Donate

International Cooperation

A Conversation with Dr. Rajiv Shah

Recently retired after five years at the helm of USAID, Rajiv Shah brought new energy and improved morale, and earned bipartisan Congressional support as director of the United States' premier development agency. Shah emphasized measurement, transparency, and outcomes in development spending, and he championed the idea that development dollars should build local institutions within developing countries.

George Dupont, the Only Thai in the U.S. Civil War

Editor's note: The 182-year history of U.S.-Thai diplomacy is the oldest uninterrupted bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Asia. It's a history with many colorful chapters. In 1861, Rama IV, known in English as King Mongkut of Siam, offered to send elephants to U.S. President James Buchannan as transportation and beasts of burden. By the time the letter arrived, Abraham Lincoln was president.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Role in Singapore-U.S. Relations

Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, who died on March 23, 2015, aged 91, has been the most instrumental factor in the development of Singapore's relations with the United States. In fact, bilateral ties were initially very much centered on the friendship between Mr. Lee and successive American leaders who deeply respected his strong conviction...

A New Era of Development Finance

The global development landscape has changed dramatically in the last 15 years. In 2000, bilateral Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors (UK, U.S., Japan, France) and multilateral institutions like the World Bank dominated the provision of aid. Today, the face of aid is increasingly Asian.

Southeast Asia in 2015: Maritime Security, Myanmar Elections, TPP Top Agenda

Southeast Asia enters 2015 facing a number of critical challenges that will have a bearing on its future: Can economic integration be achieved among all 10 members of ASEAN? How might maritime security disputes unite or splinter ASEAN? Will democracy in Myanmar continue to develop apace? Will democratic development in Thailand be further weakened? Also looming large is the question of whether the U.S. can ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a key economic ingredient in the country's rebalancing strategy toward Asia. Below are some of my predictions on these issues.
Skip Footer