As the scope of a political domain goes from local to global, the conflicts become harder, the stakes higher, the timescales longer, and the intellect sounder. (The same is probably true of law and economics.)

Local politics is adequately covered by the free advertisement-funded crap masquerading as a local “newspaper” or “television station”. In our immediate area, The Mirror fills this role of recycling-fodder and CityTV is a great mental laxative.

But as the issues get larger and harder, they go outside the reach of impatient citizens. At this level, complex issues are reduced to idolization or vilification of individuals (“I hate George W. Bush”) or countries (“France is heaven!”) or ideals (“Give peace a chance”). Luckily, this is within the level of mainstream media sophistication, so there is ample such content. But what if one is willing to spend some time, and wants to really understand?

Reading The Economist, and the many private intelligence-oriented reporting companies (Stratfor, Jewish World Review, Global Security and others) are good for broad coverage of world issues. Now some extraordinary weblogs are publishing deeper analysis of particular areas. For example, see this article about China. Amongst its observations (and linked supporting/contrasting material), a complicated picture emerges of long-lasting struggle, and lets one imagine hordes of diplomats and soldiers behind the scenes, occupied with necessary planning.

One particular insight I took away from this is that perhaps there is a connection between all the “offshoring” of the last few years, and Taiwan. If the US wanted to help induce/bribe India into helping contain China’s ambitions, it is likely that economic support would be part of the payment. Local-minded politicians may try to press inward-looking legislation like the the “Jobs for America Act of 2004” or its cousins, aiming to stem the offshoring trend. But global realpolitik may require a tacit approval of offshoring by the US executive, and blockage of substantial curbs.

There may be many more links like this between news events from continents. It is making more and more sense to look on the web first.