Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

Taiwan’s mid-March elections show that residents there may be willing to have a closer relationship with China if it benefits them economically.

Taiwanese voters favored Hong Kong-born Ma Ying-jeou's promise of economic prosperity over his rivals' campaigns to ensure further confrontation with China. Ma Ying-jeou won the presidential election in a landslide victory with his message for closer economic ties with China. He proposed reviving the economy by inviting more Chinese investment and tourism for Taiwan.

This is a new tack for a country that has long struggled to become separate from China and find its own identity in the international arena.

Tibet could learn from Taiwan’s strategy. The BBC’s Humphrey Hawksley, writing in YaleGlobal, contends that Tibet’s embrace of a national identity prevents them from enjoying China’s economic benefits. With India and China as neighbors, Tibet is in a prime position to benefit from the global market. Hawksley suggests that if both countries focused on their economic relationship, Tibet could enjoy a Taiwan-like success story. But it might mean giving up some of its traditions and its fight for independence.

Taiwan’s decision highlights how the lure of closer of economic ties is affecting the way countries formulate their foreign policy. It seems as if Tibet could better its struggling economy by putting aside its hostility to China — but at what expense?

Kenya’s economy, troubled even before the recently disputed election, is suffering from a “youth bulge” which may have helped increase the acceleration into violence the country saw hours after the votes were counted. According to Stephanie Hanson of the Council on Foreign Relations, “research shows that countries with a “youth bulge” are particularly vulnerable to civil conflict.” The country suffers from high unemployment rates, especially among these young people, who make up a majority of the population. Nevertheless, the youth should not be written off altogether. Their “potential to lead positive political change” suggests that “policymakers should spur job creation and education opportunities.” In other words, given the chance to lead productive lives, the population will be more likely to thrive, and perhaps help mitigate rather than escalate crises.