Europe Ignores Correlation between Economic Growth and Birth Deficit

[Fotini Mastroianni] While there is massive immigration from other countries, many European countries' domestic productive population that would help local economic growth is pushed to immigration -- a policy that is bizarre and does not help economic growth.

Problem Lies with Brexit Itself

[John Bruton] New barriers – including the fact that the UK will be (after Brexit) having different standards, trade arrangements and tariffs than the EU – will bring delays, extra bureaucracy, and eventually bankruptcies, in their wake.

Asian Quad: Synthesis between China’s OBOR and US-led Quad

[Dr. Pankaj Jha] The idea of an Asian Quad – comprising of Japan, India, Vietnam and Indonesia – would help to narrow the growing mistrust between China and the US, and would create an edifice acceptable to both. Hence, these two major powers need to subscribe to this idea of an Asian Quad.

European Commission’s Paper for “No Deal“ Brexit

[John Bruton] European Commission's Paper sets out the preparations necessary for Brexit without a deal.

Is Neo-liberal Economic Model a Failure?

[Fotini Mastroianni] Neo-liberal economic model is being represented as more glorified in many countries across the world, though the model is proven to be a complete failure in the first country of its full implementation i.e. the United States. Yet this model of complete misery is applied across the world, including Greece.

Syria, Hezbollah’s Next Lebanon

[Manish Rai] With its permanent presence in Syria, Hezbollah wants to deliver the message that the borders have collapsed and that there are new rules of engagement, to the detriment of the Sunni countries as well as Israel.

India’s Lingering Concerns over Chinese Influence in Indian Ocean, South Asia

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] Mutual suspicions would dictate relations between China and India for a long time to come.

Asia’s Geopolitical Alliances are Shifting

[Conn M. Hallinan] From what direction on the Compass Rose the winds out of Washington will blow is hardly clear, but increasingly a number of countries are charting a course of their own.

War against ISIS: Does the Battlefield Success Alone Count?

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] While the intervening powers have palpably shown enough resolve in removing despotic regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam of Iraq or in keeping Assad Regime in Syria, they failed to provide any stable alternatives which could bring about normalcy and political and social stability.

Instead of Blaming Neighbors, Afghans should Fix the Problems at Home

[Manish Rai] The ethnic and sectarian imbalance within the Afghan national military creates misunderstanding and mistrust among different ethnic and sectarian groups towards the army, making it look like a foreign force.

Cooperation between Assad and Kurds in Syria

[Manish Rai] The Damascus negotiations [between Assad and Kurds] are more realistically an attempt to test the waters and we should not have any high hopes from these initial talks. The negotiations will be long and arduous process, as the Assad regime is very centralized. keeping the country united and stable requires decentralization by way of delegating the powers at the local level. In multi-ethnic countries like Nigeria and India, this kind of model has arguably helped to hold these countries together.

Whither Regional Cooperation in South Asia?

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] Putting sensitive bilateral issues out of the SAARC mandate has not yielded any positive results. Instead, the forum has been held hostage to bilateral disputes [largely between India and Pakistan]. The requirement of consensus has prevented SAARC from making any headway on desirable proposals on regional integration.