President Obama, in his first address before a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress outlined the vision and policy priorities for his Administration. Prominently outlined as part of that vision for a 21st century America was a finely calibrated connection between the economic prosperity of the nation, and maintaining the U.S. position as the dominant […]
The Great Decisions 2009 article on the “Global Food Crisis” identifies U.S. agricultural subsidies as an example of a divisive issue between developed countries and developing countries, particularly as they try to negotiate a fair, free trade system. The U.S. government provides subsidies, or payments, to farmers or agribusinesses (often large-scale, corporate farms) for their […]
Ravaged by war, displaced, and thrown into “refugee camps” in Northern Uganda, women and girls are having to struggle for basic rights. Eighty percent of women in Uganda engage in agriculture and yet only 8 percent own land. Land disputes have threatened the resettlement of thousands of former IDPs. Many IDPs are leaving the camps […]
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/18/depression-financial-crisis-capitalism-opinions-columnists_recession_stimulus.html Nouriel Roubini writing recently in Forbes magazine argues that the the current global financial crisis lays bare the failure and weaknesses of western-style capitalism, or the ‘Laissez-Faire’ paradigm. Traditionally, only emerging markets suffered severe economic shocks from such crises — and still suffer — from such problems. However, as current conditions are indicating, such […]
Are you a young person looking to give your voice to speak out against sexual exploitation? What would you say? Would you say something if you were given one minute to speak out about the sexual exploitation of children? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then please see the theoneminutesJr., a UNICEF […]
In a presidential address (text, video) to both houses of Congress, President Obama tonight sought to reassure the American public and the world at large that the financial crisis was being dealt with efficiently and comprehensively. I was not surprised that the address barely touched on foreign policy, after all, the focus was meant to […]
As we wait for the last verdicts from the domestic court in Sierra Leone, Reuters reports that the Charles Taylor trial is in financial jeopardy. Money quote: The U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, which is pursuing those held most responsible for atrocities during the country’s 1991-2002 civil war, faces a budget shortfall of more […]
A U.N.-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone is expected to deliver its verdict Wednesday for three rebel commanders charged with crimes against humanity. “There is a great need for the activities of the Special Court, which is a chapter of the war, to be quickly concluded so that the nation can move on,” said […]
As the international community attempts to help Afghanistan rebuild, the Taliban insurgency and illegal opium growing remain among the largest detriments to peace and security. A no less deadly factor that also continues to threaten the well-being of Afghans is hunger. According to a recent article on Eurasianet, Afghans die from hunger and poverty each […]
The news out of Philadelphia is that there is no news — no newspapers, that is. The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News have joined the swelling ranks of American print media that have gone bankrupt. Last month, it was the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. Late last year, the Los Angeles Times and Chicago […]
Given the rise of new powers in the world and America’s relative decline, do the neo-cons in the Republican Party and the liberal institutionalists in the Democratic Party both have it wrong on foreign policy? Do we need a new realism in American foreign policy? John Hulsman, a scholar at the German Council on Foreign […]
The most recent edition of Foreign Policy reveals the findings of a survey of international relations professors in the United States. Inside the Ivory Tower highlights the professors’ views on US foreign policy priorities and rising powers. When asked which country they would fear surpassing the US as the world’s hegemon, Russia topped the list […]
This week, BBC’s new movie examines the fall of Margaret Thatcher. Divisions within the Conservative Party regarding European integration as well as public backlash against Thatcher’s tax policies, which did not take income disparities into account, were the main reasons why Thatcher’s long reign as prime minister (1979-1990) finally ended. London’s Independent took the BBC […]
YEMEN: Threat to legislation outlawing child marriage Although Yemen’s parliament has agreed to set the minimum age for marriage at 17, there are concerns the decision may be rescinded as some members of parliament (MPs) say the amendments violate Sharia (Islamic) law. AFGHANISTAN: Taliban forces students out of schools into madrasas The closure of schools […]
Newsweek’s Christopher Dickey examines the NYPD’s fight against terrorism in his new book, “Securing the City” By Genevieve Long When the American public thinks of the United States fighting terrorism, the federal government naturally comes to mind. Yet for some in New York City, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the […]