In The News

July 15, 2005
As last week's terror attacks rekindled fears about Islamic extremism in Europe and the US, many journalists and politicians urged Muslims to take action against the extremists hiding in their midst. But it isn't only the residents of non-Muslim countries who worry about extremism. The latest survey conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates that citizens of Muslim countries share...
Tim Johnson July 14, 2005
The spread of the internet in China has played a large role in that country's economic growth, as well as provided a cheap form of entertainment, communication, and learning for those who have web access. But the internet's popularity has not resulted in the open discussion and political reform that Chinese dissidents had hoped for. Rather, the government has concentrated many resources...
Michael Glackin July 8, 2005
While governments and the media often proclaim that terrorism has no face, the innocent Londoners whose lives were destroyed by Thursday's indiscriminate attacks provided a daunting image of the violence. These bombings, targeting the "ordinary people," are especially perturbing given the tolerance Londoners have shown towards myriad racial groups, nationalities, and religions,...
Philip Fiske de Gouveia July 6, 2005
The spotlight on Africa of late has focused on many laudable goals: sustainable development, debt relief, disease prevention and control, and reining in governmental corruption. But promoting democracy and permanently establishing open and honest government, Philip Fiske de Gouveia writes, is inherently linked to a feature which most Africa nations still lack: a free press. The overwhelming...
Boutros Boutros-Ghali June 30, 2005
Is the UN in crisis? Former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali thinks so. He claims that the liberalized theories of globalization have eroded the importance of the UN’s core powers and responsibilities, and that solutions to the crisis are long-term and intricate. The newest crop of post-Cold War conflicts, increasingly difficult to resolve, leave a larger peacekeeping role for the UN. But...
Rebecca MacKinnon June 28, 2005
The internet has played a key role in China's opening up to the world. But, as Rebecca MacKinnon writes, the Chinese government has cracked down on online freedom of expression. Thanks to deals with multinational corporations, US technology has facilitated Beijing's campaign to restrict internet discussions on troublesome issues like democracy, human rights, and Taiwanese independence...
N. Janardhan June 20, 2005
Following in the steps of Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, Kuwait recently granted women the right to vote and hold public office. The country, however, still faces important challenges in achieving the full and equal integration of women into society. Although women in the Gulf are becoming increasingly visible in businesses, their political rights continue to be restrained by a combination of...