As an avid follower and enthusiast of modern trends in Sino-Russian relations (and media coverage thereof), I saw this "jewel" of an op-ed in the New York Times earlier this week, titled "Why China will Reclaim Siberia". This type of Sinophobic fear-mongering is nothing new in the western media. With amusement, I read through it with the slight hope of finding some new, … [Read more...] about The Myth of a Chinese takeover in Siberia – Continued
5 Popular Misconceptions about the Sino-Russian Gas Deal
The conclusion of a 30-year, 38 BCM/year Sino-Russian gas deal has gotten considerable attention in the media recently. Not surprisingly, much of the coverage - especially in the western media - was emotionally charged, given that Putin's visit to China & the deal signing coincided with the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. There was no shortage of rhetoric about Putin "making … [Read more...] about 5 Popular Misconceptions about the Sino-Russian Gas Deal
Yet another myth about democracy: “democracy+capitalism = prosperity”
When I wrote my first commentary on this blog, I outlined three common myths that people frequently believe without question when they think about democratic governance. Obviously, an idea as blindly and fervently worshiped as 'democracy' will have far more than just three myths associated with it. I continue my exploration of this ideology by discussing another myth that is … [Read more...] about Yet another myth about democracy: “democracy+capitalism = prosperity”
Perceptions of corruption in the US and PRC – not exactly what one would expect
I was casually browsing through Transparency International's website, and noticed something peculiar - even though citizens of the Republic of Georgia have a much higher opinion of their country's ability to deal with corruption in their country relative to their counterparts in the US, and a much more optimistic outlook on the future of public institutions, Georgia ranks 55th … [Read more...] about Perceptions of corruption in the US and PRC – not exactly what one would expect
Rich Texas teen kills 4, injures 2, gets away with slap on wrist
I wanted to follow up on YinYang's previous post about racial privilege by providing an example of another form of privilege in the US justice system - class privilege. I posted this story (reported through a different source) under the comments section in his post. But since more details have surfaced, I wanted to highlight this story in its own post because it reinforces … [Read more...] about Rich Texas teen kills 4, injures 2, gets away with slap on wrist