In The News

Fallout from the War on Terror – Part I

Mark Sidel June 14, 2005
Four years after the 9/11 attacks, protecting America from an invisible threat continues to shape domestic and foreign policy. The complex effects of the war on terror extend far beyond security – and the unintended results are not all positive. In this two-part series, YaleGlobal explores how US anti-terrorism policy is changing America's position in the world. In part one, Mark Sidel...

The World in the iPod

Andrew Leonard June 8, 2005
The iPod, one of Apple's most successful products is not "made" by Apple at all. Apple designed the product, but the components are assembled in China by two Taiwanese firms. This Salon.com article takes a broad view of PortalPlayer, the company that developed the essential iPod microchip, examining the pattern of globalization and outsourcing in the technology industry. The...

Islam is Gaining a Foothold in Chiapas

Jens Glusing June 8, 2005
With indigenous Mayans converting to Islam, the Mexican government is anxious about a possible culture clash in traditionally Catholic southern Mexico. Wary neighbors have suspected the Muslim Mayans of everything from basic subversive activity to having ties to al-Qaida. In fact, the converts belong to the moderate Sunni, Murabitun sect, a branch of Islam known not for extremism, but for a...

Bush Touts Trade, but US Bid to Empower OAS Stalls

Pablo Bachelet June 7, 2005
Concerned over political turmoil and threats to free trade emerging from many Latin American states, President Bush emphasized on Monday that democracy and trade liberalization will put troubled OAS member states on the path to greater prosperity. But the nature of recent difficulties in countries like Bolivia and Venezuela underscore the many problems with the US approach. Both countries and...

A Revolution in American Nuclear Policy

Jonathan Schell May 27, 2005
In this editorial, Jonathan Schell calls attention to "a revolution in US nuclear policy" – a revolution that was virtually ignored by the media. For the first time, the US president has the capability to launch a pinpoint nuclear strike anywhere in the world within a few hours. Why has President Bush sought a nuclear program that is sure to encourage proliferation elsewhere? In...

The Payoff from Globalization

Gary Clyde Hufbauer May 27, 2005
Between 1946 and the present day, the United States has decreased its average tariff rate from 40 percent to 4 percent. Likewise, many economies worldwide have made moves to open their markets. Two analysts from the Institute for International Economics attempt to answer an obvious question: Has this trend benefited US citizens? Their answer: Absolutely. Unfortunately, the...

Drug Deal

Kelly Hearn May 26, 2005
In coming weeks, the US Congress may ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), creating a new free trade area. One of the often-overlooked but controversial aspects of the agreement is its intellectual property protections. According to journalist Kelly Hearn, the new protections could halt production of the generic medications that AIDS patients depend on...