Archive
2021
A Remote Corner of Afghanistan Offers a Peek Into the Future of the Country
By Franz J. Marty
In Kamdesh, Nuristan, where U.S. forces withdrew more than a decade ago, the American presence is a distant – and negative – memory for many locals.
Quiet Presidential Campaign Nearly Over in Uzbekistan
By Catherine Putz
Uzbekistan's election is set for October 24.
China and Central Europe: The View From Warsaw
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Justyna Szczudlik.
AUKUS Is Only Half the Equation
By Ryan Nabil
The United States and Britain should prioritize economic ties in their emerging Asia alliance.
China’s Overseas Coal Pledge Is Not a Climate Change Gamechanger
By Mathias Lund Larsen
Over-enthusiasm for Xi’s coal pledge will let China get away with lower overall climate ambitions.
Japan Leader Calls for Greater Military Capability, Spending
By Mari Yamaguchi
Kishida said Japan's security environment has been rapidly changing.
What’s the Real Cost of Papua New Guinea’s Palm Oil?
By Joshua Mcdonald
A new report claims that palm oil executives in PNG have bribed officials, paid police to brutalize villagers, used child labor, and participated in an apparent tax evasion scheme.
How a Chinese Sailboat Became a Microcosm for Arctic Geopolitics
By Trym Eiterjord
A Chinese sailor's attempted journey through the Arctic Ocean ran aground on disputed sovereignty complaints.
Russia’s Dependence on Cheap Central Asian Labor Exposed
By Umida Hashimova
Administrative punishments against Central Asian labor migrants and COVID-19 restrictions reveal the vulnerabilities of Russia’s labor market.
Afghan Taliban’s Victory Boosts Pakistan’s Radicals
By Kathy Gannon
The Tehrik-e-Taliban now believe they too can wage a successful jihad against the ‘infidel’ Pakistani state.
Declassified Files Illuminate UK Role in Indonesian Anti-Communist Purges
By Sebastian Strangio
The U.K. ran a propaganda campaign in the mid-1960s urging that the "communist cancer be cut out of the body of the state.”
Army, Police Defections Growing, Claims Myanmar Shadow Government
By Sebastian Strangio
The claim comes amid an intensifying armed struggle against the military junta that seized power in February.