Author
Keith Richburg
-
Opinion – Trade pact would be a bonanza for Africa — if it can be made to work
The United States, Mexico and Canada trade with one another under a pact that replaced the long-standing North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The…
-
Opinion – Why some South Africans are rethinking Nelson Mandela’s legacy
At a time when the world seems sorely lacking in global statesmen — larger-than-life figures who manage to shape world events, transcend national borders and…
-
Opinion – To decipher South Africa’s strange foreign policy, look to its past
On a recent trip to South Africa, I traveled to Sharpeville, site of the infamous 1960 massacre of 69 Black protesters that became an early…
-
Opinion – Is Kenya poised for a takeoff? Maybe, if it can rein in the graft.
Is Kenya poised for an economic takeoff? Or is the prospect more hype than reality? It’s a question I wrestled with during a recent, too-brief…
-
Opinion – Should we pardon corrupt politicians? It backfired in Southeast Asia.
February was a pretty good month for Southeast Asian politicians wanting to evade accountability. On Feb. 2, Malaysia’s disgraced former prime minister, Najib Razak, learned…
-
Opinion – A decent future for Myanmar is within reach — if the U.S. acts now
What seemed plausible two months ago is now undeniable: Myanmar’s awful ruling military junta is in retreat against the country’s anti-regime insurgents. The rebels include…
-
Opinion – Southeast Asian dynasties are rising again. That’s troubling news.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo — known as Jokowi — is barred from running for a third term next year. So far, he is officially neutral…
-
Opinion – Is Xi Jinping all-powerful or weak? Depends on whom you ask.
A few months ago, China’s foreign minister went missing; soon, reports emerged that he had been sacked for improprieties, reportedly including an extramarital affair. The…
-
Opinion – India would not be the first country to change its name
A country’s name often is imbued with centuries of history and culture, and might embody the very identity of its people. Changing a name is…
-
Opinion – What just happened: Storm clouds loom for China’s economy
There is now little doubt that China’s post-pandemic economy is in the doldrums. Most worrisome of all for the country’s Communist rulers is the youth…