Functionalism and Global Cooperation
Functionalism in international relations is based on the idea of cooperation between different groups of people based on enhancing their mutual interests, detecting common needs, and sharing public goods.
Politics,East Asia
India and Russia Resetting Ties after 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations
Bilateral relations between India and Russia had begun drifting with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. More recent developments have caused much skepticism in Indian strategic circles. Both countries seem to be resetting ties, keeping in mind larger strategic interests.
Politics,Economy,Southeast Asia
ASEAN at 50: Challenges and Opportunities for Cambodia
Politics,Society
Politics,Security,East Asia
Russia’s Afghan Initiative: Perils and Possibilities
Taking advantage of the geopolitical opening created by fleeting US foreign policy and the drawdown of Western forces from Afghanistan in 2014, Moscow is trying to outflank Washington in Afghanistan.
Politics,Security
The Xi-Trump Summit: Failure or Success?
President Xi’s objectives were to have a good first get-together with President Trump and dampen speculation that they would not get along or that there were explosive issues that divided them and the two countries.
Politics,Security
The Xi-Trump Summit and the Two Senses of “America First”
Trump’s “America First” rhetoric described his prioritizing of US interests above those of other countries. The new sense of “America First” that was underscored by Trump’s missile strikes returns to the older understanding of the US as first among equals amid the nations of the world.
Politics,Security
The North Korean Agenda in the Xi-Trump Summit
North Korea is high on the agenda of the Xi-Trump meeting. The US is urging China to exercise its traditional friendship and influence on North Korea to persuade the regime to tone down its missile development and reverse its intention to own weapons of mass destruction.
Politics,South Asia
Indian State Elections’ Impact on Modi’s Neighborhood Policy
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position has been consolidated with the BJP’s convincing triumphs in two North Indian states, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The question on many people’s minds is whether he will utilize his political capital for reorienting ties with countries in the neighborhood.
Politics,Hotspots,China
China-Russia Strategic Cooperation: The West Has So Far Gotten It Wrong
Contrary to the dominant views that picture the China-Russia strategic partnership as shaky and unsustainable, the two countries have created strong institutional foundations, and only minor steps are necessary for a formal and functioning military alliance to materialize.
Politics
Trump’s Worldview: Some Preliminary Observations
One might argue that US President Donald Trump lacks a worldview. In fact, as he was campaigning to become president, he developed a worldview. There were two choices for him: Preserve the liberal democratic globalism model, or shift to the realist, sovereign nation-state mode of maintaining world order.
Politics,East Asia
Taiwan and the February 28 Incident: Piecing the Facts Together
The flashpoint erupted on February 27, 1947 in Taipei, when a dispute developed between an unlicensed cigarette vendor and a Tobacco and Alcohol Monopoly Bureau officer. Violence flared the following morning on February 28 and resulted in a suppression by the government.
