Republished
All the President’s Men Who Will Secure Xi’s Rule
There’s a lot standing in the way of Xi’s ambitions; not the least are the challenges of his own making. The line up for the new…
Republished
Myanmar Is the Leading Edge of Digital Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia
The military junta is introducing Southeast Asia to the Chinese model of state surveillance and information control. Soon after the military coup in Myanmar on February…
Republished
What’s Driving the Iranian Revolts and What it Means for Kashmir
While the current global atmosphere seems quite bleak for American-style liberal democracy, the anti-Hijab movement in Iran is a surprising pushback out of the blue. This…
Republished
Wars Aren’t Won with Peacetime Economies
Since launching his war of aggression in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described his barbaric project as a confrontation with the entire West. But while…
Analysis
Why Sri Lanka has A Tyrant as President — Yet Again
Unelected and brutal, Ranil Wickremesinghe must go. But so must the executive presidency that keeps serving up tyrants. Sri Lankans are used to tyrants as presidents.…
Republished
Stop Projecting America’s Democratic Decline onto the World
For a long time, American political observers saw the United States as a global democratic exemplar. In recent years, however, they have confronted the reality that…
Analysis
SME Survey finds widespread bribery in Trade Licensing
- 52% of SMEs had to pay bribes - 90% SMEs believe corruption is pervasive - 71% or SMEs think resorting to corruption increases market competitiveness…
Republished
It’s Time to Take Kim Jong Un and his Nuclear Threats Seriously
As the West frets over the possibility of Vladimir Putin turning to nuclear weapons in Ukraine, there is a risk that similar threats posed by another…
Republished
The Complete Story of Debt-Trap Diplomacy
In International Relations, one of the most crucial aspects of a nation-state is to fulfil its national interests. These interests may vary from state to state,…
Republished
Let Saudi Arabia’s Friendship with Putin be A Wake-up Call for The West
Every picture tells a story, or so it’s said, and the photo of a smirking Vladimir Putin shaking hands with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin…
Analysis
Electoral Changes at This Juncture: Stabbing with A Golden Knife
The claims and doubts of the current Opposition parties that the SLPP led government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe was planning to delay the elections for the…
Analysis
The Kremlin’s Suicidal Imperialism
The more apparent it is that Russia is losing, the more forcefully Vladimir Putin declares that it is not. Not since the Soviet Union collapsed have…