South Asia
Nuclear Deterrence in South Asia: Will it Work?
A basic assumption of nuclear deterrence is that through mutually assured destruction, nuclear weapons prevent war. But do the characteristics that made deterrence successful during the Cold War, apply to South Asia? In the first of a two part series, Kai evaluates how nuclear deterrence may play in the enduring Indo-Pak theater.
Rebuttal: Education and the State
My last two posts (here, here) on the role of the state in providing education and conversely questioning that of the private sector, resulted in some very illuminating responses from both sides of the spectrum. As a result, I will soon followup with an additional post highlighting previously unaddressed issues in this debate (and welcome other [...]
Proving the Worth of Public Education
Liberal economists suggest our public schools are terrible, and private schools are the answer. Yet, sufficient evidence exists that public schools are, in many cases, even better than private ones.
Education and the State: Seeking Balance
The failure of India’s primary education system deserves a solution. Yet, privatization is neither necessary, nor sufficient, and cannot be embarked upon without debating the desired balance between quality and equity.
India and the Politics of Climate Change
India would benefit from a collective response to global warming, but in the short term a unilateral strategy of high emissions growth is better. How can India ensure the optimal outcome?
Two Approaches to Improving Education
India has announced major investments in education. Given the scale of needs, the government rightly believes in focusing on well-tested methodologies, rather than on risky bets such as the OLPC.
Why Walmart is Welcome: The Agro-Retail Revolution in India
The WSJ Asia is carrying an article (Metro’s new system produces India growth, subscribers only) that outlines how Metro, amongst others, is (re)inventing the agricultural supply chain in India:
Metro is the first Western retailer to tackle a fundamental problem facing Wal-mart and other retailers trying to enter India today: how to stock their huge supercenter [...]
Concluding The Indo-US Nuclear Deal: Moving Beyond Blame
All hell has broken loose in the Indian parliament since the 123 Agreement was concluded between India and the USA. Following its conclusion the UPA government faces rebellion from the Left (the communists), the right (the BJP), and within. The imbroglio has been sufficiently covered in both domestic and international media, and seems to the [...]
