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Challenge and opportunity for Myanmar as it assumes 2014 ASEAN chair
Commentary / January 8, 2014
Myanmar is chairing ASEAN in 2014, which marks the first time the country has assumed this position since its accession in 1997. The chairship offers a pivotal opportunity for Myanmar to provide leadership and display its recent progress toward liberalization. Southeast Asia Forum Director Don Emmerson considers prospects and challenges for Myanmar as its leads ASEAN.
Japan-Korea Relations: Time for U.S. Intervention?
Commentary / January 7, 2014
Daniel Sneider writes that relations between South Korea and Japan have noticeably deteriorated in the past few months. Sneider suggests a more active U.S. mediation role, such as appointing a special envoy or negotiating reparations, may better encourage reconciliation and normalization of relations.
Challenges in 2014: peace and security issues in Northeast Asia
News / January 2, 2014
In an interview with the Korean media, Gi-Wook Shin, director of Shorenstein APARC, and Kathleen Stephens, 2013-14 Koret Fellow, emphasize the increased role of the United States in peace and security issues in Northeast Asia, and suggest Park administration implement its "Peace Process" through humanitarian projects engaging North-South Korean cooperation.
North Korea's strange, bloody mistake
Commentary / December 20, 2013
Gi-Wook Shin and David Straub analyze North Korea’s execution of Jang Song-taek and its implications on nuclear negotiation channels. They point out how Kim Jong Un’s leadership purge may prompt China to align more closely with the U.S. and South Korea on their likely push for heightened sanctions in the coming months.
Elimination of Jang Song-taek contradicts usual narrative in North Korea
Commentary / December 19, 2013
In this op-ed, Gi-Wook Shin and David Straub discuss North Korea’s puzzling execution of Jang Song-taek and the social, economic, and political problems facing Kim Jong Un’s regime. They suggest that Jang’s execution may be an attempt to consolidate power and to shore-up support within the country. Shin and Straub point out that the revelations made to justify the purge and execution also act to delegitimize the regime by sending confused signals to the international community, in particular to China and South Korea over their recent economic engagement. They propose that the U.S., South Korea, and China may be able to use this as an opportunity to influence Kim and convince him to relinquish North Korea’s nuclear stockpile, among other goals.
Reports of Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong Un’s uncle, execution may signal unstable regime in North Korea
News / December 13, 2013
Removal of Jang Song-thaek, North Korea's prominent figure and Kim Jong-un's uncle, may signal unstable regime lead by Kim, Shorenstein APARC experts weigh in.
Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye hosts Stanford experts for regional peace and security dialogue
News / December 10, 2013
President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye hosts experts from Shorenstein APARC at the Blue House for dialogue on peace and security issues in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.
Shorenstein APARC releases Annual Center Overview for 2012-13
News / December 9, 2013
As we begin year 2014, Shorenstein APARC looks back at highlights from the 2012-13 academic year. The latest edition of the Center overview, entitled "Engaging Asia," includes special research, people, events, and outreach features, and is now available for download online.
Detention and release of Palo Alto retiree by North Korea prompts media interest – APARC scholars offer expertise
News / December 7, 2013
APARC's Daniel Sneider and David Straub closely followed the case of Merrill Newman, the Palo Alto grandfather detained and eventually released by North Korea. In several media interviews, the Korea experts offered their insights.
Balanced history education is essential to resolve "Northeast Asia paradox"
News / December 3, 2013
Gi-Wook Shin, director of Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, says "balanced history education is needed to resolve the 'Northeast Asia paradox,' a quandary highlighted by intense territorial disputes and conflicting historical perceptions despite close economic, cultural and social exchanges between the regional countries."
Collected Articles of Masahiko Aoki
News / December 3, 2013
Comparative Institutional Analysis collects 22 articles by Masahiko Aoki, selected from writings published over the course of his 45-year academic career.
Will the U.S and Europe Avoid a Lost Decade?
News / November 15, 2013
On November 7, Stanford economist Takeo Hoshi spoke at the Fourteenth Jacques Polak Annual Research Conference at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington DC.
Europe Making Same Mistakes as Japan in 1990s
News / November 13, 2013
As cited in Victoria McGrane's blog in the Wall Street Journal, Stanford economist Takeo Hoshi argues in a coauthored paper that Europe is making the same mistakes that Japan did during the 1990s
Japan's Energy Challenge
News / November 6, 2013
On October 8th, Hideichi Okada spoke on “Japan’s Energy Challenge” at a Shorenstein APARC seminar in the Philippines Conference Room.
Two Recent Books Supported by the NUS-Stanford Lee Kong Chian Initiative on Southeast Asia
News / November 5, 2013
Two books published in 2012-13 feature former recipients of the NUS-Stanford Distinguished Fellowship on Southeast Asia (Prof. Angie Tran and Prof. Mark R. Thompson).
Reviews of two SEAF-related books
News / November 5, 2013
The core of Islamism: Contested Perspectives on Political Islam (Stanford University Press, 2010), ed. Richard Martin and Abbas Barzegar, is a debate between Hofstra University anthropologist Daniel Varisco and SEAF director Donald K. Emmerson on the (dis)utility of the word "Islamism," with comments by other analysts of Islam. Writing in the Journal of Islamic Studies, 23: 2 (2012), Thomas Hegghammer (Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Oslo) concluded his review of the book by arguing that it would "have been interesting to get a perspective from at least one scholar not invested in the study of the Muslim world. A mainstream political scientist or language philosopher might have refreshed this distinctly in-house debate. On the whole, however, this is an important book and a valuable contribution to the literature on political Islam."
The U.S.-ROK security alliance at 60 Years: looking back, looking forward
News / October 31, 2013
1953 saw both the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement and a Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Korea. The uneasy and incomplete peace, coupled with a formalized U.S.-ROK security alliance relationship, ushered in a new era on the Korean Peninsula.
The Role of Central Banks in Financial Stability
News / October 29, 2013
Japan Program director Takeo Hoshi contributed the chapter "Role of Central Banks in Financial Stability: Lessons from the Experience of the Bank of Japan" in the forthcoming book.
South Korea's leadership is important in Korea-China and Korea-U.S. relations
News / October 28, 2013
Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Asia-Pacific Research Center, says that Korea-China and Korea-U.S. relations are important in dealing with North Korea issues, at a recent lecture organized by the San Francisco Chapter of the National Unification Advisory Council.
Inaugural Issue of the Japan Newsletter
News / October 11, 2013
Japan Program at Shorenstein APARC monthly newsletter presents an insightful glimpse of our latest research, publications, events, and more.
Obama Cancels Asia Tour: Will it Hurt US Economic Goals?
News / October 10, 2013
US President Barack Obama's much touted Asian pivot took a hit this past week due to the budget stalemate and government shutdown in Washington. LinkAsia speaks with Stanford University's Donald Emmerson about how Obama's decision not to attend two major summits will impact American economic interests in the region.
Will Demographic Change Slow China's Rise?
News / October 2, 2013
China's population of 1.34 billion is now 50 percent urban, over 13 percent above age 60, and with 118 boys born for every 100 girls. For such a large population at a relatively low level of per capita income, how will aging interact with substantial gender imbalance and rapid urbanization?
Corporate Affiliates Program welcomes 2013-14 fellows to Stanford
News / September 30, 2013
As the new academic year gets underway, the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center's Corporate Affiliates Program is excited to welcome its new class of fellows to Stanford University.
2nd Annual Korean Studies Writing Prize Awarded
News / September 27, 2013
Hajin Jun has won the 2nd Annual Korean Studies Writing Prize for her essay, "Render unto Caesar? Presbyterian Missionaries and the 1935 Shinto Shrine Controversy."
Revisionists Attempt to Turn Back Efforts to Accurately Recount Wartime History
News / September 26, 2013
Shorenstein APARC's Daniel Sneider, associate director for research, is quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education on efforts by historians in Asia to prevent revisionist changes in interpretations of wartime history.