Viewpoint by Christos Lynteris and Lyle Fearnley* LONDON (IDN) – An epidemic of a new coronavirus, yet to receive a proper name by the WHO, has been developing in China and affecting other parts of the world over the past few weeks. So far, we know thousands have been infected, with nearly 200 deaths, with […]
Why China’s Strategy to Contain the Coronavirus Might Work
Viewpoint by Fei Chen* LIVERPOOL (IDN) – On January 23, the authorities of Wuhan City, China, sealed off the motorways and shut down all public transport to stop the corona virus outbreak from spreading. Shortly afterwards, at least ten other cities in China were under quarantine orders, most of them located in the areas surrounding […]
Trump the Transgressor: The Psychological Appeal of Leaders Who Break the Rules
Viewpoint by Barry Richards* LONDON (IDN) – Many of today’s politicians appear to appeal to the basic human need for safety, presenting their versions of strong leadership as the best hope for order and safety in a fearful world of growing instability and risk. Much evidence confirms that this appeal is certainly an important factor […]
World Court Gives Myanmar 4 Months to Put Its House in Order
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Let’s cut to the chase – there is no question, no doubt, that the government of Myanmar and the army which controls it have committed the most vile atrocities against the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority that lives in the West of the Buddhist-dominated country. The International […]
US-China Trade Deal – The Show Isn’t Over Yet
Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Dr. Yiyong Liang* NEW DELHI | BEIJING (IDN) – Trade wars are fascinating where not only the outcomes but also the tactics and strategy matter. Sun Tzu said: “All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory […]
Breaking the Impasse on Donbass
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – The struggle for the Donbass region in the eastern and southern Ukraine goes on, seemingly never endingly. It’s now six years since dissident militias threw off the yoke of the central government in Kiev and declared their de-facto independence. They were supported by Russian troops which at […]
The Laws of Nature and the Passions of Mankind
Viewpoint by John Scales Avery The following are excerpts from ‘The Passions of Mankind’ in which John Scales Avery discusses human emotions from an evolutionary perspective. The book consists mainly of chapters and articles that he has previously published, although some new material has been added. It can be freely downloaded and circulated from the […]
Iran Discards the Last Key Component of Nuclear Deal Operational Limitations
Viewpoint by Kelsey Davenport and Julia Masterson* WASHINGTON, DC (IDN | Arms Control Association) – Iran announced its fifth breach of the 2015 nuclear deal January 5, stating that it “discards the last key component of its operational limitations” put in place by agreement. In the January 5 statement Iran said its nuclear program “no […]
The US-Iran War Continues Though Current Crisis Is Averted
Viewpoint by John Feffer The writer is the director of Foreign Policy In Focus, which first carried it on 8 January. He is the author of several books and numerous articles. He has been an Open Society Foundation Fellow and a PanTech fellow in Korean Studies at Stanford University. He is a former associate editor […]
The Significance of Taiwan’s Forthcoming Election
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden (IDN) – In the Chinese government’s eyes it has three rebellious parts of China on its plate – Tibet, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In Tibet, protestors from time to time have clashed with police and soldiers. In Hong Kong, the reform and freedom demonstrations are now in their eighth […]