obama romney_0 Courtesy: VOA/WikimediaCommons
23 October 2012

U.S. Presidential debates: Posture vs. reality

Domestic issues like jobs and the housing market were front-and-centre during the third round of the U.S. presidential debates. Though the positions taken bears limited resemblance to what will happen in the real, post-election world, the outcome of the elections is bound to affect the world in big and small ways.

obama romney last debate Courtesy: Neon Tommy/Flickr
23 October 2012

Obama vs. Romney: The hawks debate

During the final weeks leading up to the U.S. Presidential elections, moderate views don't seems to count. Though foreign policy was included in the debate, it was confined mostly to China and the Middle East. Both candidates are looking to be one step ahead to win the last of the undecided voters.

ob rom Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
19 October 2012

Obama vs. Romney: The focus is foreign policy

The ability of the slowly recovering U.S. economy to get people employed is more important to American voters than anything else. However, surprisingly, terrorism and the direction of American foreign policy have become a much larger factor in the U.S. Presidential debates.

The message from the Venezuelan elections
11 October 2012

The message from the Venezuelan elections

Ambassador Viswanathan, an expert on Latin America, blogs about the Venezuelan elections, which saw a high turnout, free and fair elections, and Hugo Chavez re-elected as President. It is evident though, that Chavez’s model has reached its peak and is steadily and irreversibly losing appeal in the region.

foreing affairs sept_1 Courtesy: Foreign Affairs
9 October 2012

Government, Geography, and Growth

Jeffrey D. Sachs argues that the mono-causal analysis of the book, 'Why Nations Fail,’ – that economic development hinges on a country’s political institutions – ignores important factors (such as geography) that can also affect growth.

obama romney debate Courtesy: Rusty Darbonne/Austen Hufford
4 October 2012

Romney wins round one

The biggest change in the first U.S. presidential debate for 2012 was the way both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney moderated differences about government and the private sector. Foreign policy came up only briefly, but it will be a theme during the next round of debates later this month.

green africa Courtesy: trendscout::/Flickr
4 October 2012

A Green Agenda for Africa

All the major economic forces in the world have come together in Africa in a new version of the Great Game. The competition for the continent’s resources will ultimately harm Africa unless Africa uses this opportunity to its advantage and to address its own serious problems.