Articles by S P Seth

Protest within China needs an outlet if it is not to spread throughout the country in a terrible blowout. The government is myopic to think that its suppression of protests to mark the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre is a success.

Indonesia's perilous economic situation has fuelled a social, ethnic and religious crisis. The political situation is unstable. Worried about this, the Chinese population of Indonesia and neighbouring Singapore look to Australia to defuse the crisis.

professions, is a feature of the division of labour that seems well established. In a manner reminiscent of Jharkhand (and other 'tribal' areas in India) the minority nationalities are largely confined to the position of being hewers of wood and drawers of water.

for the success of economic transition on the country concerned rather than on external factors or agencies.
The arguments of the IMF chief are not entirely convincing. For instance, intercountry comparisons, say between Russia and Albania, have many limitations. In the case of Russia, radical economic reforms under shock therapy were introduced in early 1992 when Russia was experiencing unprecedented political strain as a result of the break-up of the former Soviet Union, This was not the case with Albania or Poland. Secondly, the problems facing Russia in the task of politico-economic transition are far more complex and formidable considering the size of the country and the diverse ethnic, social and ideological groups working at cross-purposes. Third, the economies of Poland and the Czech republic are much more developed and per capita income in THE recent improvement in India-China relations is a welcome development. But to romanticise it, as in the 50s, is dangerous. It is important to remember that nothing substantive has been achieved on the border question and that the strategic perspectives of the two continue to diverge.

S P Seth The question of the four southern Kurile islands, occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945 continues to remain a contentious issue between Russia and Japan and may develop into an international flashpoint in the years to come.