In The News

The Atlantic: Trump Issues Scathing Rejection of “Globalism”

Uri Friedman September 26, 2018
The US president’s speech before the UN General Assembly undercut the organization’s mission of global cooperation. Instead, he lashed out at what he called an unelectable bureaucracy, lacking accountability: “We reject the ideology of globalism and accept the doctrine of patriotism.” Uri Friedman writes for the Atlantic: “More than going after a specific leader or country, Trump used this year’s...

Wall Street Journal: UN Gathering and Global Problems

Farnaz Fassihi and Valentina Pop September 25, 2018
Numerous challenges from nuclear weapons proliferation to climate change cannot be resolved without global cooperation. Yet some nations reject such global responsibility and even refuse to acknowledge that challenges exist. More than 130 heads of state and government are arriving for the UN General Assembly in New York City – and will continue debate over two competing world views, national...

Los Angeles Times: Criticism of Israel and Anti-Semitism

Jaweed Kaleem and Teresa Watanabe September 13, 2018
Protesters and their targets increasingly reflect upon strategies and whether methods change or harden public stances. Specific questions emerge with protests and calls for boycotts and divestment targeting Israel as related to Palestinian issues, explain Jaweed Kaleem and Teresa Watanabe for the Los Angeles Times: “How much is Jewish identity tied to the modern nation of Israel? Is there a point...

Project Syndicate: China Is Losing the New Cold War

Minxin Pei September 5, 2018
The Communist Party of China seeks to avoid the fate of the Soviet Union and its political system, and that is why China adopted some features of capitalism with a focus on economic growth. Nominal per capital income increased from $333 in 1991 to $7,329 in 2017. But China, much like the Soviet Union, is being drawn into a costly arms race with the United States. China’s defense budget, standing...

Stratfor: Brazil's Farming Lobby Wields Growing Power

August 31, 2018
Brazil is a leading agriculture producer after the United States, China and India and a major exporter. The country’s agriculture sector supports trade, which increases agriculture’s political heft and influence over foreign policies, whereas the sector in the United States and the European Union is more protectionist. “With such influence, the farm lobby has forced the government to reduce tax...

Los Angeles Times: Syria Prepares for Final Showdown With Rebels

Nabih Bulos August 29, 2018
The Syrian government is eager to end the civil war that has raged since 2011 and prepares “for a multi-front offensive it hopes will provide a path for finally ending a grinding civil war, the fate of Idlib province and its 3 million residents is now the subject of diplomatic jockeying among the world powers that have had a hand in the war,” reports Nabih Bulos for the Los Angeles Times. After...

Financial Times: The Fatal Attraction of a No-Deal Brexit

Gideon Rachman August 28, 2018
Great Britain’s deadline for arranging a deal with the European Union is March 29 and analysts anticipate disruptions including shortages of certain foods and supplies as well as new tariffs and confusion over regulations. Gideon Rachman describes three groups for the Financial Times: Hardliners relishing the notion of self-reliance regardless of costs, Remainers hoping for chaos that prompts...