Topic
Society
The Consequences of China’s Voracious Appetite for Illicit South African Abalone
By Nicholas Muller
With profound cultural significance in Asia, poached abalone is trafficked across the globe, inflicting significant harm on disadvantaged South African coastal communities where poaching means survival.
Open Society Foundations Closes Down Kyrgyzstan Operation
By Catherine Putz
In announcing the closure of Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, the Open Society Foundations cited the new “foreign representatives” law.
How American Exceptionalism Gave Rise to the China Threat Theory
By Gabby Green
China, a legitimate contender to the U.S.-led world order, fundamentally challenges the doctrine of American exceptionalism – the basic tenet of U.S. national identity.
Indian Citizenship Law’s Exclusion of Sri Lankan Tamils
By Roshni Kapur
Political and security considerations outweigh humanitarian concerns in determining the fast-tracking of Indian citizenship for persecuted minorities in India’s neighborhood.
How the Sewol Sinking Changed South Korea
By Sera Yeong Seo Park
10 years on, bereaved families and their supporters continue to push for justice and accountability in all manner of man-made tragedies.
Xi Jinping and Collective Punishment of Human Rights Defenders’ Families
By Renee Xia and Sophie Richardson
Chinese authorities regularly inflict collective punishment against families of activists and dissidents – penalizing them by proxy by harming their children, spouses, or parents.
Uzbekistan’s Educational Challenge: Scaling up for a Booming Population
By Niginakhon Saida and Sher Khashimov
Can Uzbekistan’s education system accommodate the growing number of students amid rapid population growth?
Life Along the Thai-Myanmar Frontier
By Luke Hunt
The border town of Myawaddy has now fallen and ethnic rebels want negotiations with the Thai government.
Myanmar’s New Taxation and Conscription Policies Are Likely to Increase Irregular Migration
By Hui Yin Chuah
It's not only the renewed conscription law – financial reforms targeting overseas workers risk forcing more and more Myanmar nationals into irregular migration.
Detained Kyrgyz Journalist Alleges Abuse by Guards
By Catherine Putz
Ombudsman representatives confirmed Makhabat Tajibek kyzy was bruised from an apparent beating, but detention center staff would not allow them to document it.
Indians in Japan: Work, Life, and Racism
By Aniket Singh Chauhan
A 2022 survey revealed that nearly 63 percent of surveyed foreigners in Japan were racially profiled and stopped by the police multiple times.
Uttarakhand’s Civil Code Breeds an Indian Surveillance State
By Sadaf Javed and Reecha Das
Efforts to address social issues risk being co-opted for political gain or used to further divisive agendas.