In The News

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...

Power Ploy

Marc Lynch July 27, 2006
Defying public opinion in their homelands, the Saudi, Egyptian and Jordanian governments promptly condemned Hezbollah’s actions against Israel. The governments have reason for changing positions regarding Hezbollah, according to author Marc Lynch, the most important being that their leaders view the Lebanon crisis as a way to “demonstrate their value to the US,” thus stopping calls for...

Multipolar Disorder

Timothy Garton Ash July 24, 2006
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US took on the role of world’s supreme power. In retrospect, the moment was brief. As the world’s leading power, the US invaded Iraq – and the notion of a world guided by the might and morals of a single nation unraveled. Attempts to manage conflicts such as the current explosion between Israel and Lebanon face a labyrinth of cause-and-effect...

Saving the World, One Video Game at a Time

Clive Thompson July 23, 2006
The violence erupting in the Middle East is anything but a game. Desperate to eliminate world crises, philanthropists such as the MacArthur Foundation and academics are teaming up with developers of video games to teach new skills and values, particularly to youth who reject traditional media. For example, “Peacemaker” places its players in decision-making roles vis-à-vis the Israeli-Palestinian...

A Driven President Faces a World of Crises

Michael Abramowitz July 20, 2006
From North Korea to Iran, Somalia to Afghanistan and places in between, the US government faces a barrage of conflicts that could hinder the Bush administration’s stated foreign policy goal of democracy building. Committing so many resources in Iraq has limited US flexibility in responding to other crises, and some observers from both political parties in the US express pessimism about the...

Options for US Limited as Mideast Crises Spread

Robin Wright July 18, 2006
Three crises have been building in the Middle East, and Iran is behind each, according to author Robin Wright. The Islamic Republic has supported Hamas and Hezbollah, and both are currently escalating violence with Israel. Iran also lends support to the Shiite militias that move Iraq toward all-out civil war. Iran has also refused to respond to a package of incentives offered by the US and allies...

States and Towns Attempt to Draw the Line on Illegal Immigration

Miriam Jordan July 14, 2006
Angered at the federal government’s failure to pass a bill addressing illegal immigration, many states and towns throughout the US have taken matters into their own hands. Recognizing a galvanizing issue, legislatures and communities propose crackdowns on illegal immigrants. Those favoring more stringent policies argue that illegal immigrants pose a burden on social services and taxpayers....