Category: Asia
The Curious Tale of the Houbara: Birds and Middle Eastern power politics
The Houbara is a species of endangered ground bird the size of a turkey that lives in the deserts of Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. At first glance, it’s
Read More1984 Is Now – How China Keeps Track of Its 1.4 Billion Citizens
If you had to award your public behavior a (Dutch) grade: which one would it be? Do you always pay your rent and tuition fees on time, are you involved
Read MoreMalaysia’s 92-Year-Old Comeback Kid, Mahathir Mohamad
With the surprise victory of the opposition on May 9th, it is the first time since its independence in 1957 that Malaysia has seen a peaceful transfer of power like
Read MoreHezbollah’s Footprints in Latin America – How the Wars on Drugs and Terror Coincide
The Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina is the breeding ground of a peculiar partnership, which intertwines two of the most complex conflicts of this century: the wars
Read MoreCan politics still be poetic?
This article was inspired by a discussion organised by SIB Groningen, on the 12th March 2018, called “Poetry and Politics in Iran: The Power of Verse”. It was led by
Read MoreConditions, Challenges and Consequences of Korean Unification
Last week has witnessed a dramatic shift in the relationship between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea: after years of increasing tensions North Korean dictator
Read MoreMarketing for States – the Power of Nation Branding
The common war strategy of demoralizing the enemy by providing them with one’s own ideology over radio airwaves had found its way into the Cold War tactics. Western German radio
Read MoreThe Beastly Component of Conflict: How War Endangers Species
New Year’s: it is the time of excessive drinking, an overdose of oliebollen and rants by cat ladies about the bombshells and fireworks their most beloved pets must endure. While
Read MoreA Link between Worlds: The History and Future of the Silk Road
When taking a look at the countries that once constituted the Soviet Union, one notices either violent internal unrest and bloody civil wars, or ongoing stagnation and economic crisis. Even
Read MoreRodrigo and the Rainbow: Same-sex marriage in the Philippines
Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines, has become notorious for his rowdy rhetoric and supercharged war on drugs. Last month, however, he struck a remarkably progressive tone on a
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