Journal of International Studies

Asia-Pacific coal miners might disagree, but the resources “super cycle” is far from over, analysts asserted at Brisbane’s Mining 2013 conference. However, the sting in the tail was a forecast for another “shock” around 2018 sparked by a capital flight from Asia back to the United States. The Diplomat  has previously noted the  mining sector’s recent decline . Could it be time for a rethink on resources? Speaking at last week’s conference held in Australia’s resource-rich state of Queensland, Westpac economist Justin Smirk said simplistic arguments about the boom’s end were “very appealing but clearly wrong.” Blaming deleveraging in the developed world and China’s slowing construction cycle for a “cyclical correction” in commodities, Smirk told the industry audience that the upturn was already underway. “The commodities super cycle may have peaked but it hasn’t ended. In the early days, it was completely missed by the miners and they raced to catch up [to the dema...

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have toppled Barack Obama at the very top of the list, but China’s Xi Jinping has claimed the  highest ranking among Asians  (and third overall) in  Forbes  magazine’s latest survey of the world’s most powerful people. Gaining six places from 2012, when he assumed the Chinese presidency, Xi ranked highly for ruling over 1.3 billion people, or nearly a fifth of the world’s population, as well as possessing a  vast family fortune . Xi’s other titles include Communist Party general secretary and chairman of the Central Military Commission, giving him control over the key levers of power in the world’s second-biggest economy. The next highest Asian on the list was Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in 14th place, down one place from the previous year’s survey. “Despite being a communist party loyalist, Keqiang has been credited with economic liberalism and a push for reforms such as greater market access and support for smalle...