In The News

Rockers Tuning in to Chinese Market

Ben Sisario November 29, 2007
China, with 1.3 billion people and rapidly growing wealth, is an irresistible market for many industries, and rock 'n’ roll is no different. The Internet has flooded China with Western tunes, building an appetite for rappers like Talib Kweli and mainstream bands including Linkin Park. While the musicians appreciate the opportunity to play to rapt crowds and experience culture shock, the...

The Global Poverty Trap

Robert J. Samuelson November 27, 2007
Prior to 1800, Asia and Europe enjoyed similar technological capabilities and advances, but economies were generally stagnant. After 1800, the Industrial Revolution gave England a decided competitive edge. A supportive culture, not religion, was a factor behind that surge of innovation, theorizes Gergory Clark, author of “A Farewell to Arms: A Brief Economic History of the World.” Middle-class...

Bye Bye Belgium?

Jon Henley November 27, 2007
Belgium juggles cultural and linguistic differences – French, Dutch and German – through norms of cooperation and a complex system of federalism. Until recently, the country has stood as proof that polarized groups can live together in peace. The failure of Belgium’s politicians to form a national government for nearly six months – and counting – has many questioning whether the country can...

Cosmopolitan Masala: Diversity Enriches Us All

Philippe Legrain November 16, 2007
There is growing opposition in many countries to immigration, viewed by some as costing government treasuries and diluting national cultures. Philippe Legrain, a British economist and former adviser to the director-general of the World Trade Organization, argues that productivity flourishes in culturally diverse cities and that people are willing to pay to live and work in such fertile...

Dare to Compare?

Kathy Tzilivakis November 2, 2007
The nations of Europe offer a mixed bag when it comes to welcoming immigrants, according to a study from the British Council and the Migration Policy Group, a Brussels-based think tank, partially funded by the European Commission. The Migrant Integration Policy Index assesses countries based on labor-market access, family reunification, long-term residence, political participation, access to...

China Takes Tough Line on Olympic Protests

Jonathan Watts November 2, 2007
World attention will focus on Beijing with the 2008 Olympics, and China anticipates activists to use the event to draw attention to a variety of causes. The country intends to uphold anti-protest laws and stop advocates from taking the spotlight away from athletic events and the host nation. Backed by a UN resolution supporting action to “observe and promote peace” at the Olympics, China could...

The Globalization Index 2007

October 26, 2007
In the seventh annual assessment of the progress of globalization, Foreign Policy magazine and consulting firm A.T. Kearney rank the 20 most globalized nations in the world and seek to explain some of the recent shifts. Using data from 2005, they compared states along four dimensions: economic integration, personal contact, political engagement and technological connectivity, with particular...