World
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Nuclear Dynamics and Conflicting Effects of Foreign Policy Initiatives
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The nuclear threat to the United States from Iraq, North Korea, and Syria is of recent vintage. During the last several decades, the U.S. has undertaken negotiations, as well as made preemptive strikes, to thwart these countries’ efforts to possess nuclear weapons with mixed results. Why does the U.S. tolerate…
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What Makes Military Dictators Transition Out of Dictatorships?
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Frequent leadership cycles are common in dictatorships. Historically, military dictators, whose power is derived from the armed forces, have been subject to more subsequent coups and regime changes than their non-military counterparts. Given their short-lived tenure, military dictators always have to gauge their fate based on the premise of losing…
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Making Amends with the US: What Should Pakistan’s New Foreign Policy Be?
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The White House was not happy with Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in late July on corruption charges. During the past four years, Sharif made efforts to strengthen ties with the neighboring countries, including India and Afghanistan. While his intention to help Afghanistan make a transition…
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When Does War Transpire? Unlikely War Onset Under Uncertainty
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Scholars have attempted to clarify whether uncertainty about the outcome of a potential war—victory or defeat—influences state behavior in international crises. Until recently, there was consensus that when two states in a bilateral context have equivalent capabilities, and therefore experience high outcome uncertainty, they are more inclined to undergo conflict.…
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Causes of War: When the Unknown Creates False Optimism
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Differing estimates and perceptions of opponents’ power may increase the likelihood of war. Countries are generally incentivized to misrepresent their own strength and capabilities, and such stratagems to retain advantage during military bargaining may lead to mutually optimistic perceptions: each state believes it is more powerful than its opponent. As…
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Changing Mindsets in Pakistan: Mr. Salman Sufi on the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act
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Salman Sufi is Director General at the Chief Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit within the Punjab government, which works as a think tank for the Punjab Chief Minister. Since 2014, Mr. Sufi has introduced, designed and implemented more than 30 groundbreaking reforms across the Punjab province. He has been instrumental in…
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China’s New Internet Policy: A Blessing or a Hurdle?
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China’s policymakers are active in promoting online real-name registration policies, requiring Internet users to disclose their identity and personal information in hopes of creating a more inter-connected society. The increase in Internet supervision has led to discussions on freedom of speech and online privacy. In their academic paper titled “Real-Name…
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Crafting Counter-Narratives in Islamic Terrorism: America’s Failures and Lessons
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The discourse around the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) use of social media evolves as the group continues to organize, sponsor, and inspire global acts of terrorism. Though the territorial holdings of ISIS have retracted in recent months, their ability to instigate acts of violence and recruit supporters…
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How Should We Understand Alliance Formation in a Multilateral World?
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For several decades, bilateral modeling has been the central tool in much of the theoretical and empirical research on alliance formation. Theoretical investigations into alliance formation were traditionally rooted in dyadic game-theoretical frameworks that feature two primary parties. For example, these models might examine the trade-off of an alliance relationship…
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Encouraging the Return of Talent: Evidence on Tax Incentives from Malaysia’s Returning Expert Program
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High-skilled workers are continuously migrating. According to the World Bank, in 2010 there were approximately 45 million tertiary-educated migrants globally, which represents a 75 percent increase since 2000. High-skilled workers are essential for research, innovation, and development in international economies. Governments in both high-income and low-income countries recognize the importance…
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The Digital Divide in Developing Nations: Policy Impact on the Internet in Sub-Saharan Africa
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The distribution of internet penetration varies widely in sub-Saharan countries. Countries such as Seychelles and South Africa have an internet penetration level of over 50 percent, while others are below two percent. In “Crossing the Digital Desert in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does Policy Matter?” Robert Wentrub and colleagues analyze the policies that…