In The News

The Odd Couple: Japan and China, The Politics of History and Identity

Haruko Satoh August 7, 2006
The Yasukuni Shrine has become a symbol of Japanese nationalism and a major target for Chinese criticism. China and Japan still carry bitterness since fighting each other during World War II, and Japanese leaders’ visits to the resting place for 14 class-A war criminals further strain the relationship. The bitterness, established in a Cold War framework, has little sense of purpose other than...

NASA’s Goals Delete Mention of Home Planet

Andrew C. Revkin August 5, 2006
A recent change in NASA’s mission statement has consequences, because many staff refer to that statement when crafting research proposals and agendas. The mission statement used to read: “To understand and protect our home planet; to explore the universe and search for life; to inspire the next generation of explorers ... as only NASA can.” But earlier this year, NASA officials deleted reference...

France's Mysterious Embrace of Blogs

Thomas Crampton August 4, 2006
In 18th century France, women hosted small parties in their salons, for gossip and politics. Eager for debate, modern-day French citizens have turned to blogs. Analysts characterize French blogs as lengthy, negative, with opinions that do not sway. The technology is so popular that a blog has become essential for any French politician. For example, some analysts credit bloggers for French...

How to Deal With NGOs – Part II, Russia

Liliana N. Proskuryakova August 3, 2006
President Vladimir Putin recognizes that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are useful tools for shaping global and national policy – and also for criticizing other world leaders. The second article in this two-part series examines Putin’s two-pronged approach in handling NGOs, a strategy on display during the recent G-8 summit in St. Petersburg: While keeping many Russian-based NGOs and...

Opening a Second Front

Georg Mascolo August 2, 2006
Ready to seek sanctions against Iran in July, US President George Bush assumes that Hezbollah’s offensive against Israel, sponsored by Iran, was designed to distract the US and Israelis. With UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urging support for a ceasefire, Bush urges restraint, yet maintains that Iran’s goal is to spur chaos, particularly for moderate governments in the region, allowing the price...

Money Can’t Buy Us Democracy

Akbar Ganji August 2, 2006
Cash won’t promote democracy in Iran, and anyone who claims it will is a swindler, writes Akbar Ganji, an Iranian journalist. Money from outsiders can support despotism, but democracy must swell from citizens’ hearts and minds. Iran’s oppression has deep historical roots, and the international community can best help Iran, Ganji writes, by creating conduits that allow diverse dissident voices to...

As an Immigration Tide Swells, Europe Treads Water

Lawrence Downes August 1, 2006
Spain has the most nuanced laws in Europe regarding immigrants and refugees. Still, illegal immigration remains a contentious issue in the country that has received more than 11,000 immigrants from Africa this year. At a recent conference in Morocco, attended by delegates from European and African governments, representatives pledged to move towards a fair resolution of the problem, and the...