All Articles

Geopolitics

Japan Attempts to Crack the Central Asian Frontier

Thursday 30th August 2018

Over the past couple of decades, Japan has indicated its desire to play a bigger role in Central Asia and has gradually increased its developmental efforts in the region. However, Japan’s engagement in the region remains overwhelmingly government-driven. To make a bigger impact, it must increase private sector participation.

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Technology

Trolls for Sale in the World’s Social Media Capital

Thursday 30th August 2018

Before the world learned of Cambridge Analytica and Russian trolls, there was Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign in the Philippines. Regarded as “patient zero” in our current era of disinformation, the Duterte campaign and the culture that made it possible provide valuable insight into the psychology of disinformation workers.

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Politics

Can China Save Itself from Crony Capitalism?

Thursday 23rd August 2018

Crony capitalism leads to a symbiotic relationship between wealth inequality and political power. The world can learn much from cases of crony capitalism and, in turn, take measures to stop it from developing.

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Geopolitics

India and Indonesia Standing in the Way of the Indo-Pacific

Thursday 23rd August 2018

There are many who would like to see the concept of the “Indo-Pacific” region evolve from an idea to reality. These supporters are looking to India and Indonesia, two of the most populous countries in the region, to lead the way. This, however, is currently unlikely, owing to misalignment between the two countries’ political-economic goals and actions.

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Politics

Food Safety, Political Legitimacy, and Community in China

Thursday 16th August 2018

In reaction to a seemingly never-ending torrent of food safety scandals, an alternative food movement is growing in China.

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Geopolitics

China, Venezuela, and the Illusion of Debt-Trap Diplomacy

Thursday 16th August 2018

China has often been accused of practicing “debt-trap diplomacy”—miring supposed partners, particularly developing countries, in unsustainable debt-based relationships. But this is a misreading of the issue, and nowhere is this more apparent than in China’s dealings with Venezuela.

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Technology

The Science and Sensibilities of Smart Cities

Thursday 9th August 2018

As Asian countries develop smart cities, residents must contend with their benefits and drawbacks.

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Environment

Renewable Energy Is Not Always Sustainable in Southeast Asia

Thursday 9th August 2018

The transition to renewable energy in Southeast Asia has been widely publicized and lauded, but a closer look reveals that non-carbon-intensive power sources can also cause damage and enhance inequalities. A more effective strategy would focus on reducing demand.

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Security

Undersea Cables Are a Vital Link to Cyberspace Stability

Thursday 2nd August 2018

Undersea cables are the bedrock of the global communications system. Yet, they are severely under-protected. Damage to these cables could create havoc. It is of urgent importance that governments and non-state actors work together to build a framework to ensure the security of such key infrastructure.

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Geopolitics

Technology and Maritime Imperialism in Southeast Asia

Thursday 2nd August 2018

In light of the fierce technology-fueled geopolitical battles being waged on the world stage today, it is time to examine how technology facilitated imperialism at the turn of the 20th century. Specifically, in Southeast Asia, the Dutch and the British used telegraphs, lighthouses, and more as instruments of empire.

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Media, Science & the Arts

The Path to Heliocentrism for China and Europe

Thursday 26th July 2018

Neither scientific progress nor its ability to move society forward is guaranteed. That Earth revolves around the sun seems obvious to us now, but this conclusion came about over 1000 years, taking varying paths in China and Europe. The history of astronomy in these two regions shows us how important political systems are to scientific development.

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Technology

Innovation Isn’t Just About High-Tech in Asia

Thursday 26th July 2018

For innovation to serve everyone in emerging economies, it must go beyond the relentless pursuit of the cutting edge. Focusing more on the needs of the majority of Asian emerging market consumers will lead to more sustainable, lasting growth.

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Environment

China’s Air Pollution Edges Back from the Brink

Thursday 19th July 2018

It is well known that air pollution is harmful to human health. What is much less known is how it specifically affects people over the long term. China’s Huai River policy, which dispensed free coal to northern China for winter heating, has inadvertently revealed to us that air pollution literally shaves years off our lives. But China has made considerable progress in confronting this pollution.

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Politics

A Possibility of Rebirth for Dongjiang River

Thursday 19th July 2018

The Dongjiang River, which supplies fresh water to almost 40 million people, is being threatened by pollution. But as new technology parks increasingly replace pig farms and other decaying industries, there could be an opportunity to invent more sustainable solutions—for Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and the world.

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Development

China’s Railway Dreams Have Missing Link

Thursday 12th July 2018

The Pan-Asia Railway, meant to stretch from Kunming to Singapore, is seen by China as one of the crown jewels of its Belt and Road Initiative. While the project has seen early success in Laos, stronger Southeast Asian countries are pushing back against Beijing’s plans.

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Environment

Rivers in Peril: Restoring the Lifeblood of Cities

Thursday 12th July 2018

Many of the earliest of the great civilizations on Earth were centered on life-giving rivers, such as the Yangtze and the Euphrates, the Nile and the Indus. Rivers remain crucial to modern societies, but pollution is choking the life out of them. For humanity’s sake, governments must act to counter this. The good news is that they already have the tools.

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Population & Society

Depopulation Dividend for a Shrinking Japan

Thursday 5th July 2018

Having pursued growth at all costs for decades, the world now faces widespread environmental degradation. In Japan, this is compounded by a demographic crisis driven by a shrinking population. Contrary to conventional understanding, this may actually present an opportunity for the country to work toward a more sustainable future.

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Politics

What Needs to be Done to Improve Government Accountability

Thursday 5th July 2018

Governments come and go. A country's vision or strategy tries to tie these governments' policies together to tell a story about how a country will progress economically, culturally, and socially. Auditors play a key, if little understood role, in these strategies' success. More of these plans, and the centers of government that oversee them, should be audited. Public audit reports can also attract research and practical interest in these plans' successes and failures.

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