In The News

China and Wal-Mart: The Champions of Equality

Christian Broda June 5, 2008
Workers worry about being on the losing side of trade and losing jobs. But inflation and higher prices can also quickly erode wealth. “National statistics ignore the fact that inflation affects people in different income groups unevenly because the rich and poor consume different baskets of goods,” writes Christian Broda for the Financial Times. In the US, where unemployment stands at about 5...

Overseas, Excitement Over Obama

Kevin Sullivan June 5, 2008
After a long campaign, Barack Obama has been named presumptive nominee by analysts and the Democratic Party, an event viewed by many in the international community as “an important racial and generational milestone for the United States,” according to this Washington Post article. “The primary race generated unprecedented interest outside the United States, much of it a reflection of a desire for...

China Leader Makes Debut in Great Wall of Facebook

Edward Wong June 4, 2008
In the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake, amongst the rubble, aid and rescue operations, a Facebook profile of the Chinese leader Wen Jiabao has surfaced. Regardless of the actual identity of the profile creator, its existence suggests unprecedented level approachability. Increasing numbers of politicians, including US presidential candidates, recognize the value of online social networking...

Linked Global Groups Are Not Political Parties: Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Fantasy of the Caliphate

Jean-Pierre Filiu June 3, 2008
Some Islamists believe that establishing a broad jurisdiction under an Islamic leader, last seen with the Ottoman Empire in 1924, could deliver stability. Calling for such a caliphate is Hizb ut-Tahrir, or the Islamic Party of Liberation, which has re-emerged in Palestine since the divisive clash between Hamas and Fatah. Hizb ut-Tahrir refuses to participate in elections, and its supporters blame...

New Friends and Old

May 30, 2008
Nations with diverse populations and interests tend to collect a variety of allies. India and the US have enjoyed closer relations in recent years, particularly since the two nations began negotiating a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. But India’s friendship with the US is hardly exclusive and the country also pursues relations with nations at odds with the US, including Iran. India and Iran...

Picking Judges: A Lasting Presidential Legacy

Linda Chavez May 30, 2008
Among all the powers that a president is given, the choice to nominate federal judges is critical. Voters should scrutinize candidates’ criteria for choosing judges: Barack Obama seeks judges who can make decisions grounded on fairness while John McCain values judges who understand the bounds of judicial power. In choosing a president, voters need to consider what types of judges will be...

Pakistan’s Governance Imperative

Paula R. Newberg May 27, 2008
After a turbulent year in Pakistan, a civilian parliament has taken over the reins of government from General Pervez Musharraf and confronts a range of domestic and foreign issues. “Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gillani therefore faces not only the problems created by Musharraf’s national security state, but also the accumulation of decades of mangled constitutions, mixed civil-military law,...