Even though global climate cooperation has collapsed, the need for climate-change action still persists. Can changes in the World Trade Organization trade rules facilitate climate-change action and technological advances without damaging trade?
Conventional political parties around the world seem to be on the decline, and there are common factors too – precarious economies and a leaching of ideology, for example. How can countries achieve grassroots empowerment in their village republics, and those of ordinary citizens the world over?
The use of fracking is most suitable for mature energy producers with established markets, developed oil fields and infrastructure already in place. Despite the rhetoric, Southeast Asian governments have been slow to tap their oil reserves. Fracking could make progress even slower.
The announcement of the Pacific pivot by the U.S. in 2001 has led to several nations making bold political moves. However, the U.S. isn’t yet ready to be a regional protector against China. What does Washington have to do to prepare itself for the Pivot?
Author Kishore Mahbubani, in his latest book, argues that today, our world is not far from a 'global governance system.' He explains why this system will bring all the global powers and other nations under one roof.
In the 1980s, the Vietnamese Communist Party, switched from Soviet-style reforms to Chinese-style reforms. Given the currently stressed economy – resultant of a foreign investment surge leading to reckless credit expansion and inflation – confidence in the party's economic management has been severely shaken.
Presently, the governments of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are struggling to decide whether the Mekong River, which feeds 60 million people in these nations, and is second only to the Amazon in diversity, should become a source of hydro-power or not. Is this the beginning of a Mekong water conflict?
The steps taken by the Indian government to enable private sector involvement in ASEAN have been hesitant. After the recent ASEAN summit in New Delhi, it is time for greater coordination of Indian private industry with government-to-government interaction, which will benefit all members, including India.
The military regime in Fiji – which is responsible for the ongoing crisis in the country – has received continued support from India and China. If the crisis in the island-nation has to be resolved, traditional powers such as Australia, EU and the U.S. need to involve the two nations as dialogue partners.
U.S. Senator John Kerry will officially take office as the Secretary of State, later this month, replacing Hillary Clinton. Given his background of foreign policy, and his proven competency in related matters, what can India and South Asia look forward to, during his term in his new office?
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