In The News

Christian Nordqvist April 28, 2006
The World Bank has been accused of wasting funds on useless malaria treatment and falsifying treatment results. The major aid organization that provides loan and resources for ending poverty retorts that the accusation is unfounded. The accusation first appeared in the UK medical journal "Lancet," written by a Canadian physician and UN consultant who argues that the World Bank approach...
John Ward Anderson April 26, 2006
Globalization and intense competition across borders has made it more challenging for countries to maintain some cultural traditions. In January 2006, the Spanish government enacted regulations requiring that all federal agencies enforce a strict 45-minute lunch break – allowing workers to head home at 6 pm rather than 8 pm. By abolishing the siesta, a 3-hour lunch break once traditional in Spain...
Martin Jaques April 24, 2006
With globalization, most anticipate an inter-connected world with greater understanding of multiple cultures more than ever before. Author Martin Jacques argues that this assumption is at odds with the tone of globalization, based on a “one-size-fits-all” model of western cultural imperialism. Whereas European colonialism included exporting self-defined values of civilization, it did not strive...
Chris Prystay April 21, 2006
Introduced to Southeast Asia in the 13th century, Islam gradually supplanted Buddhism and Hinduism, but co-existed with ancient traditions over the centuries. Since the 1970s, however, fundamentalist Islam has spiked in multicultural countries such as Malaysia, with Muslim students and scholars galvanized by Iran emerging as an Islamic state. Political gains of Parti Islam parallel the increasing...
Branko Milanovic April 21, 2006
Football is not only popular, but probably the world's most globalized profession. The most talented Brazilian, Cameroonian and Japanese football players move from country to country more so than doctors, computer scientists, blue-collar workers or bank tellers. On the club circuit, rules have evolved so that international character defines top teams, and statistics show that success...
Howard W. French April 19, 2006
It’s human nature to complain. As China encounters more social problems – land seizures, accidental AIDS transmissions, pollution and corruption – citizens expect some legal recourse. Disgruntled citizens turn to the media, community groups and even public protests to point out social problems. Nongovernmental organizations – more than 280,000 registered in all – have taken a lead in giving...
Sonia Nazario April 19, 2006
The tide of illegal immigrants to American shores has become unmanageable, with numbers far outstripping those at any other time in US history. Immigrants take jobs that are unpopular with native US workers, often at reduced wages, thus allowing US firms to compete globally. The immigrant workforce reduces US food and clothing costs and makes child-care readily available for US families,...