brics bailing out europe piece Courtesy: www.kremlin.ru/Flickr
23 September 2011

BRICS bail-out of Europe: A far cry

In a reversal of historical roles, the BRICS nations may be coming to Europe’s rescue. During the Asian Financial Crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced structural adjustments in return for IMF loans, and many institutions and individuals went bankrupt. Will it be any different now?

protest pic rajni's artcile by mission against corruption Courtesy: MissionAgainstCorruption/WikimediaCommons
14 September 2011

India’s democracy: Evolution, not Revolution

While India's anti-corruption upsurge lends further intensity to a global restlessness about the future of democracy, it also raises a significant question: What are the values that will foster a truly democratic culture? The answer will determine whether the on-going agitation will succeed in combating corruption

Courtesy: WTCTributeinLight/WikimediaCommons
12 September 2011

9/11 America: Dignity, democracy and fear

Although the U.S. has not faced another terrorist attack since 9/11, much has changed in its democratic framework. Gripped by fear, 3,984 federal, state and local organizations work on domestic counter-terrorism, spending an estimated $1 trillion.

Copy of 9,11 global event pic_210x140 india Courtesy: WTCTributeinLight/WikimediaCommons
11 September 2011

Arab Spring to Wahabbi winter

A change has come about after 9/11: the ideologies grouped as “Al Qaeda” has morphed, from a group directed by a few individuals, it is now disaggregated. Due to this change, NATO is empowering it's future foes in the Arab world by its continued belief in the camouflaged jihadis.

9,11 neelam akshay piece_210x140 Courtesy: Scott Hudson/Flickr
10 September 2011

9/11: India, still waiting for peace

India's security concerns seem to grow weaker by the year. The dangerous political polarity, a paralysed ruling coalition, a fractured opposition, a popular distaste for a corrupt polity and complicit bureaucracy, and a slowing economy, has handicapped any progress towards this issue.

bangaldesh trip piece Courtesy: PMO
9 September 2011

India-Bangladesh: Like U.S.-Canada? Someday, maybe.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka was, by and large, a success; but poor internal coordination hampered the greater possibilities of the visit. India and Bangladesh can now explore new prospects, on maritime issues, oil and gas and environmental concerns in the Sundarbans.

9,11 photo Courtesy:
7 September 2011

America: Ten years after 9/11

A decade after 9/11, the U.S. has prevented further terrorist attacks - a major achievement. But with a $1.3 trillion budget deficit, a debt downgrade, and 24 million Americans searching for jobs, the U.S. needs to attend to matters at home rather than intervening in the world's affairs.

100713-N-3446M-139 Courtesy: SurfaceForces/Flickr
2 September 2011

China’s aircraft carrier changes the balance

The turbulent waters of the South China Sea may soon see a major addition: an aircraft carrier, from China. The carrier - already seventy percent complete - is sure to change the equation and further Beijing's Four Modernisations programme.

steve jobs1 Courtesy: Marco Paköeningrat/Flickr
31 August 2011

Steve Jobs: America’s greatest innovator

“What Now?” asked the headline on the front page of the San Franciso Chronicle, the day after Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple. After more than a decade of technological ascendancy by Jobs and Apple, where and who now will the world look towards for the next creative breakthrough?