THE SHOW MUST GO ON

正Chinese-Americans ready to work in harmony with new U.S.president By Sudeshna SarkarDing Ying As she was watching the election drama unfold in the United States,a strong feeling dawned on TaiYin Huang.The chairperson of the East Penn Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce,a naturalized American citizen who had gone to the United States from Taipei in 1991 to do her Ph.D.,Huang regretted the absence of any ChineseAmericans in the contest."One of the     

The Chanel of China

正Grace Chen has turned haute couture into design diplomacy By Sudeshna SarkarYuan Yuan If Grace Chen had not watched Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood films of the 1930s and'60s as a schoolgirl,her life could have turned out differently.But it was as if fate took a hand in propelling her to become a fashion designer,with her father,a college teacher who was deeply interested in art,encouraging his two daugh-     

Window in the Southwest

In Lobsa ng's sunny living room furn ished with Tibetan-style intricately carved and painted wooden sofas, three items have pride of of place. One is a certificate of merit from the People's Liberation Army where the 66-yearold served for seven years;the second is a photograph showing him attending a meeting with government officials in Beijing, wearing his traditional Tibetan jacket and hat.     

AN ALIGNED VISION

<正>ASEAN and its ties with China are critical to the revival of historic silk routes By Sudeshna SarkarWhen heads of state and government were taking part in the leaders roundtable on the concluding day of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on May 15,drafting a blueprint for a globalized world that is"open,inclusive and     

The Rebels' Resource Curse: A Theory of Insurgent–Civilian Dynamics

The relationship between armed rebels and local civilians is among the least understood aspects of insurgency. This article posits a novel theory, the rebels' resource curse, to argue that the interaction between rebel groups and local communities can be traced to the availability of revenue-generating resources. The theory is developed using a case study comparison approach to critically analyze how access to revenue-generating resources among the Naxalites in India and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in Colombia affect these insurgent-civilian interactions. The theory proposes that insurgents face a resource curse similar to that faced by states. Rather than resource wealth contributing to greater social engagement and fruitful insurgent–civilian interactions, it appears to precipitate isolationist, and even exploitative and violent relations between insurgents and local civilian populations. Conversely, resource scarcity predicts a greater degree of social integration and cohesion between civilians and insurgents. The framework of the rebels' resource curse can also be applied productively to other insurgent groups, enhancing our understanding of the social realities of insurgency.     

Shifting Interpretation in International Court of Justice’s Decision in the Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America: A Deliberate Step?

Iran and the United States (US) have resorted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on five occasions to settle their disputes. The latest dispute was initiated by Iran and pertains to US’s decision of withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement and re-imposition of sanctions on Iran, including its nationals and companies. In this brief critique, the authors have analysed the preliminary objections and the ICJ’s approach in deciding the dispute. The authors have noticed that the ICJ digressed from its earlier decisions which involved the Treaty of Amity 1955 between Iran and the US. It is also to be noted that the ICJ has not substantiated its deviation with analytical observation. Also, it is opined that although the international adjudication lacks a system of precedent, it is the sacrosanct duty of the ICJ to establish a coherent jurisprudence in the interest of justice, which the ICJ has consciously neglected to achieve in this present dispute.

     

Net Effect

正The growing trend of Internet hospitals could mean more quality medical servicesWhat is common to a housewife in Zhejiang, a lama in Gansu and a professional basketball team in Sichuan?To put it simply, all of them "go" to the same hospital. But to see it from a wider perspective,     

Reading Between The Lines

<正>Can the Chinese and Indian media help improve bilateral relations?It was a miracle that the First China-India Media Forum could be launched at all in2013,a year heralding changes in the political leadership of both countries.China’s new leadership,led by President Xi Jinping,have subsequently set in motion sweeping changes—cracking down on corruption,