A Requiem for the Doha Round

6

The idea of a common world trade policy is a fantasy.
Trade and politics have always been intertwined. A country's trade policy cannot operate independently of its political climate and domestic pressures. Attempts to forcibly sever a country's approach to trade from its political compulsions usually end in disappointment. Seen as such, the failure of the recent Doha round of global trade talks isn't particularly surprising at all. The blame game began swiftly. Peter Mandelson, the EU's interlocutor had little hesitation in pointing the finger at the US for the impasse: "Having been mandated by heads of government at the G8 to come together to indicate further flexibility, I felt that each of us did, except the United States." Agreeing with him, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said, "Everybody put something on the table except one country..." On the other hand, Susan Schwab the US representative saw it rather....

A Midsummer's Anxiety

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The UPA government requires no second invitation to a controversy. Throughout the year, it has swaggered in a puzzled state of half-wakefulness from one entanglement to another. In the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, instead of examining the efficacy of its counter-terrorism strategy, it chose to block certain websites and deny India's burgeoning community of bloggers from exercising their freedom of expression. If ever there was an instance of misguided priorities, this must surely be it. When ministers and mandarins switch instinctively into an authoritarian mode almost like automatons, it is a reminder of the danger to liberal democracy from a capricious state. While terrorists are working diligently to challenge India's libertarian ethos, it seems that some politicians too are capable of doing their tuppence bit. Underneath the government's decision to swiftly issue a directive to internet service providers to proscribe access to certain websites....

Terror in Mumbai: Inertia is not an option

5

The appalling carnage in Mumbai is a shocking reminder of the fragility of life in this age of terror. Echoing the bombings in Madrid and London last year, the evil act of targeting innocents on packed commuter trains conveys yet again, that confronting an underground network of global terrorism is an urgent challenge of our times. As Manmohan Singh attends the G-8 summit in St Petersburg, this impetus assumes more significance than ever. While Mumbai inches painfully back towards normality, the possible involvement of elements across the Wagah border in the 7/11 attack has come into the limelight. Concerns regarding Pakistan's involvement in either facilitating the infrastructure for extremist groups or deliberately omitting its gaze from such groups training within its realm continue to remain unaddressed. Importantly, these are concerns shared not just by India but by the wider international fraternity too. It is apparent that General....

Friendly Fire

19

The Cause of the PM's Unhappiness
Manmohan Singh is plainly an unhappy PM this summer. When he accepted his prime ministerial brief just over two years ago, he would have anticipated that negotiating with political allies during his government's tenure would be a thorny business. However, what the good doctor perhaps failed to diagnose was that supping with his fellow congressmen might be an equally tricky bargain. Sequestered from the Congress party's working apparatus and wounded by "friendly fire", the beleaguered PM's plight is obvious. Throughout this year, the Congress party has assiduously cultivated an image of variance with prime ministerial initiatives. For example, when the price of fuel rose - triggered by the volatility of the global markets - it was expected that the opposition parties and the leftists would opportunistically agitate to make some political capital out of it. Less expected was the Congress....

The American Paradox

10

At first instance, to speak of capitalism and philanthropy in the same vein might seem like an oxymoron of sorts to some, a bit like speaking of socialist landlords or military intelligence. However, the beauty of experience and reason lies in forcing us to steer ourselves away from our preconceived notions and myths toward new ideas and wider boundaries. Warren Buffett's remarkable decision to give away most of his Berkshire Hathaway fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation is a stunning act of philanthropy that ought to make those often critical of capitalism pause for reflection. Beginning in July this year, the Gates Foundation will receive a tranche of Berkshire Hathaway shares annually from the "sage of Omaha". Statistics tell a revealing tale: At current valuation, his 2006 donation is worth about $1.5 bn. The overall value of Buffett's donation to the Gates foundation is estimated to....