In The News

The Science Behind ISIS Savagery: 5 Ways Humans Become Hardwired for Violence

Ian Robertson August 20, 2014
Islamic State militants stun the world with senseless acts of violence, with the public beheading of a journalist covering civil war in Syria as the most recent example. Such atrocities are not limited to Islamic extremists and have been waged by throughout history by many other religious fanatics and even governments, reminds Ian Robertson, professor of psychology in an essay for the Telegraph....

How America’s Police Became an Army: The 1033 Program

Taylor Wofford August 15, 2014
The US devotes 23 percent of its budget to defense purposes and veterans benefits – more than the next 13 countries combined. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost $4 trillion alone. Even before the country pulled back from wars, the Department of Defense has distributed surplus equipment to willing takers, including allies and local police at home, many untrained: The weapons can fall into...

Hunger Games Salute “Catching Fire” in Thailand

July 8, 2014
Fiction meets reality as anti-coup demonstrators in Thailand are using the hand gesture made famous in the movie The Hunger Games – as a sign of resistance against a brutal regime: “The Hunger Games is set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the country of Panem where the wealthy Capitol rules over 12 poorer districts,” reports the Express Tribune. Protesters assign multiple levels of...

The Legacy of Tiananmen Square

Johan Lagerkvist June 3, 2014
China’s communist leaders orchestrated a steady march towards great power status, accompanied by rewriting history and erasing tragic moments. Author Johan Lagerkvist reflects on the 25th anniversary of what has come to be known as Tiananmen Square massacre and points out how “the mindset behind the tragedy – unswerving support for China’s rise, with no toleration for criticism, questions or...

Status in the New Asia

Roger Cohen May 14, 2014
The desire to feel special is a universal quality among humans. People who no longer must worry about survival and security pursue status in varying ways including wealth, knowledge, purpose or notice. The notion that globalization equals homogenization is too simple, argues Roger Cohen, in his column for the New York Times. “‘Mass’ is becoming a problematic word in the global marketplace,” he...

Differing Approaches to Immigration on Two Sides of the Atlantic

Michael Mandelbaum April 24, 2014
Politicians opposed to immigration are making electoral gains throughout Europe, and legislators in the United States are also polarized over immigration reform, especially the status of an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants. Michael Mandelbaum, author and international studies professor, argues that “immigration has become a major and contentious political issue in the world’s...

Exploring Spices, We Bring the World to Our Tables

Susan Kelleher April 15, 2014
Spice is an ancient trading item and descriptions of one Seattle dealer suggest that the business did not change much over the past century. But Americans now embrace spicy dishes, watching competing cooking shows on television, exploring recipes and ordering spices online, and experimenting at home. “The wide availability means that pure spices that once inspired epic ocean journeys, wars,...