Deng Xiaoping And China’s Treatment Of History

The new 48 episode series, which began airing on August 8, is the first officially-sanctioned dramatization of Deng’s rise to the position of paramount leader from 1976 to 1984 during one of the most tumultuous periods in contemporary Chinese politics. Befitting its subject matter, the series appears to have buy-in at the highest levels: It […]

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Where Is The Magic Wand?

There’s good news and bad in China’s loss of traction. The good: It will compel President Xi Jinping to end China’s addiction to easy credit and local-government debt, a recipe that’s now causing more bubbles than growth. The bad: Global markets may not be ready for the ugly data about to emanate from an economy […]

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Where To Brotherhood?

On Saturday, 9 August 2014, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt entered another phase in its beleaguered political life.  The highest administrative court in Egypt, the Supreme Administrative Court, dissolved the political party of the Brotherhood in Egypt, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).  The Court also liquidated all of the FJP’s assets in an attempt […]

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A Dangerous Alignment

PRESIDENT BARACK Obama likes to say that America and the world have progressed beyond the unpleasantness of the nineteenth century and, for that matter, much of the rest of human history. He could not be more wrong. And as a result, he is well on the way to repeating some of history’s most dangerous mistakes. […]

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Xi And China’s Political Spectrum

The idea of the “China model,” which gained currency in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis, reflects a growing indifference among Chinese elites to Western political systems and economic liberalization, and their renewed interest in a “Chinese path” to development, underpinned by State intervention. This mix of populist nationalism and statist authoritarianism continues to […]

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Neither Atatürk Nor A Sultan

Mr Erdogan and his political machine are both thoroughly modern, and as able as any other modern political machine to deploy sophisticated, well-organised, disingenuous and cynical methods, including demagoguery, spin, polling and gerrymandering to win votes. (Mr Erdogan can also boast real economic achievements, however problematic.) All this is a much different from the situation […]

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Does Russia Have A Plan B For Ukraine?

The West and Moscow are currently basing their actions not on a game plan worked out in advance, but are only reacting to a situation that is deteriorating and becoming more and more unpredictable. They are turning into hostages of this situation and their emotions.   Read Here – Moscow Times

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Is BRICs For Real?

Will BRICS create a framework that is as democratic in sharing governance space with other investors and stakeholders? This will be something to watch for as the systems and structures evolve. The notion that the NDB has been “Shanghai-ed” is perhaps a shallow understanding of this exciting new initiative.   Read Here – The Hindu

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Why Mr Modi Shouldn’t Puzzle Indians

Mr Modi’s government has proceeded in a manner exactly predictable from his claims and promises on the campaign trail. He will not change the bedrock of economic policy since 2004 — the reliance on private-public partnerships, for example. He will instead work towards quicker execution, lower taxes, and a less intrusive state. Read Here – […]

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