’s ‘ruling families’ are in decline. However, a closer look suggests that reports of their political deaths are premature.
The most prominent recent setback was the crushing defeat of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty-run Indian Congress Party in the May 2014 elections, which swept the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power and left the Congress Party with only 44 seats in the Indian parliament.
Why 2016 Presidential Candidates Should Talk About ‘Classes’
In the 2016 presidential race, candidates from both major parties are looking for ways to address inequality.
Partly, they must do so because seven years after the 2008 crash, many Americans still are not getting ahead, according to several analyses by the Economic Policy Institute think tank. In fact, that is nothing new. Factoring in inflation, wage growth has stagnated for the bottom 90% of Americans since 1979.
Could the Rise of the BRICS Countries Promote Global Capitalism?
The global recognition of the economic prowess of the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – has led to the group gaining greater global political influence. But it has also reinforced the regional leadership standing of these nations.
The rise of the BRICS is a story of regional economic powers becoming increasingly important global political actors. With the promise of new global financial institutions to rival the Bretton Woods institutions, we stand on the cusp of a new era of multilateral economic and development politics.
Don’t Bother Asking the SEC about Political Contributions
The House Committee on Appropriations recently adopted a budget for an assortment of financial agencies. Tucked inside the 150-plus pages of legislative prose is a provision denying the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) funding to issue “any rule, regulation, or order regarding the disclosure of political contributions.”
Is Beijing Pulling Tibetan Economic Growth Out of a Hat?
Analysts and scholars – including Chinese economists and social scientists – have long been critical of Beijing’s development strategy in Tibet. A heavy dependence on state subsidies to maintain high levels of economic growth cause economic inefficiencies and social inequalities. In the wake of unrest in 2008 and the ongoing wave of self–immolations across the region, many observers wondered whether the Hu–Wen administration – in power until 2012 – would re–evaluate its approach of combining subsidies with hard–line tactics.
China Appears to be Warming to Myanmar
At the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), made her first historic visit to China on 10–14 June 2015. Her visit enhanced understanding between the two parties and promoted friendly and cooperative relations between China and Myanmar.
Safe Bet: The Next Taiwanese President will be a Woman
With legislator and Deputy Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu confirmed by the Standing Committee of the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT), the presidential candidates for the two main parties contending for Taiwan’s 2016 election are both women, leading to the foregone conclusion that there will be a female president in Taiwan next year.
After Ten Meetings on Greece, Surely the 11th Time Will be the Charm
Another make it or it break it deadline passes in Greek negotiations and the markets take it in stride. Indeed, the relatively calm markets conceal the angst below the surface. After nine Euro group meetings since the election of the Syriza government failed to put any closure on the issue, it is little wonder that they failed the tenth time. Now European officials reportedly are set to give Greece a “take it or leave it” ultimatum. However, the heads state summit today and tomorrow is key.
