From Asia Times, a look at how Tajikistan is mired in great power game. More on India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha. A review of Holy Warriors by Edna Fernandes. More on Indian Summer. From NPQ, an article on China: From democracy wall to the shopping mall, and back. From Foreign Affairs, an essay on ASEAN at 40: Mid-Life Rejuvenation?
From The Economist, something rather exciting is happening in Latin America: Adios to poverty, hola to consumption: Faster growth, low inflation, expanding credit and liberal trade are helping Latin America create a new middle class. Destitute no more: Chile, a country that pioneered reform, comes close to abolishing poverty. Scarcity in the midst of surplus: Thanks partly to ethanol from sugar cane, Brazil aims to be an energy superpower. But can it keep its own lights on? Ad busters drain Sao Paulo's colour: One Brazilian city has cleansed its streets of all advertising and billboards. Should we do the same or would an ad-free future leave us cold?
From Wired, when it comes to Americans' favorite tool for navigating the web, most White House contenders are still pretty clueless, a recent round of experiments on Google's AdWords program suggests. Drew Westen on what polls can and can't tell us in presidential politics. A Clinton-Giuliani race would be entertaining. Just remember to duck. A solid foundation for future biographers: A review of Obama by David Mendell. A strange brew of populism and environmentalism: An interview with Mike Huckabee. Here's the start of The Wingnuttiad, a tour of Greater Wingnuttia in heroic couplets, with abject apologies to Alexander Pope.
