May 24, 2016 Afghanistan's 'Pivotal Transformations' For a year beginning in late 2014, Washington Post reporter Sudarsan Raghavan, winner of this year's Osborn Elliott Prize For Excellence in Journalism on Asia, wrote a series of dispatches from Afghanistan examining daily life beyond conventional stories of war, poverty, and instability. In an interview with Asia Blog, Raghavan discussed the challenges of getting to “the epicenter” of Afghanistan’s stories amid a dangerous landscape, how Afghans are surprisingly influenced by American culture, and why, despite the country's struggles, he remains optimistic about its future. Read the article Introducing the Philippines' Irreverent New President Newly elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has earned comparisons to Donald Trump for his inflammatory remarks and radical policy suggestions. But in an interview with Asia Blog, two experts on Philippine politics suggest that Duterte is “a big style guy” that is likely more pragmatic than the image he presents. Read the article Reform in the Middle East Must Come From Within In a discussion at Asia Society in New York last week on evolving security challenges in the Middle East, Michael Herzog of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said that rebuilding the social fabric and investing in long-term education and economic plans are the keys to stability. "We all talk about political solutions, but we neglect the fact that the region suffers from very structural, basic maladies, that are within the societies," he said. Read article/watch video Upcoming Events New York — Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia, 5/26 Hong Kong — Striving for Growth in a Perilous Environment: An Economic Outlook, 5/27 Mumbai — Game Changers: Empowering Women Through Sport, 5/27 Become a Member Donate Now                  Asia Society 725 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021 USA Copyright © 2016 Asia Society, All rights reserved.  www.asiasociety.org