Foreign Writers

Fundamental Reform of the European Union

Fundamental Reform of the European Union

BREXIT is a lesson for all of us: it’s time for renewal French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined his vision for fundamental reform of the European Union in an article published in several European newspapers. In his column, French President laid out a plan to protect democracy in Europe. It includes new border controls and higher penalties for firms that …

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FAKE NEWS! Is it here to stay?

The term “fake news” has become an epithet that US President Donald Trump attaches to any unfavourable story. But, it is also an analytical term that describes deliberate disinformation presented in the form of a conventional news report. The problem is not completely novel. In 1925, Harper’s Magazine published an article about the dangers of “fake news.” But today two-thirds …

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Time to Get Out of Afghanistan

Afghanistan

After more than 17 years of conflict, the White House has signalled its intent to withdraw from Afghanistan. Washington’s current efforts to reach a peace deal with the Taliban highlight its increasing impatience with the enduring war in Afghanistan and its desire to leave the conflict. It needs to be remembered that the United States, which sent troops to Afghanistan …

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The Middle East in 2019

The Middle East in 2019

The year 2018 witnessed many important political affairs in the Middle East; from Syrian civil war to Israel-Palestine peace process stalemate, from the war against ISIL in Iraq to the warfare in Yemen. Although the dawn of peace emerged in some regional wars, the year 2019 might be another tumultuous year for the Middle East and regional states. Since many …

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The Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative

A Bellwether of China’s Role in Global Governance China, a rising power in the US-led international order, has significantly expanded its global clout since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013. The country’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in particular, reflects a more assertive Chinese leadership on the global stage and plays a central role in Xi’s fight for the …

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THE GEOECONOMIC World Order

THE GEOECONOMIC World Order

A New Stage in US-China Rivalry? We appear to be entering into a new geoeconomic world order, characterized by great power rivalry between the United States and China, and the clear use of economic tools to achieve strategic objectives. This increased convergence of economic and security thinking as well as strategies thereby is likely to lead to a significant restructuring …

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The Power Paradox by Dacher Keltner

The Power Paradox

Want to understand power? Forget Machiavelli! For too long, argues Dacher Keltner, author of “The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence,” we have accepted unquestioningly the version of power made famous by that sixteenth century author. To Niccolo Machiavelli, Keltner explains, power is “about force, fraud, ruthlessness and strategic violence.” To Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology and Director …

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The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan 1947–2008 by Ilhan Niaz

The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan 1947–2008

“The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan 1947–2008” by Ilhan Niaz makes a strong case for the quotation, “the one who does not remember history is bound to live through it”. In the book, the author has tried to trace the current culture of power and governance in Pakistan through the rich history of the Subcontinent. He has asked …

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The Rule of Law by Tom Bingham

The Rule of Law by Tom Bingham

Everybody believes (or claims to believe) in the rule of law, but how many people could tell you what it means? Although Tom Bingham, a retired senior law lord, has spent his life in its service, even he does not find defining it that easy. But his short book is a remarkable essay on the subject, stooping from panoptic heights …

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Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark

Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark

Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) will probably be the most important agent of change in the 21st century. It will transform our economy, our culture, our politics and even our own bodies and minds in ways most people can hardly imagine. If you hear a scenario about the world in 2050 and it sounds …

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