Concise and timely policy analysis from Council on Foreign Relations scholars.
Will Kenya's elections produce a representative government or deepen its democratic decline? CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick offers a prescription for reversing the retreat of emerging states like Kenya.
See more in Kenya, Democracy Promotion, Elections
In a major electoral comeback, Japan's conservatives have won a supermajority in parliament. But the results have stirred anxieties about how they will use their power, says CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Japan, Political Movements
Escalating friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea is becoming more difficult to contain, fed by political opportunism in both countries, says CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in China, Japan, Political Movements
Pakistan-U.S. ties have rebounded, but domestic turmoil and looming leadership transitions should command U.S. attention on this vital terrorist frontline, writes CFR's Daniel Markey.
See more in United States, NATO, Pakistan, Intelligence, International Peace and Security
ASEAN has failed to ease tensions over the South China Sea this summer, but China and its neighbors still have options for restoring calm, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in China, Southeast Asia, International Peace and Security, Peacemaking
The elections brought democratic forces into parliament for the first time in fifty years. But Myanmar's rapid reforms still must be viewed as small steps in a country where military forces retain considerable power, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in Burma/Myanmar, Elections
One year after Japan's triple disasters, questions persist about the ability of the world's third-largest economy to rebound and how its struggling political system can mount serious reforms, writes CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Japan, Energy/Environment, Disasters, Energy Security
Myanmar's sudden transition from repressive pariah to potential democracy should be viewed through the lens of a military alarmed by people power revolts and by the country's increasingly shaky economic condition, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in Burma/Myanmar, Democratization
With China and Southeast Asian states disputing claims to the energy-rich South China Sea, the United States is likely to bolster its presence in the area, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in China, Southeast Asia, Diplomacy
Thailand's general elections in July could mark a crucial step toward reconciliation but are likely to fuel further resentments that have roiled the country and eroded regional stability, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
In this Markets and Democracy Brief, CFR's Elizabeth C. Economy and Jared Mondschein assess the rise of online activism in China and what it means for the country's political system.
See more in China, Political Movements
The crisis in U.S.-Pakistani relations followed mounting mistrust over the U.S. war in Afghanistan, in particular. But Washington should seize the chance to reinvigorate ties rather than look elsewhere for partners, says CFR's Daniel Markey.
See more in Pakistan, Economics, International Peace and Security
In this Markets and Democracy Brief, CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick analyzes Thailand's democratic failure and offers lessons from the Thai experience for new governments and reformers in the Middle East.
See more in Thailand, Democracy Promotion
Japan bears only some resemblance to the Asian countries ravaged by the 2004 tsunami, but their recovery experiences could provide valuable insights to leaders in Tokyo, writes CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
China's new five-year work plan has a familiar list of growth and energy targets, an emphasis on technology investments, and special concerns about resource constraints and corruption, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy.
See more in China
The experiences of several Asian states in the past quarter-century are worth noting in today's turbulent Mideast. The Asian cases show the value of swift, cohesive action by opposition groups, and the need for a light U.S. touch, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in Middle East, Democracy and Human Rights
A series of frank statements by U.S. officials before the upcoming summit with Chinese president Hu Jintao provides an important new footing for advancing cooperation between the two countries, says CFR's Elizabeth Economy.
See more in United States, China, Diplomacy
The new U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement has the potential to measurably spur the economy and reassure a top U.S. ally, but President Obama needs to take firmer steps to boost a flagging trade agenda, write CFR's Edward Alden and Scott Snyder.
See more in United States, South Korea, Trade
The Obama administration's failure to reach a trade pact with South Korea and craft a strategic agenda for its alliance with Japan bodes ill for bolstering its influence in Asia, writes CFR's Sheila Smith.
See more in Asia, Global Governance, International Organizations
Myanmar's military junta made sure the country's first elections in twenty years will favor the regime, but the polls still offer prospects for independent, civilian voices to emerge, says CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick.
See more in Burma/Myanmar, Elections
