Mongolia in 2020 recorded no COVID-19 deaths, despite its proximity to China, the original hotbed of the outbreak. Yet GDP and exports decreased and unemployment, poverty, crime, and domestic abuse rose, in large part due to the disease. Facing desertification, climate change, overgrazing, and mining damage to pastureland, herders who could not eke out a living continued to migrate to Ulaanbaatar, the capital city, and lived in tents, with no running water and poor sanitation. Elections for the Parliament were held, with the Mongolian People’s Party dominating, but corruption and accusations of money laundering prompted a lack of faith in the government. On the other hand, Mongolia maintained cordial relations with China and Russia, its neighbors, as well as with distant countries.

In 2019, Mongolia sought to recover from a scandal over corruption that reached the highest levels of government. An ineffective Anti-Corruption Agency, as well as poverty and environmental degradation, plagued the economy. In contrast, Mongolia bolstered economic and diplomatic relations with Russia, China, Japan, and the West.

President Xi Jinping dominated the Chinese stage during 2018, continuing to consolidate his power as the CCP sought to reassert its primacy. China flexed its muscles as a great power in a pitch for global leadership. Xi pushed constantly to portray China as the promoter of an open global economy, even as his own continued to slow incrementally amid the widening trade war with the US.

State disruption confronted Afghanistan’s rulers and their international supporters with a challenging legacy after 2001. The emergence of a neopatrimonial political order, with formal bureaucratic and administrative structures entwined with informal networks and patronage, has significantly affected attempts at aid delivery. Such dangers need to be recognized and addressed at the outset in internationally supported transitions

The ouster of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif marked the culmination of a tumultuous political year in 2017 for Pakistan. On the external front, tensions with India, Afghanistan, and the United States soared before abating, albeit modestly, later in the year.

In 2017 Mongolians elected a populist president who is more assertive than his predecessors amid initial uncertainties introduced by a $5.5 billion IMF bailout package. The country continued to be embroiled in a fight over the fate of the 49% private holdings in the Erdenet enterprise. There were signs that Mongolia was becoming less active in engaging its third neighbors.

India undertook a monetary experiment of gigantic scale on November 8, 2016, that resulted in the withdrawal of the legal-tender character of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency. We make a preliminary attempt to analyze existing data to understand the various dimensions of the great monetary gamble.

Mahinda Rajapaksa became the president of Sri Lanka in 2005 and ruled the country until his unexpected defeat in the presidential election of 2015. He crushed the militant and very powerful Tamil separatist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, by military force in 2009. Given his great power and popularity, his defeat in the 2015 election was an astonishing grand fall. This study examines the long rise of Mahinda Rajapaksa and his sudden fall.

This article explores the relationship between netizens and the Chinese Communist Party by investigating examples of “flesh searches” targeting corrupt officials. Case studies link the initiative of netizens and the reaction of the Chinese state to the pattern of management of social space in contemporary China.

In 2015 Papua New Guinea marked its fortieth year of independence. But while the predictions of more pessimistic commentators in 1975 have been avoided, for many Papua New Guineans celebrations were muted; despite the country’s rich resource developments, for many people there has been little change in social and economic circumstances.

The year 2015 was the most violent in Bangladesh since independence. A growing sense of fear and insecurity prevailed, along with a crisis of governance that limited social accountability. However, there were notable contributions to global climate change initiatives, and the Land Boundary Agreement with India offered enclave dwellers the rights of citizenship after almost 70 years.

This paper examines the role played in India by fixers—intermediaries connecting teachers with politicians and government officers—in the teacher transfer process. It shows how the state’s efforts at education reform and accountability are compromised by entities operating outside the realm of policy.

The much anticipated general election produced a majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The new administration is setting out an agenda for governing. The economy showed some signs of improvement, business confidence is returning, but economic growth has yet to return to earlier high levels.

Following the massive political demonstration that had shut down most government agencies in Bangkok since the end of 2013, on May 22, 2014, the Thai military launched a coup in an attempt to break the deadlock. Coup leaders vowed to solve the political impasse and reform the country. Several political and economic challenges lie ahead.

The Congress-led coalition battled through another difficult year with issues of governance continuing to cause difficulty for the government. The economy performed unevenly, with high rates of inflation and slower economic growth. Close relations were maintained with the U.S., but relations with China remained awkward. Pakistan and India made little headway on improving relations. Campaigning for the 2014 general election began midway through 2013.

The year 2013 in the Philippines saw President Aquino’s administration buoyed by mid-term election results in May but otherwise mired in scandal, episodes of violence in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, escalating tensions with China, and difficulties responding to the massive typhoon that hit the Eastern Visayas in early November.

The year 2012 began for India with a steep decline in the economy, disarray in politics, and paralysis in policy. While there were more immediate causes for this state of affairs, each malady reflected a deeper dilemma created by widespread corruption, a weakening central state, declining discipline within the ruling coalition, a loss of economic momentum caused by an unresolved balance between equity and growth, and a failure to harness popular support for reforms. Each dilemma called for a fundamental change in the power equation between different parts of the state and between state and society.

The year 2012 began well for Bangladesh. Economic performance was impressive, and there were some notable political developments, such as the starting of the War Crimes Trial. However, corruption remained a pressing issue, the rule of law and human rights in the country became increasingly tenuous, and the political environment continued to be turbulent and uncertain. Moreover, issues regarding the country’s relationship with both India and the U.S. were poorly resolved.

The year 2011 was marked by several important developments: a massive uprising of the people, spearheaded by a powerful civil society movement for the reform of India's corrupt and criminalized democracy; an attempt by the central government to reform antiquated land acquisition laws for public use; a growing disillusionment with the United Progressive Alliance government; the slowing down of India's eight-year-long run of rapid growth; and a growing convergence of interests between India and other powers in the region, except China.

Corruption and political infighting continued to dominate the headlines in Indonesia in 2011. While lawmakers and political parties continued to be deeply unpopular, new developments dragged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's popularity down to all-time lows. Religious violence ticked upward and took new forms. Meanwhile, the economy posted strong gains, and the government continued to look for ways to raise its profile on the international stage.