California is increasingly the epicenter of American politics, diversity, creativity and innovation.  California is home to the largest United States Congressional delegation; indeed, it is home to some of the most powerful and notable elected officials serving on Capitol Hill today.  California also has the largest population of any state in the U.S. and is the hub and foundation for groundbreaking legislation that shapes social, political and business trends in the entire US.  With all of its flaws and idiosyncrasies, the manner with which California deals with competing...

On October 10, 2009, Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in the capital of Switzerland, Zurich, to establish diplomatic ties and to open the borders.  Four months later, however, neither the Turkish nor the Armenian parliament has ratified them, something required for them to enter into force.  But in this period, it has become obvious that however politically important these accords were, for Armenia, it is a matter of vital economic importance that the border with Turkey be reopened. The borders between Armenia and Turkey were closed by Ankara in 1993 to protest Armenian ...

The five Caspian littoral states are still far apart regarding the legal status of the sea and especially its hydrocarbon-rich seabed, but in late March, their representatives reached tentative agreement on a draft security cooperation accord and on the formation of a Council of Science and Innovation in the Caucasus.  Whether these prove to be confidence-building measures that will promote the long-sought accord on the delimitation of the sea remains to be seen, but they represent an intriguing example of the way in which states which disagree over the very largest issues may nonet...