Critical Analysis: The Trans-Pacific Partnership and its Discontents

President Obama is touting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a 21st Century trade agreement, a model for everything from industrial goods to Internet services. The principal purpose of which, like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), is to increase trade and remove restrictions on the flow of goods and capital between member states. So … Read more

Critical Analysis: Fukushima Reactor and Japanese Nuclear Policy

In the wake of wide-scale protests in Tokyo on June 29 over the restart of two Kansai Electric Power Co. nuclear reactors, the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission released an 88-page report that describes Fukushima as a “profoundly man-made disaster.” The report disputes the government’s argument of the failure of the Fukushima cooling systems … Read more

Critical Analysis: Tensions Continue After Syrians Down Turkish Warplane

Following the warplane incident on June 22, when Syrian forces shot down a Turkish warplane, Turkish and Syrian relations have become further stressed by additional military response. Yesterday, Turkey responded by scrambling six fighter jets near the Syrian-Turkish border. Turkish officials claim this is a response, not only to the June 22 incident, but three … Read more

Critical Analysis: China’s One Child Policy

A Chinese woman who was forced to abort her 7-month old fetus has found herself in the center of international controversy after she claimed that local officials were holding her in the hospital against her will and that her husband had disappeared. Twenty-three year old Feng Jianmei and her husband Deng Jiyuan, who already have … Read more

Critical Analysis: Syria Downs Turkish Warplane

On June 22nd, Syrian armed forces shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom Warplane, which burst into flames and crashed into Syrian territorial waters.  Syrian authorities assert that the aircraft entered its airspace at low altitude and high speed, and that its defense forces acted legally in taking it down. “There was no hostile act against … Read more

Critical Analysis: Welcoming Russia to the WTO

By the end of the summer, Russia will become the newest member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after nearly twenty years of negotiations.  This presents tremendous opportunities for American businesses, exporters, and innovators. Russia is the 7th largest economy in the world and trade between the United States and Russia is far from realizing … Read more

Critical Analysis: Rio+20: World Leaders Gather to Address Sustainable Development While Resource Privatization Runs Amok

This week world leaders, numerous participating governments, non-government organizations, and members of the public sector will convene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development. Rio+20 – short for The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development … Read more

Critical Analysis: Stuxnet Leaks: More than a Domestic Political Affair

Last week, U.S. intel leaks made headlines after an article in the New York Times quoted numerous anonymous sources, including current and former U.S. officials, alleging that President Obama ordered the Stuxnet attack against Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The story comes in the wake of a two-week period of national security leaks in the … Read more

Critical Analysis: Libya’s Lessons for the Responsibility to Protect

As the dust from the armed intervention in Libya settles, the dangers of outright regime change are laid bare.  This has brought about a certain amount of what might be called buyer’s remorse on the part of organizations and governments previously supportive of the humanitarian intervention in Libya.  One of the main problems of regime … Read more

Critical Analysis: European Union Economic Position – Spanish Bailout

As the world market continues to struggle, Spanish Officials refuse aid for a possible bank bailout.  Spain’s Economy Minister, Luis de Guindos, spoke in Brussels regarding Spain’s economic position.  In responding to recent reports that Spain would be seeking a bailout for its banks, Mr. de Guindos stated, “I have absolutely not discussed any intervention … Read more